Rabbi Tzvi Pittinsky finds himself making plenty of split-second decisions at the Englishtown Shul.

Must someone wear a jacket when leading weekday services? Is a makeshift mehitza made from Martha Stewart coat racks and strung with sheets kosher?

At other synagogues, Pittinsky might be able to cite congregation customs. But at the Englishtown shul, which formally opened its doors last June in the Englishtown section of West Orange, there are few synagogue minhagim, or customs — yet.

But judging by the widening smile of the new rabbi as he described the process, it’s a challenge he relishes.

Pittinsky was selected in August to serve as the synagogue’s first formal rabbi, on a part-time basis.

While the community selected Pittinsky from a pool of three candidates, they had met him long before the interview process began. He led services for them during the High Holy Days in 2005, when Rabbi Shmuel Tokayer — a community member who regularly led services since the group started as a minyan 20 years ago — was away. He acknowledged that he was hopeful, even then, that the relationship would continue.

But Pittinsky has had other things to occupy his time, especially his job at Hillel Yeshiva in Deal, where he serves as director of technology and professional development. He also serves as North American educational consultant for Gemara Berurah, a company that sells software for teaching Talmud.

When Pittinsky was studying for the rabbinate at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University, he selected the education track. “I was already involved with children and youth groups and camps,” he said. “I felt I had a good handle on education.” But, he acknowledged, “somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought maybe I would eventually take a pulpit.”

He has now been in education for 10 years. He worked at the Frisch School in Paramus for five years and at the Bruriah High School for girls at the Jewish Educational Center in Elizabeth for three of those five years. He has also been at Hillel Yeshiva for the last five years.

Pittinsky holds master’s degrees in medieval Jewish history and in Jewish education, both from Yeshiva University, and he is completing doctoral work at YU, with a dissertation planned on the integration of technology in Jewish education.

Tokayer had played an informal role in the Englishtown Shul community since its inception as a small, home-based minyan 20 years ago.

“We all felt that a young rabbi would give us the best chance for growth,” said David Ziegler, who helped select Pittinsky. “Rabbi Tokayer is still very much involved and will, God willing, continue to be involved for many years to come.”

The search committee appreciated Pittinsky’s ideas, and more.

“He already lives here in West Orange and gave us specific advice on how he would help us grow the community,” said Ziegler. “Already knowing the ins and outs of the community, he possessed the ability to jump in and get the ball rolling. He didn’t need a learning period where he had to understand what we are about, and vice versa.”

And, Ziegler added, “he has a warmth about him that really has brought us all closer together.”

As for Pittinsky, he said simply, “If they wanted me, I wanted them.”

He formally began in September and almost immediately started offering classes on Saturday afternoons. He hopes to continue growing the synagogue as the neighborhood grows, without losing the warmth of the community.

“We have really nice davening with a lot of singing and no talking, people learning Torah and living Jewish values,” he said. “I’m really lucky the congregation has the same values I do of family and tefila [prayer].”

So far, he hasn’t had any conflicts among his responsibilities, and if congregants are concerned about his inexperience with a pulpit position, his performance has allayed their fears.

“Thank God so far we have had many simhas and he has been there for every one in any way needed,” said Ziegler. “It’s not always so easy in hard times. But I am confident that he will come through with flying colors.” 

As for Pittinsky, he beams when he talks about the congregation. “This is the kind of community where people are happy to open their homes for Shabbos, and if they’re away they’ll leave their keys for you. I’ve seen that kind of warmth in Eretz Yisroel but here in West Orange, New Jersey — it’s nice to see.”