Home

The state Department of Environmental Protection has rejected a request from a Lakewood rabbi -- on Rabbi Chaim Abadi's behalf -- to allow more than 2,000 trash bags of sacred Jewish items to remain at their current site in the township, maintaining that the items pose a threat to area drinking water.

Responding to a letter that gave him seven days to start moving the materials to a DEP-approved solid waste facility and 30 days to complete the work, Abadi submitted a letter to DEP May 11 from Rabbi Shlomo Gissinger, who "supports leaving the materials illegally filled in place" in a large hole on a wooded site off Vermont Avenue, DEP said.

Albert Belonzi, chief of the DEP's bureau of solid waste compliance and enforcement, answered Abadi with a May 14 letter expressing that DEP is willing to continue to work with Abadi to attain compliance, "but cannot continue to delay implementation of the removal and restoration of the site."

Abadi organized the drop-off site before Passover in order to prepare the texts, ritual clothing, and other items -- called shaimos -- for proper burial according to Jewish law. DEP is concerned about the materials' proximity to area drinking water wells.

"We need you to initiate the removal," Belonzi wrote to Abadi. "Considerable discretion has been shown thus far, due to the sensitive nature of the materials buried, but protection of public health and the environment remains the primary focus of this Department."

Abadi wrote in an email to The Jewish State that he has been instructed not to comment on the shaimos issue.

Previously, Abadi and Ocean County officials discussed a proposal to permanently bury the materials at the Ocean County Landfill, which Belonzi called "a viable option." The materials are currently covered with soil at the Vermont Avenue. Some of the bags are broken, creating concern for DEP over chemicals coming from bags with items other than paper. DEP cannot allow the materials to remain at their current location "due to potential water pollution and public health concerns," Belonzi wrote.

Belonzi asked Abadi to respond "within 72 hours as to when removal will begin, and where the material will be moved to." Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesman, told The Jewish State that Abadi acknowledged receipt of the letter and has discussed the matter with DEP, but said that no action has been taken as far as moving the materials is concerned.

"We are just waiting to see what happens next," Hajna said.

Regarding what penalty Abadi would face if he doesn't move the materials, Hajna said DEP is "not discussing penalties at this point." "We are aiming for compliance," Hajna said.