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Name: Irit Malinsky

Occupation: Artist and art teacher at Temple Emanu El, Westfield and for special education classes in New Providence

Address: Westfield

Family: Married to Mark Malinsky, an artist who designs jewelry. They have three children: son Jacob Yotan, 13, recently a bar mitzvah on March 27 at Temple Emanu-El, Westfield; Daniel Eli, 10; and daughter Talia, 7.

Community activities: Raising funds for Jewish Family Service through the sale of her paintings at special show at L&M Art Gallery in Elizabeth April 18. In Israel, she worked to protect animals through a documentary she made.

Hobbies: "I enjoy doing photography, films, and writing. I also like swimming in the ocean and taking nature walks."

Self-portrait: "I think learning is never ending. I'm interested in always learning and using my learning to help people. I feel responsible for learning new things to serve my students and to be current in my classes. My aspiration has been to influence, inspire, and contribute to children's lives by demonstrating their endless potential and the world of opportunities. I believe that the arts and creativity enable children to learn and allows them to be positive contributing members of society. The use of children's entire involvement in the process provides every child with the necessary structure and discipline that's needed for problem solving in everyday life."

Greatest accomplishment: "I've had my art work exhibited in Israel at the Museum of Israeli Art in Ramat-Gan and at the Dizengoff Center, my films have appeared in various Israeli film festivals, and my photography has been featured in several magazines and most recently my paintings were on display at the Westfield Memorial Library. I served as cinematographer for a documentary project on Holocaust survivors produced by the Spielberg Foundation and my mission, if I can receive a grant, is to do a documentary about the survivors of the Holocaust in this area while they are still here. I feel as a Jew here, I am here to spread light."

Bad habits: "I can't say no and take on too much."

Favorite TV Show: "I don't like TV. If I watch it, it's for a nice movie."

Favorite food: "Cheesecake."

Best childhood memory: "Going to Sinai to swim in the ocean on weekends and for long vacations. My father had diving equipment and we learned to use it."

People don't know that I: "Was in the Israeli Air Force. My duties were like a social worker."

Last book I read: " 'Conversations with God,' by Neale D. Walsch."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "Coming from Israel, I realized the woman wasn't as involved in Judaism as women are in America. The women in Israel are always in the background and not involved with mitzvot. Being in the U.S., and as a member of Temple Emanu-El, I learned a lot about Judaism here from my Reform synagogue. I'm able to read from the Torah in my synagogue."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "When people are narrow-minded and restrictive and don't allow for others to express their own unique individual qualities."

If I had more time I would: "Go to the desert and meditate with my family either in Sinai or Arizona. It would be fantastic to paint there like Georgia O'Keefe did, just observing the nature. The quiet and peace is in her paintings."