Home

Name: Magda Reyes

Occupation: Director of education at Har Sinai Temple, Pennington

Address: Pennington

Family: Three children. Son Paul is about to get his wings as a Naval aviator and is married to Trisha, a teacher, and living in Norfolk, Va. Daughter Kelly recently earned her teaching degree from American University Washington, D.C. and son Jake is in 7th grade and about to become bar mitzvah in August.

Community activities: Member of Principal's Network, National Association of Temple Educators, active with Har Sinai Temple Sisterhood and Jewish Family and Children's Service of Mercer.

Hobbies: "Fencing, reading, movies, and long walks in the park with my dog."

Self-portrait: "I am enthusiastic, optimistic, usually upbeat, and passionate about Jewish education. I love being around kids and the energy and ideas they have."

Motto: "The glass is always half full -- if you just look closely enough."

Greatest Accomplishment: "Professionally, it was the establishment of our 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Jewish preschool -- the Early Childhood Center at Har Sinai Temple last year and camp this summer. Children are already registered for September."

Bad habits: "Indulging in ice cream and Kit Kats."

Favorite TV programs: "I don't watch much TV but am forced to watch endless re-runs of 'Friends' with my children. We have all 10 seasons. Presently was are watching season 1 yet again!"

Favorite food: "Ice cream and Kit Kats with granola thrown in."

Best childhood memory:"I grew up in what is now Slovakia, in Eastern Europe. My parents were Holocaust survivors. During Communism, much of what the adults considered a nuisance was to me just a part of life and fun. The long lines we had to wait on every day to get bread and milk became an opportunity to play with friends. When the watermelon seller came, it became a daylong outdoor wait and social event. In the summer, getting ice cream meant a trip across town. It was an innocent childhood, full of independence, friends, and discovery. I played with my friend's pet duck, swam in a river, picked wild mushrooms and strawberries, ate sunflower seeds off the sunflower, hiked up mountains, and was attacked by a goat. I'll never forget seeing the Beatles in their movie 'A Hard Day's Night' when I was a young teen. When the Russians invaded, we left in the 1970s."

People don't know that I... "Never really learned to ride a bike."

Last book I read: "I am into the fantasy/science fiction genre and just finished 'The Ender's Game' series by Orson Scott Card."

Biggest asset in the local Jewish Community: "The dedicated creative and committed professionals and lay people I come across every day."

Biggest problem in the local Jewish community: "The challenge is to create the feeling of connectedness that so many people are looking for. We have to create a Jewish community that becomes an integral part of people's lives."

If I had more time I would... "Take classes at the Hebrew Union College or Gratz College."