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About

Zamru is an independent Jewish community that meets monthly on Friday nights in the Greater Princeton, NJ area. Founded in 2009, Zamru prioritizes music, prayer and food in celebration of Shabbat. Our gatherings are held at various locations, including area synagogues, Princeton’s campus, and—weather permitting—beautiful local backyards.


We are a cross-denominational, egalitarian community that welcomes everyone. Our services are defined by a "global fusion" of music, featuring:

  • Spirited Prayer: Nearly the entire Shabbat service is sung aloud.

  • Diverse Melodies: We use new and old tunes from Spain, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

  • Live Instrumentation: Our prayer is accompanied by guitar, mandolin, and percussion.

  • Active Participation: We sit in concentric circles and invite you to clap, hum, sing, and sway. Children are encouraged to use the scarves and shakers we provide.

  • Accessible Prayer Book: Hebrew, transliteration and English translation sit side-by-side in our siddur (prayer book). Whether you know every word or are visiting for the first time, we hope you will feel at home at Zamru.

Food and socializing is an essential part of the Zamru experience!

  • The Nosh: Family-friendly appetizers before the service.

  • The Potluck: A beloved vegetarian potluck dinner following the one-hour service.

Leadership

Zamru is led entirely by volunteers.

Volunteer Leadership Team: Margaret Berger, Ben Edelman, Dean Edelman, Pam Edelman, Gail Gendler, Melissa Lane, Maya Wahrman, and Brenda Bodenheimer Zlatin.

Families

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At Zamru, Shabbat is a joyful occasion to be celebrated by the entire family. Children are truly welcome. Please contact info@zamru.org if there is anything we can do to make Zamru a welcoming experience for you/your child.

Serving Our Greater Princeton Community
Zamru is a traveling Jewish community hosting spirited musical Shabbat services and shared meals. We warmly welcome participants from Princeton, Montgomery, Belle Mead, Rocky Hill, Lawrenceville, West Windsor, Skillman, and Hopewell, as well as neighbors across Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Bucks Counties.