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Name: Joanna Alexander

Occupation: Cantor at Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro

Address: Rahway

Family: Married seven years in March to Jacob Alexander, a chemistry professor at Barnard College. Older sister Sharon Faire is a trained architect married to Adam Faire, a patent attorney. They live with their children Maya, 3, and Benjamin, 9 months, outside of Chicago in Palatine, Ill. Parents Danie and Lenore Mass live in Chicago.

Community activities: Member of the New Jersey Cantors Concert Ensemble. A member of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music. Involved with the Jewish Fund for Justice working in community organizing.

Hobbies: "Spending time reading, watching TV, sometimes skiing and doing yoga."

Self-portrait: "I wear a lot of hats. In my professional life, I try to create a balance in the life of the community in finding their own voice and connection to God. I'm a fun person. I like to laugh, debate, and can spend hours talking with others."

Greatest accomplishment: "Becoming a cantor graduating in 2008 and ultimately being successful as a cantor at Temple Rodeph Torah for a year-and-a-half."

Bad habits: "My secret vice is watching trashy TV and the vampire series."

Favorite TV: "Most of the shows are taped. I watch the shows like 'Big Love' on HBO and those on Showtime."

Favorite Food: "I'm a third-generation chocolate baker. I love chocolate cookies."

Best childhood memory: "Winning a music competition playing the flute when I was in 5th grade. I had been playing flute for two years when my teacher signed me up for the competition. As a student, I had trouble reading. Winning the flute competition gave me a self-confidence I had never felt. Being good at something really helped."

People don't know that I: "Had a learning disability and had difficulty reading, but I had learned to read music and later, through music, I learned the Hebrew letters. The experience has made me develop methods I use in teaching Hebrew to help students learn their Haftarah portion in a shorter time."

Last book I read: " 'Kushiel's Scion' by Jacqueline Carey, the fourth book in a fantasy series."

Biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "Temple Rodeph Torah has set up an organization -- TRT CARES -- for those in the community with legal, financial, or eviction problems. It's amazing the number of people who have been helped."

The biggest problems in the local Jewish communities: "The biggest challenge is the current economic crisis. It's affecting the amount of philanthropy given to non-profit organizations."

If I had more time, I would: "Continue to do what I do."