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Name: Rabbi Ira Rothstein

Occupation: Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom, Manalapan

Address: Freehold

Family: Married to Jill for 27 years. They have two children: son, Garrett, a junior at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, and daughter, Alexa, a junior at Freehold High School. Parents are Beverly and Sol Rothstein. Three unmarried siblings: twin sisters Alisa and Mindy Rothstein. Alisa has an executive position in the wholesale clothing industry in New York City. Mindy is an entrepreneur in Los Angeles. Brother Joel is an attorney living in Beijing.

Hobbies: Reading, exercise, and sports.

Self-portrait: "I see myself as someone who strives to find the balance between being a public figure and a private person. I try to set aside time to be a good husband and dad and then making good use of that time. In the end it's about finding balance."

Motto: "You may think it's important, but is it a priority?"

Greatest accomplishment: Helping to found a synagogue and building it from the start. Jill Rothstein said her husband came to Temple Beth Shalom as a part time student rabbi in 1979 and never left. In the beginning there were few Jewish congregants who met at St. Robert's Catholic church in Freehold. The congregation grew and moved to a swim club. When the new synagogue was built he was involved with fundraising, and also with creating the symbolism in the design of the building with the architect.

Bad habits: "I'm sometimes a prisoner to my papers. I don't file in a timely fashion and I don't delete my mail in a timely fashion."

Favorite TV show: "I don't have one, but I do have a favorite radio show, the 'John Batchelor Show'."

Favorite food: "Hot dogs and pickles."

Best childhood memory: "Playing in the back of my grandparents' food store in the Bronx and Sunday doubleheaders at Yankee Stadium with my grandfather."

People don't know that I: "Meditate."

The last book I read: "The Israel Test," by George Gilder.

The biggest asset in the local Jewish community: "We are blessed with a large number of Jews. A number of those people truly care about the health and vibrancy of the Jewish community."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish community: "We have not yet figured out how to make prayer and study interesting and gripping enough, so that our adults will make it a regular part of their lives. When people find their Judaism to be both spiritually and intellectually stimulating, then a whole host of other positive developments will flow. Without relevant and inspiring prayer and study experience, there can be little future for us as a community."

If I had more time I would: "Take more courses on history, literature, and meditation."