By Natalie Emerson
Assistant Editor
Shomrei Olam – Jewish Environmental Advocates of Cincinnati marks a decade of dedicated service this year. The all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit works to make environmental sustainability a community-wide commitment through education, advocacy, and hands-on action.
Founded on the principle of shared responsibility for the natural world, Shomrei Olam has spent the past ten years inviting Cincinnati’s Jewish community to take concrete steps toward a healthier environment. Activities have included litter collection, invasive species removal, reforestation and tree planting, as well as recycling drives for batteries, light bulbs, electronic media, and electronics.
Educational efforts have covered plastics, composting, eco-friendly products, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), local facility tours, and a film on area landslides. The group has also produced two practical pamphlets—one on planning green events and another on sustainable living—and is now finalizing the Shomrei Olam Little Green Book, a guide covering a dozen areas where individuals and families can make a difference.
Partnerships with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation, the Mayerson JCC and its Day Camp, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, the Mill Creek Alliance, and the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub have strengthened the organization’s reach and impact.
Board President Lew Ebstein sums up the group’s approach simply: “We only have one shared environment. It’s up to all of us to care for it.”
Jewish tradition frames that duty with equal clarity. A midrash in Koheleth Rabbah warns: “Do not ruin or destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one left to fix it.”
To mark the milestone, Shomrei Olam invites the community to a special afternoon at the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub on Sunday, November 8, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy a private tour led by Executive Director Chad Planner, a hands-on recycling activity, and light bites and drinks while celebrating a decade of accomplishments and looking ahead to the work still needed.
Those interested in learning more or joining the volunteer team are encouraged to reach out. Ten years of action. A shared responsibility. A greener future.
