One Minute with Michelle Rich

Name: Michelle Rich

Occupation: Director of Education and Youth Activities for the New Jersey Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. She has held that position for 18 years.

Address: Manalapan

Family: Married 30 years to Alan Rich, a salesman. Two children: Rebecca, formerly a director of a Day Care Center, is now teaching Hebrew School and working with youth groups while staying home with 6-month-old daughter Jordan. Rebecca is married to Bob Mason, a morning radio show DJ in Pittsburgh, Penn. Son Alex is a second lieutenant in the US Air Force stationed in Montana. Sister Judie is married to Neil Barkin and living in Atlanta--the same city as her son, Jonathan, and his wife Elizabeth. Judie has two granddaughters, Abby and Miriam. Sister Holly is married to Len Myerson. They live in Orlando, Fla. Mother, Lila Phillips, lives in Tamarac Fla.

Community Activities: Current Chairman of the ritual committee of Temple Beth Ahm, Aberdeen, after a year as co-chair.

Hobbies: "I do a lot of crafting, including knitting. crocheting, and sewing. I also do a lot of Hebrew calligraphy and make Ketubat."

Self portrait: "I am an energetic and creative individual. I am committed and devoted to my family, USYers, the Conservative movement, and my temple."

Motto: "You are not obligated to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it."

Greatest accomplishment: "Aside from my children, my greatest accomplishment is training the future leaders of the Conservative Movement as regional director for 18 years."

Bad habit: "It's very hard for me to say no. I'll help anyone to do anything."

Favorite TV Show: "'Gray's Anatomy.' People know that if I'm not at a meeting not to call because I'm watching the show."

Favorite Food: "Sushi. I am addicted to raw salmon and raw tuna."

Best childhood memory: "The Seders at our house. It was always an exciting time at our house with the relatives coming and drinking four cups of wine. As the youngest, I was always the one to say the Four Questions. Even when I was married and four months pregnant, I was the youngest at that Seder."

People don't know that..."I've taken to painting series pictures that look like the ones painted by Andy Warhol (based on the concept of his series of portraits of Marilyn Monroe and soup cans). I base them on photos. I also collect frogs in all sorts of mediums."

Last book I read: "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. "It's a fictional account of a family who had a baby girl in order to provide the bone marrow and blood for an older sister who had leukemia. It's the story of the younger girl's struggle and her dealing with having to make donations of her body to her sister."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "Are the resources available through the different Jewish organizations -- including reaching out and offering training through synagogue boards, Hebrew school education activities, and JCC events -- all providing different opportunities for people."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "That people have multiple commitments and that these resources are vying for their time."

If I had more time... "I would do more community service. I've done Mitzvah clowning (dressing up as a clown and performing at hospitals and assisted living senior centers). I would do more of that."