Rona Shapiro

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Rona Shapiro became the first female rabbi to head a Conservative synagogue in Cleveland in 2007, when she became rabbi of Congregation Bethaynu in Pepper Pike. [1]

Shapiro was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1990. [2] She worked as the executive director of the University of Berkeley Hillel from 1990 to 1999, and was the senior associate of Ma'yan: The Jewish Women's Project in Manhattan for seven years before moving to Cleveland. [2] [3] For six of those years she also served the Austin, Texas, congregation Agudas Achim, traveling there during the High Holy Days. [2] She contributed a chapter to the 2000 anthology The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions. [4]

In 2011 the majority of the congregants of Congregation Bethaynu in Pepper Pike moved to B'nai Jeshurun Congregation, which also is in Pepper Pike, since Congregation Bethaynu was for sale. [5] [6] Shapiro then became a rabbi at B'nai Jeshurun Congregation. [6] In 2013 she resigned from B'nai Jeshurun Congregation and became the first female rabbi of B’nai Jacob, a Conservative synagogue in New Haven, Connecticut. [7] [1]

In 2016 Shapiro was named by The Forward as one of the most inspiring rabbis in America. She is also a participant in the Shalom Hartman Institute Rabbinic Leadership Initiative and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. She resides in Woodbridge, CT with her husband, David Franklin; they are the parents of two daughters.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Rabbi Rona Shapiro accepts job as rabbi in Connecticut - Cleveland Jewish News: Local News". Cleveland Jewish News. 2013-03-24. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  2. 1 2 3 "Woman first to lead a Conservative synagogue in the area | cleveland.com". Blog.cleveland.com. 2008-03-28. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  3. ↑ "Berkeley Hillel director leaving with smile on her face | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California". Jweekly.com. 1999-12-24. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  4. ↑ Rona Shapiro. “Woman's Life, Woman's Truth.” In The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions. Edited by Elyse Goldstein, pages 70–74. Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2000. ISBN   1-58023-076-8.
  5. ↑ Mcsherry, Sali (2011-02-03). "Two synagogues reach agreement to become one - Chagrin Valley Today: Chagrinvalleyarchives". Chagrinvalleytimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  6. 1 2 "Rabbi Shapiro reflects on career - Cleveland Jewish News: Local News". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  7. ↑ "B'nai Jacob in Woodbridge welcomes first female rabbi". Nhregister.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
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