Jewish Center selects replacement for retiring Rabbi Elkins.
By: Marjorie Censer
The Jewish Center of Princeton has selected Rabbi Adam Feldman to assume its senior rabbi post beginning July 1.
Rabbi Feldman will succeed Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, who has been at The Jewish Center for 13 years and is retiring. Rabbi Feldman said he was interested in the position as soon as he learned it would be available.
The congregation "is such an exciting community," he said. "It’s people who are really committed to the synagogue, to Jewish learning, to Jewish involvement, and it’s a great opportunity for me and my family to come be part of this community."
Linda Grenis, co-chair of the search committee and president of the center, said the selection of Rabbi Feldman was one that involved the entire congregation. Prior to beginning the search, congregants filled out a survey indicating what they wanted in a rabbi. In response to its listing of the position, Ms. Grenis said, The Jewish Center received 30 resumes. The ensuing 16-month search process, including visits to the center, phone interviews and reference checks, cut that list down to just one.
During the process, the center’s members were able to meet and interact with applicants, as the two finalists each spent a weekend with the congregation.
"The congregation was absolutely informed and a part of the process," Ms. Grenis said.
She cited Rabbi Feldman’s ability to interact with people in a relaxed and genuine style, as well as his love of being a rabbi, as important reasons for his selection.
Rabbi Feldman was born and raised in southern New Jersey, near Cherry Hill. He attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick and received his rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 1999. Since then, he has worked as assistant and then associate rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
Rabbi Feldman said his work at The Jewish Center would be varied, adding that he would spend time with adults and with children of all ages. He added that it will be a learning experience at first.
"I want to come learn my role in the community," he said. "I plan on teaching and learning about the wonderful history of the congregation."
The Jewish Center of Princeton has more than 700 member families. The organization adopted its first constitution in 1949 and soon purchased a building on Olden Street. It later moved to its current site on Nassau Street.
Ms. Grenis said The Jewish Center will host the formal installation of Rabbi Feldman on Sunday, Nov. 6.
Rabbi Feldman’s family also will move to Princeton. His wife, Sara Bucholtz, works as a corporate lawyer with Latham and Watkins in New York. They have three children.
Rabbi Feldman said he is looking forward to developing close relationships with members of the congregation.
"Rabbis get invited into people’s lives at incredible times," he said. "And one thing I’m looking forward to is being part of people’s lives during the good times and the bad, or the happy and the sad."