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Name: Deborah Bravo

Occupation: Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, Edison

Address: Maplewood

Family: Married for 9 years to husband David, who is a professional musician specializing in keyboard and piano. They have two children: Samuel, 6, and Sophie, 4. Brother Barrett Kaiz works in IT and is married to Jennifer. They have two children, Madison and Will. Brother Jason is an assistant principal in a junior high school and is married to Liz, and they have one child, Brendan. Both brothers live in the Chicago area. Parents are Shelley and Gloria Kaiz of Deerfield, Ill.

Community: Currently serving in her second year as president of the Interfaith Clergy Association in the Metuchen-Edison area. Also currently serving as the president of the New Jersey West Hudson Valley area of Reform Rabbis. A member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis program committee. Board member of the Women's Rabbinic Network, serving as a liaison Hebrew Union College students. Currently serving on the strategic planning committee for NFTY, the Reform youth group.

Hobbies: ''I love music, movies, Israeli dancing.''

Self portrait: ''I'm a very energetic, spiritual person. I love people both in groups and one on one. I do what I can to make the world a little bit better.''

Motto: From Pirke Avot: ''Make for yourself a rabbi and acquire a friend.''

Greatest accomplishment: ''Personally my children and professionally reinvigorating Shabbat services at Temple Emanu El.''

Bad habits: ''Falling asleep with the TV on.''

Favorite TV show: ''Parenthood.''

Favorite Food: ''Butternut squash soup. It's one I also make at home.''

Best childhood memory: ''I spent many summers in a Reform religious camp in Wisconsin called Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute. I spent 17 summers there as a camper, counselor, and unit head and have many fond memories. We did everything – swimming, sports, we also did a lot of Israeli dancing and singing and I became fluent in Hebrew there.''

People don't know that I ... ''Played cello in the high school orchestra and with an ensemble in college.''

Last book I read: '''The Case for Israel' by Alan Dershowitz.''

The biggest asset in the Jewish community: ''We are in a heimish community which is supportive of each other.''

The biggest problem in the local Jewish community: ''The effect of the current economic crisis and demographics.''

If I had more time I would: ''Read and study more. Spend more time with my children. I'd love to observe other communities and observe other temples.''