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Name: Cantor Arthur Katlin

Occupation: Cantor for Adath Israel Congregation, Lawrenceville

Address: Lawrenceville

Family: Married for 26 years to Evette, who holds a Ph.D. in health and works as an addiction counselor specializing in substance abuse. Two children: Shara, 16 and Aaron, 11. Parents are Amy and Charles Katlin, who live in Boca Raton, Fla. Sister Robin is married to Steve Rosen; they both work in real estate and have two daughters.

Community Activities: A member of the Clergy of Lawrence Township. Volunteers at the Greenwood House home for the aged, does programming for Jewish Family and Children's Services through their Kosher Cafe and Golden Agers. Part of rotating clergy teaching in the Introduction to Judaism class for Jews and non-Jews sponsored by the Board of Rabbis of the Princeton Mercer Bucks Jewish Federation. Has represented the Jewish community at fundraisers for local Interfaith Caregivers organization. A member of the New Jersey Cantors Concert Ensemble and also the Philadelphia Cantors Ensemble. Both groups hold concerts where the funds raised go toward scholarship assistance for cantorial students.

Hobbies: "Who has time for hobbies? I do enjoy being active, working out at the gym with aerobic activity and take karate classes with my son. I also play ping-pong and go bowling and roller-skating with inline skates. When I'm near water, I enjoy swimming and boating."

Self-portrait: "I'm outgoing. I enjoy working with people and I love music. My passions are music and architecture. I love animals enough to know that my wife and I aren't home enough to take care of one. I'm a positive person who tries to improve myself and believes in ordinary miracles. I believe in the importance of humor as a way to move beyond challenges. For six years, I was a musician in the entertainment business. As a cantor, I'm more involved with real life."

Motto: " 'The best medicine is a smile; a smile will carry you for miles.' To my students I say, 'You are only in competition with yourselves.'"

Greatest accomplishment: "My family and kids."

Bad habits: "I have trouble making decisions. I'm not always comfortable receiving praise. I'm too hard on myself and I don't focus on my achievements."

Favorite TV Show: "Watching science fiction like 'Star Trek' or 'Harry Potter' movies."

Favorite food: "Chocolate."

Best childhood memory: "My bar mitzvah. It was memorable because it brought the family together. I got to see relatives like my grandmother and grandfather who had moved away. We held the big Kiddush lunch for the congregants. We held the bar mitzvah celebration in my home with family and friends and also had on a private party in my home with my friends. In contrast, at my daughter's bat mitzvah, between the dinner beforehand and the congregation oneg and the evening of just our family and the next day holding a Mother's Day brunch for the out-of-town guests -- when we added all up 850 lunches were served. My bar mitzvah was a much more intimate -- we didn't have a band. It was mostly family and at the house."

People don't know that I: "Studied architecture, and if I weren't a cantor, I probably would be in real estate or interior design. In college, I also had a large concentration in the performing arts. I spent six years working as a musician and in the entertainment industry before studying and becoming be a cantor."

Last book I read: "I read a lot but I don't have time for fiction. My favorite book is 'The Hobbit' by Tolkien."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "The biggest asset is the people -- the community. Their reaching out, their generosity, and devotion to education. It is their outreach to humanity."

The biggest problem in the Jewish communities: "The increased focus on secularism and decrease in spiritualism."

If I had more time I would... "Spend more time with my kids and family, I'd be more involved with theater and more active in the activities I love -- boating, swimming."