A Mezuzah at the EPA: Lee Zeldin Brings Jewish Values to Washington

WASHINGTON – Today in Washington, something rare and beautiful unfolded—not in a synagogue or yeshiva, but at the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, a proud Jew, military veteran, former Congressman, and cabinet member in President Donald Trump’s administration, hosted a deeply personal and Jewishly resonant ceremony. In front of senior staff, members of Congress, and White House officials, Zeldin inscribed sacred letters into The Washington Torah—a scroll still being written in honor of Jewish life in the nation’s capital.

The words chosen for inscription were deliberate and timely.
From Devarim (Deuteronomy 20:19): “Do not destroy its trees, for man is like a tree in the field.”
And from Bereishis (Genesis 2:15): “L’avdah U’leshamrah”—to work and to protect the earth.

These verses perfectly reflect the environmental mission of the EPA while drawing on eternal Torah values—reminding us that caring for the earth is not just policy, it’s a mitzvah.

Following the Torah inscription, Zeldin affixed a mezuzah to his office door. As the Shema Yisrael was recited, it wasn’t just a symbolic act—it was a statement: Jewish identity belongs everywhere, even in the highest offices of American government.

Zeldin spoke candidly about his Jewish roots, sharing a story of his great-grandfather, a devoted chossid of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe. His reflections on faith and public service hit home for everyone present.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad), offered an overview of the program with his trademark blend of clarity and purpose. He reminded the audience that while Washington may shape policy, Torah shapes souls.

In a city known for its politics and power plays, today was a moment of emunah—faith, pride, and purpose. A reminder that a mezuzah on a federal office door isn’t just possible—it’s America at its best.

Bringing a Sefer Torah to the highest echelons in our government and imparting its teachings is the ultimate kiddush Hashem” said Ezra Friedlander, CEO of The Friedlander Group who went on to praise Rabbi Shemtov for disseminating Torah values in an environment that can derive important lessons.