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Name: Alisa Forman

Occupation: Cantor at Beth Ahm Shalom, Lakewood

Address: Spring Lake

Family: Single. Brother Rabbi Joe Forman, rabbi at Or Chadash, Flemington; sister Rabbi Sharon Forman teaches at Westchester Reform in Scarsdale, N.Y., is married to Evan Marx, a cardiologist. They live in Scarsdale with their three children. Sister Dr. Julie Forman-Kay is a molecular biologist at Sick Kids Hospital at the University of Toronto; she has two children and lives in Toronto. Parents: retired Rabbi Lawrence Forman and Vivian of Norfolk, Va.

Community Activities: Former member of the New Jersey Cantor's Ensemble.

Hobbies: "Playing the guitar, playing the cello, exercising with a personal trainer, taking piano lessons, and always reading about different Jewish perspectives."

Self-portrait: "Cantor David Amar gave this assessment: 'The most kindhearted person in the world. Our synagogue Congregation Ahavat Olam currently is in the midst of construction and she opened the doors of her office to let me use her instruments, her music and she does a lot of stuff for me. If I need a book, she will order it for me. She is an amazing musician and has a magnificent voice. At the end of January, our congregations had a joint service together and the place was packed. There weren't enough chairs or books for all who came.'"

Motto: "The reward of the lecture is in the running to the lecture."

Greatest Accomplishment: "My recital in cantorial school, where I did a project about the music from the Holocaust and presented it with kids from my choir at the time."

Bad habits: "I'm not the neatest or the most organized person."

Favorite TV Show: "These past two weeks TV has been the Olympics -- especially watching the figure skating events."

Favorite food: "Blueberry pie."

Best childhood memory: "Sitting around the Shabbat table and singing. We used to go to a retreat for rabbis and their families from all over the greater North Carolina area for a week in the summer. We would have Shabbat there -- it was like a community there where we could relax, live in cabins, be ourselves, and sing a lot."

People don't know that I: "Had the part of Adelaide in the musical 'Guys and Dolls' when I was in high school. I'm also a big Shakespeare fan. I've seen all of his comedies."

Last book I read: "'Mirrors in Time -- a Psycho Spiritual Journey through the Jewish Year,' by Joel Ziff. The author looks at different psychological theories and how they work with the Jewish Holiday cycle."

Biggest asset in the local Jewish community: "We are situated in the midst of an Orthodox community which is inspiring in many ways."

Biggest problem in the in the local Jewish community: "Our biggest asset is also the biggest challenge, especially for a female cantor in that community where women's voices aren't allowed to be heard in public."

If I had more time I would... "Like to revive the productions I did in cantorial school. I'd like to go back to school to study more."