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As the first full-time rabbi of a growing East Brunswick synagogue, Rabbi Jay Weinstein says he plans to connect with congregants in a variety of ways, whether it's in shul, in the coffee shop, or on the basketball court.

Weinstein, 28, will join the Young Israel of East Brunswick on Aug. 1, replacing Rabbi Yaakov Wasser, who is retiring after serving as a part-time rabbi for 30 years of the shul's 35-year existence.

"I enjoy connecting with people, I enjoy connecting with them on various levels," Weinstein said.

"I believe that people are really looking to create a relationship with the rabbi, and I really look forward to that," he said.

Young Israel now has 200 member families, compared with about 150 five years ago and 120 when synagogue president Moshe Strauss moved to East Brunswick 12 years back. The shul's maturation means there is more diversity in its membership, with growing numbers of young children but also older congregants, Strauss said. Therefore, he said, the shul needs a "young, dynamic, exciting rabbi" like Weinstein to tend to its educational, social, and halakhic needs on a full-time basis.

"The community is extremely excited to have him come," Strauss said.

Weinstein, who received his rabbinical ordination and a B.A. in accounting from Yeshiva University as well as a master's in special education from Columbia University, is currently the assistant rabbi at Congregation Shaare Tefilla in Dallas and the program coordinator for the Community Kollel of Dallas. Weinstein oversees the synagogue's youth programming, and said he often sees that parents often come to a shul specifically because their children are enjoying their time there.

That's why a focus on youth is part of Weinstein's plan of making East Brunswick an even more attractive place for young Jewish families to move. Weinstein also noted that he is a "peer in terms of age" for young families, which will help him serve that demographic.

"Youth is our future, so it's certainly worthwhile investing in," Weinstein said.

"[Children] should grow up with a love and passion for the shul," he said.

Since he will be Young Israel's first full-time rabbi, Weinstein believes he can make the shul a destination not just for services, but increased learning, Israel programming, chessed, and community activism.

"I think the shul could become a multi-faceted place where people are involved in various areas," he said.

While the shul continues to grow, Weinstein said one challenge is maintaining a "tight-knit type of environment" where "everyone feels that the shul belongs to them."

Young Israel received 50 resumes for the rabbi position, and from that pool conducted 15 phone interviews, eight in-person interviews, and Shabbat visits for two candidates, Strauss said. Weinstein said he was impressed by "the warmth of the families in the shul, the excitement and vision they had to build the shul and build the community."

The community greatly appreciates how Wasser helped Young Israel grow during his 30 years there, Strauss said. Wasser and his wife Aviva "will remain an active part of the community," he said.

Weinstein and his wife Sharon have two children, daughter Ora, who will soon be 4, and son Ayal, who is 1. Sharon will be teaching at the Moshe Aaron Yeshiva High School (MAYHS) in South River. In Dallas, Weinstein said his synagogue drew Jews of various religious and geographic backgrounds, which will help him treat each member of Young Israel as a "precious person."

"I've really been able to be exposed to all different types of Jews," he said.