The career chosen by Rabbi Mitchell Romirowsky, who takes over as interim rabbi at the East Brunswick Jewish Center on Sept. 8, is a family tradition.

"My father was a rabbi in the small community of Pottsville, Pa.," said Romirowsky. "My mother is one of six children and the only girl. All five of her brothers — my uncles — and my maternal grandfather are all rabbis."

Romirowsky just wrapped up a 12-year stint as rabbi of the 57-year-old Beth Emeth-B'nai Yitzhok in northeast Philadelphia, which merged July 1 with another synagogue as a result of changing demographics and financial issues.

He will serve as a transitional religious leader for a year while the EBJC searches for a permanent replacement for Rabbi Chaim Rogoff, who retired several months ago after an almost 30-year tenure.

"Ordinarily Rabbi Romirowsky would not even be looking for an interim position," said Mickey Kaufman, chair of the rabbinic search committee at the 650-family EBJC. "But his tenure ended so he was looking for another position, and we were looking for a rabbi. I think it's a good match. He is a very dedicated, very intelligent, and very engaging rabbi, and I think he will resonate well with the bulk of the congregation."

Under guidelines of the Conservative movement's Rabbinic Assembly, synagogues are strongly recommended to hire transitional rabbis as they search for a new permanent leader. The rules prevent interim rabbis from being hired as permanent replacements.

Romirowsky was chosen by a 12-member committee representing every segment of the synagogue.

To allow for additional congregational participation in the selection of a permanent rabbi, discussion groups have been organized under the direction of another congregant, Eric Rabinowitz. Information gathered at the 90-minute sessions, which will be run by facilitators through October, will be used to select "an ideal candidate," according to Kaufman.

Romirowsky said being surrounded by Jewish scholarship and observance in his own family undoubtedly influenced his job preferences.

His father served for many years at Oheb Zedeck Synagogue in what was Pennsylvania's coal-mining region.

"My father has many ties to that community," said Romirowsky. "It was a community made famous by being the birthplace of the author John O'Hara. My big claim to fame from Pottsville is that John O'Hara had lived on our block."

Coincidentally, the 151-year-old Oheb Zedeck — the only synagogue in Pottsville — will also close its doors after the High Holy Days. Its membership has declined to 40 members.

Romirowsky's family moved to Philadelphia while he was still a child after his father accepted another position.

Except for college, he has lived in or just outside the city ever since. The rabbi will continue to live in Merion, just outside Philadelphia, and commute to East Brunswick.

He and his wife, Sheila — who has chaired the volunteer program of the Philadelphia Art Museum — have four children, two grandchildren, and a dog named Jake.

Romirowsky has a bachelor's degree in political science from Columbia University and a master's degree from its Teachers College, where he is currently working on his doctoral thesis. He was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary and received a clinical diploma from the Division of Family Studies at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.

Romirowsky serves as a marriage and family therapist, with a practice in Philadelphia.

The rabbi said he looked forward to his involvement with the East Brunswick community.

"It's a community of interesting and committed people who want to grow themselves by learning more about their Jewish heritage and traditions and to be enriched by the beauty Jewish tradition has to offer," he said.