Blog

Neil Marglous
Member of TI for 44 years, active lay leader, and community volunteer

“Although my family has been members of Temple Israel for over 35 years, I’ve found that as an individual and as I’ve gotten older and retired, I’ve become closer to my Jewish faith and beliefs. A major reason for this has been my involvement with the Temple and the time that I now have to spend helping TI. The more I have been involved by serving on the Board of Trustees, and most currently, serving as an officer on the Executive Committee, I have appreciated more what the Temple means to me and my wife.

“I feel that you will only get out of the Temple what you are willing to put into it. If I feel that the Temple leadership – who represents our Temple members – needs to respond or deal with situations that affect our Temple, community, or nation, then one must be willing to get involved. I am reminded of a verse Rabbi Amy Feder shared where she said, ‘You can do, and you can be, better than you have been. The fixing of the world must start with you’.

“At the same time, our congregation will only exist if our members support TI through their membership dues and by supporting other fundraising events. I would hope that one’s membership allows them to utilize our Rabbis as their needs require, while at the same time appreciate the Temple offerings greater than just the High Holy Days season. I know that I have gotten a lot more out of the Temple by attending Friday evening services more often than I have in the past, as well as getting to know the Rabbis better as individuals, so than strictly as my religious leaders.

“Most of all, I have appreciated the relationships that I have developed with other members in the Temple Israel family. I feel they will be there for me if the time would ever come that I need their help, just like I would be there for them.”

Neil Marglous serves on TI’s Membership Committee helping to streamline the annual dues process, and chairs TI’s Service Squad, a volunteer group that serves our TI and the greater community by helping seniors, doing special projects at the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, helping staff prepare and set up for the High Holy Days, and so much more! Join Neil and the Squad: www.ti-stl.org/ServiceSquad