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Name: Ronit Bivas

Occupation: Director of Alef Beit Sefer Early Childhood Center, Temple Beth El, Hillsborough

Address: Hillsborough

Family: Married 20 years to Sabi, who works in IT for Merck. Son Daniel, 19, is a student at the University of Maryland. Twins Jonathan and Michelle, 16, are students at Hillsborough High School. Brother Mike Szteinberg lives in Queens; brother Ben Szteinberg, an accountant, is married to Karen, an administrator at a JCC in Long Island. They live in Long Island with their two daughters, Rebecca, 17, and Rachel, 14. Parents Itzhak and Ilana Szteinberg live in Monroe.

Community activities: Member of Temple Beth El, Hillsborough, where she was a junior youth group leader for a number of years. She is a Girl Scout co-leader and volunteer at the school library.

Hobbies: "Whenever I can, I like to go ice skating. I enjoy fishing and doing word puzzles and Sudoku."

Self-portrait: "I'm dedicated to whatever I do. I see myself as a very positive person, always looking not only on the bright side but also looking for the bright side of things."

Motto: "Who is rich? He who is satisfied with his lot."

Greatest accomplishment: "My family."

Bad habits: "I'm an emotional eater. When I'm upset, I will eat."

Favorite TV: "Old sitcoms like 'The Honeymooners' or 'I Love Lucy'. My current favorite is 'American Idol'."

Favorite food: "Potatoes prepared in any way -- fried, mashed, baked."

Best childhood memory: "Holidays with my family. Especially the High Holidays and going to services with my dad. I would sit with my dad. It was a Conservative temple where everyone was sitting together. I remember everyone fasting for Yom Kippur and I didn't have to."

People don't know that I... "Would love to make aliyah and move to Israel. I was born in Israel and went to yeshiva. Israel is my passion and the place where I'd love to live."

Last book I read: " 'The Last child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,' by Richard Louv. It's about children getting out in nature because 'Nature inspires creativity in a child by demanding visualization and the full use of the senses.' I find it's a problem, because there isn't as much free time."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "Having the many different temples in the area, because it gives people the opportunity to choose where they want to go and where they want to form a community."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "A lack of community in the different areas. I would like to see the different Jewish organizations become more united, especially for the children so they would have the ability to socialize with the other children regardless of where they go to synagogue."

If I had more time: "I would travel more, learn to play the piano, and learn to bake gourmet desserts."