Rabbi Richard Spiegel Rabbi Richard Spiegel's childhood provided an early path for his first steps toward becoming a rabbi.

"I had a strong Jewish upbringing," Spiegel said.

The oldest of four brothers, Spiegel grew up in Baltimore, Md., where he went to Hebrew school, Jewish camps and synagogue every Sabbath.

But not until he was a philosophy student at the University of Maryland did he realize the direction his life was taking. A good friend, Howard Wasserman, the director of the on-campus Jewish organization Hillel, was the first to suggest Spiegel consider becoming a rabbi. Spiegel found it good advice.

Spiegel is now the rabbi at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks, where he serves a congregation of about 600 families. Temple Etz Chaim, at 1080 Janss Road, is a conservative synagogue dedicated to the growth of Jewish life in the Conejo Valley.

The synagogue has weekly Shabbat services, monthly Tot Shabbat services and religious school family services, weekday minyan services, B'nai Mitzvah celebrations, holiday and festival services and educational classes for children and adults.

"It is most important that religion speaks to people in their lives today. We should take knowledge from our sacred text and apply it to our lives and help us to live today," Spiegel said.

He's found traveling to Israel to be a blessing in his life.

The first time Spiegel visited the country was in college. Now he's gone to the Holy Land about 15 times and studied there for a year.

He said he enjoys how the Jewish homeland is a place where one can experience both ancient and modern Judaism. The wall of the second temple and the holy city of Jerusalem are among the surroundings that make it historically aweinspiring, and those living modern Jewish lives bring vibrancy to the area.

Life is bustling in Thousand Oaks, too, where the rabbi finds people can sometimes be occupied with too many things. He reminds his congregation that children shouldn't become so busy they don't remember what is really important- being active members of the synagogue.

Spiegel and his wife, Linda, have four children and a daughter-in-law.

As a rabbi he enjoys the aspect of being with people at the most sacred moments of their lives, Spiegel said. Such moments include naming babies, bar and bat mitzvahs, holiday observances, weddings and funerals.

"Nothing is mundane as a rabbi. I never feel the work I do is not important. Every day is important," Spiegel said.

Temple Etz Chaim welcomes new families. Friday night service is at 8:15 p.m., and Saturday morning service is at 10 a.m.

For more information regarding affiliation, contact the temple office at (805) 497-6891 or e-mail membership@templeetzchaim.org.