Rabbi Andrea Merow will become the new rabbi of the Jewish Center of Princeton in July 1.

Merow, formerly on the rabbinic staff at Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, has experience in rabbinic leadership, pastoral counseling, and membership engagement. She currently serves on the executive committee of the Board of Rabbis of Philadelphia and has also been on the boards of several other Jewish organizations, including Camp Ramah, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the Chancellor’s Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and the Jewish Learning Venture. She previously served as the president of the Mid-Atlantic Region Rabbinical Assembly and was on the International Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly.

Ordained in the Conservative movement, Merrow and earned a master’s degree with a concentration in education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1997. She is a recipient of the Sidney Greenberg Prize in Homiletics and the Simon Greenberg Prize for Rabbinic Achievement at the seminary. She earned her bachelor’s of arts degree with honors from Columbia University.

Jewish Center officers said Merow is dedicated to a vibrant, inclusive vision for the congregation and will welcome interfaith individuals and families while creating space for innovative, inclusive rituals.

Merow replaces interim Rabbi Elliot Schoenberg, who has served the congregation since June of last year. He became the interim rabbi six months after longtime Rabbi Adam Feldman died while on vacation in Hawaii in December of 2019. Merow was chosen as the new rabbi after a nine-month search. About two dozen rabbis applied for the job, and three rabbis were invited for a virtual visit to meet the congregation.

“We are excited to have Rabbi Merow join our team,” said Joel Berger, the executive director of the Jewish Center, adding that Thursday will be an exciting day for the congregation.