Rabbi Rona Shapiro

Rabbi Rona Shapiro began tenure as the spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Jacob in 2013. Prior to that she lived in Cleveland where she served for four years as the rabbi of Congregation Bethaynu and for two years as a rabbi at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation after Bethaynu merged with B’nai Jeshurun. In her work in the pulpit she is known for her outstanding sermons, her caring pastoral presence, and her innovative programing.

Before that, she served as Senior Associate of Ma'yan: the Jewish Women's Project in New York (2000-2007) and Executive Director of Berkeley Hillel (1990-2000).

Rabbi Shapiro was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1990, among the early women graduates. She has written and published numerous articles, is the founding editor of the website, ritualwell.org, ,a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, and a graduate of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Rabbi Shapiro spent two years studying in Israel at the Pardes Institute prior to her ordination. She received her BA, Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard University. Rabbi Shapiro's interests include spirituality, ritual, text study, spiritual parenting, hiking, biking, and cooking. She is married to David Franklin and they are parents of two daughters, Noa and Hallel.