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Name: Rabbi Robert Scheinberg

Occupation: Rabbi of United Synagogue of Hoboken

Address: Hoboken

Family: Married 16 years to Rabbi Naomi Kalish, a hospital chaplain and chaplaincy educator at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. They have three daughters, 11, 8, and 5. Brother Michael is a computer professional married to Kyra. They have a 6-year-old son and live in Alexandria, Md. Mother is deceased. Father Hal Scheinberg married Roberta Lasken November 2009. They live Rockville, Md.

Community activities: Teacher of liturgy at The Jewish Theological Seminary where he is taking courses towards a Ph.D. in liturgy. Serves on the Rabbinical Assembly High Holidays Machzor Committee, the committee that is producing the new High Holiday Machsor due to be released for the coming holidays. Teaches at the Rabbinical Assembly Institute for Conversion and Outreach Education course through the Rabbinical Assembly of N.J. Member of the Hoboken Clergy Coalition. On the board of the Hoboken Homeless Shelter.

Hobbies: "I play various kinds of music on the piano and guitar and working on my academic activities."

Self-portrait: "Energetic, empathetic, and intellectual and playful."

Motto: "As I get older, I appreciate the words in Naomi Schemmer's song 'Al Kol Eleh'."

Greatest accomplishment: "I'm most proud of my family -- my wife andchildren. The opportunity to officiate at my father's wedding was a major highlight for me."

Bad habits: "Procrastinating."

Favorite TV: "I don't watch TV. I do listen to podcasts while walking or driving. I'm a big fan of NPR's Ira Glass's 'This American Life'."

Favorite food: "Indian. There are many kosher Indian restaurants in New York."

The best childhood memory: "As an undergraduate at Columbia, I was one of the founders of Columbia's Jewish a cappella group. Immediately after the fall of Communism, we performed in Poland and Hungary -- liturgy and Jewish songs."

People don't know: "That I had a brief career as a children's magician at one children's birthday party when I was a junior in High School."

Last book I read: " 'Building a Successful Volunteer Culture,' by Rabbi Charles Simon."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish community: "Our synagogue is welcoming, vibrant, and participatory and a great asset."

The biggest problem in the Jewish community: "One of our challenges is that Hoboken has a very transient area and we meet so many wonderful people who become involved in our community and often they will move to the suburbs within a few years. Hopefully we send them energized to the suburbs but we miss them."

If I had more time, I would... "Exercise and sleep more. It would enable me to do more."