Rabbi M Beaumont Shapiro

When Rabbi Beau Shapiro told his parents he wanted to attend rabbinical school, they did a spit take with their chardonnay. Turning to his father, his mother asked, “Where did we go wrong?” The answer, of course, is they didn’t.

Since that pivotal moment, Rabbi Shapiro has become a vital part of the Los Angeles Jewish community—serving as a member of the clergy at Wilshire Boulevard Temple for nearly two decades—where he who partook in every important aspect of congregants’ lives. “Being invited into people’s lives at some of the most significant moments is very special,” he said. “It’s a privilege; it’s an honor, and I love it.” Rabbi Shapiro is passionate about social service work, and was instrumental in founding the Karsh Family Social Service Center, a co-located, integrated, social- service center in Koreatown that opened in 2016.

“We don’t have to look beyond the morning paper or the evening news to see the brokenness in our world and the Jewish response to that brokenness is to do something to help fix it—tikkun olam,” he said, citing a core Jewish value that has a physical presence at the Temple unlike any other synagogue in the world. Rabbi Shapiro is a gifted teacher; having taught music, Judaica and Hebrew in religious schools and day schools and served as a Judaic educator and student rabbi at several summer camps. In addition, the opportunity to guide individuals on their spiritual journeys and explore the richness of Judaism is an honor that he deeply enjoys. In 2017 he created a revolutionary new conversion program and since, has welcomed more than 200 new Jews into the family of the Jewish people. Officiating lifecycle events and working with those exploring Judaism continue to be among Rabbi Shapiro’s favorite aspects of his rabbinate.

In June of 2023, Rabbi Shapiro became the inaugural rabbi of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles—one of the largest and most dynamic sites of Jewish life in the world.

A California native, Rabbi Shapiro holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Hebrew letters from the Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, where he was ordained in 2011. Rabbi Shapiro sat on the board of the Association of Reform Zionists of America, ARZA; is a past president of the Wilshire Center Interfaith Council and currently sits on the Interreligious Council of Southern California, the Professional Development Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the board of NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster.

In everything he does, Rabbi Shapiro strives to bring people together to engage in meaningful work and experience the pride and warmth of Jewish community. Rabbi Shapiro grew up in Santa Barbara, California where his family still resides. He and his wife Ashley, are the parents of three young children. He is also an avid golfer whose office is adorned with vintage golf photography and memorabilia.