Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski Joins Park Clean-Up

Repairing the world, one park at a time... Sunday, March 19 was a cold and blustery day, but that didn’t deter volunteers from Temple Emanu-El in Westfield and the Jewish Federation Greater MetroWest from their mission: to celebrate their pre-Passover “Mitzvah Day” by cleaning up trash at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. More than 30 volunteers of all ages bundled up, grabbed work gloves and trash bags (generously provided by the Madewell store in Paramus), and set out in multiple directions to clean up the park.

This year, Temple Emanu-El’s clean-up of Nomahegan Park was part of a larger “Mitzvah Day” spearheaded by Jewish Federation Greater MetroWest; over 800 people throughout New Jersey volunteered and helped spread the word. Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski came out to help the local volunteers and show her support for the health and legacy of Union County’s beautiful parks. “It was great to see all the volunteers who came out to help clean up Nomahegan Park,” says Commissioner Kowalski. “Seeing people of all ages who are looking to improve our environment is a wonderful thing and it shows how important it is to remind other residents the harm of litter and polluting our environment. Thank you to all of those who joined the clean-up.”

Doing a good deed—performing a mitzvah—is fundamental to Temple Emanu-El’s deeply-rooted commitment to Tikkun Olam, which tasks each individual to take action, to contribute something meaningful towards “repairing the world.” Formed in 2005, Temple Emanu-El’s Tikkun Olam Committee identifies ways in which temple members can lend a helping hand, particularly through social action projects that are intended to make life better for others in the surrounding communities and beyond. In addition to environmental projects, the Committee works on initiatives related to social advocacy and activism, offers community support, impacts local food insecurity through regular food drives and by volunteering at food banks, and provides homeless support in partnership with Family Promise—the nation’s leading organization working to prevent and end homelessness—by assisting families in the program.

Rabbi Victor Appell of Temple Emanu-El brought his 18-year-old son Lev to help. “We’re glad that we are able to be here and do this,” says Rabbi Appell. “In the New York Metropolitan area, it is all too easy to consider humanity as separate from the environment, and to fail to see the inextricable link between human and environmental health. We encourage our congregation to recognize and embrace this link, to serve as Shomrei Adamah or “Keepers of the Earth” by organizing park clean-ups, working together to control invasive species, hosting educational events, and other activities.”

The group reported that they collected 16 really full bags of trash, a very big bag of recyclables, even some discarded traffic cones and larger items. “I was astonished at the amount of trash we collected,” said Kathi Wolder, a Scotch Plains resident and member of the Tikkun Olam Committee. “Kids will be kids, but parents should try and make sure their children understand that it isn’t just littering; the trash has a detrimental effect on the balance and health of the local eco-system, and everyone needs to be part of ensuring that our beautiful parks here in Union County survive and thrive for future generations.”

The project was overseen by Heather Miara, Union County Clean Communities Coordinator, and Daniela Shebitz, Ph.D., Chair and Professor at the School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences at Kean University. “One of the most important parts about being Jewish is to understand the beauty of our environment and the importance of people as the protectors of the environment,” says Shebitz. “I think that events like this really help to bring together our congregation and with our community.”
For more information on Temple Emanu-El, or to volunteer, visit https://tewnj.org/socialaction/ or contact Jackie Grussgott at [email protected].