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Name: Rabbi Nasanayl Braun

Occupation: Rabbi for Congregation Brothers of Israel, Elberon, and teacher of Jewish philosophy and Bible at Hillel Yeshiva High School.

Address: Long Branch.

Family: Married 11 years to Tamar, who also teaches Hillel Yeshiva. They have six children including two sets of twins: Avi and Tova, 9; son Ariel, 7; Eitan, 3; and 8-month-old twins Taia and Shai. Brother Nachum, an actuary, is married to Danielle. They have one child and live in Queens. Sister Adeena is married to Yair Mayerfeld, an attorney. They live in Teaneck with their two children. Shulamit is married to Paul Hurwitz, a computer consultant. They have one child and live in Boston, Mass. Parents are Morton, a professor of mathematics at Queens College and Zelda Braun. They live in Queens.

Community activities: For the past four years, very active and involved as a board member and fundraiser for the newly formed modern Orthodox day school Yeshiva at the Jersey Shore located in the Deal JCC. Serves on the local kashrut agency, The Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate supervising certification of restaurants. A member of the Chaplaincy Committee of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County.

Hobbies: Cooking.

Self-portrait: "I have a good sense of humor -- it's a dry sense of humor. I'm interested in the religious world in Jewish law and philosophy. I'm motivated with a real sense of communal responsibility to Jewish people. I like the rabbinate because there are so many different facets to it touching people's lives as opposed to just teaching."

Motto: "What is more important, the teaching or the deed? The rabbis concluded that the teaching is more important if it leads to the deed. The goal is the deed, guided by the teaching."

Greatest Accomplishment: "Managing a family of six children and building a day school."

Bad habits: "I have a low tolerance for stupidity."

Favorite TV programs: "We don't have TV reception coming into the house. Primarily, we don't have it because of the kids. There is too much violence and profanity and it's everywhere, even on the sitcoms. When I was growing up my favorite TV show was 'Spencer for Hire' -- a really lousy show."

Favorite food: "Red meat in all its forms, especially steak and lamb chops."

Best childhood memory:"Traveling through Europe with my family when I was 12 years old. After we spent a year in Israel, where my father was a professor of mathematics, the family spent a month traveling in France, England, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy and visiting the cities of Vienna, Amsterdam, and Venice."

People don't know that... "The first time I visited the Jersey shore was when I came to this area to interview for this position. I'm thrilled to be here. We love the area, we love the people have a wonderful shul."

Last book I read: "The Mystical Messiah -- The Life and Times of Shabatai Sevi," by Gershon Sholem. "Its about a 17th century false messiah who converted to Islam at the end of his life."

Biggest asset in the local Jewish Community: "The day school. For Orthodox families, the day school is the most critical piece of the community. The shul has many amenities, but the day school is key to the community."

Biggest problem in the local Jewish community: "A lot of people work in New York City and its possible the cost of transportation and the prices of housing make hinder settlement here."

If I had more time I would... "Go for my Ph.D. in Jewish philosophy. I don't have a moment to breathe now, but if I had time, I'd go for a Ph.D."