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Name: Rabbi Joshua Hess

Occupation: Spiritual leader of Congregation Anshe Chesed

Address: Linden

Family: Married for seven years to Naava, a 5th grade teacher at the Kushner school in Livingston. They have four children: two sons, Dani and Akiva; and two daughters, Esti and Dalia -- the first girls in the family in more than 100 years. Rabbi Hess is the oldest of seven sons of Mark and Stacee Hess. His parents and brothers made aliyah to Israel seven years ago and live in Jerusalem.

Community activities: A member of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA). Actively involved with the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey. A chaplain for Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation at West Orange. On Jan. 9, 2010, Rabbi Hess will be teaching two classes. One is about the Jewish take on civilian casualties and on the prisoner exchange of Gilad Shalit at the 10th annual Leil Iyun to be held at the Jewish Community Center Scotch Plains.

Hobbies: "I love to play sports, specifically basketball."

Self-portrait: "Most importantly I'm genuine. I'm down to earth, warm, caring, and approachable."

Motto: "'Love peace and pursue peace.' It's a saying taken from Aaron, Moses' brother."

Greatest accomplishment: "Getting married and starting a family and being ordained as a rabbi from Ner Israel in Baltimore."

Bad habits: "I'm a hard worker -- a habit that allows me to work too hard and miss out on time that could be spent with the family."

Favorite TV: "We don't have a TV. But I watch one program -- 'Extreme Makeover Home Edition' on the computer. I enjoy the help it gives others and the community getting together in support of others."

Favorite food: Steak.

Best childhood memory: "Being part of my private Los Angeles Jewish high school's basketball team for three years and being the only team from our school's history to advance to the basketball playoffs in the private school division. It was just being part of the greatest basketball team in our school's history."

People don't know that I... "am super competitive at anything."

Last book I read: "Defending Identity," by Natan Sharansky. "It is a discussion of being supportive of each religion having its own identity, as opposed to the song by John Lennon ('Imagine'). He argues against that."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish community: "It's our congregation, because it is the center for Judaism for the Linden community. In addition to our synagogue we also have a yeshiva that's been part of our shul for eight years. This is the hub of Judaism in Linden."

The biggest problem in the Jewish community: "It's not just a problem in our community, it's the Jewish community in general. It's the high cost of tuition for Jewish education."

If I had more time... "I would spend more time with my wife and children."