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Name: Rabbi Jacob S. Friedman

Occupation: Rabbi of Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island

Address: Lakewood

Family: Married for 24 years in a second marriage to Alison, a retired Solomon Schechter teacher who taught in Howell. Together they have five children -- three sons and two daughters.

Community activities: A member of the Interfaith Council of Ocean County. Active in the Shore Area of Rabbis supporting Southern Ocean County Hospital and also serving people who are disadvantaged and need transportation.

Hobbies: Reading and doing puzzles.

Self-portrait: "I'm a caring, giving, and compassionate person. I love my family and I work hard for my congregation and community."

Motto: "May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you may live."

Greatest accomplishment: "Watching students achieve and accomplish for themselves. I'm very proud of the fact that I encouraged five of my students to eventually become rabbis (two are teachers of Judaism, the others are pulpit rabbis) when I was with my former congregation Temple Beth Torah in Ocean, when I was there for 37 years."

Bad habit: "Watching TV in the middle of the night."

Favorite TV: "Presently, 'Catch 21,' a game show on the GSN Channel."

Favorite food: "Brisket -- my wife's brisket is the best."

Best childhood memory: "I was born and lived in Jersey City. The best memories I have are of the time I spent with my parents. My parents would take me out to dinner, or we'd all go to the park together when my father didn't work. My father owned a beverage company. He would take me to work and later while I was studying at the yeshiva I used to work in my father's business. I knew I wasn't going to be a businessman."

People don't know that I... "Enjoy science fiction movies. I really enjoyed 'Avatar'."

Last book I read: " 'Have a Little Faith,' by Mitch Albom. It's about Rabbi Albert Lewis. We served together on the youth commission of the United Synagogue of America. And my daughter and son and law were members of his congregation after he retired."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "All the day schools. They provide the education for the future generation -- a more detailed kind of Jewish education which many students unfortunately in an afternoon situation do not get."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "There is too little knowledge of Judaism in the Jewish community."

If I had more time I would... "Hopefully spend more time with the family."