Temple Will Host Elsie Foster for Her Support
Highland Park, New Jersey, Mayor Elsie Foster will be honored at a gala hosted by Highland Park Conservative Temple March 9 in recognition of her steadfast support for the local Jewish community and Israel.
“She has been unusually outspoken and courageous, totally genuine in her expressions of solidarity with us,” Rabbi Eliot Malomet said. “She has a natural strength and empathy in addition to being a very capable and skilled mayor.”
Recognizing Foster is unusual for a synagogue that often honors members at their annual fundraising event.
“The gala sustains and supports the temple, and it enables us to honor someone that enriches our community story,” Malomet said.
Foster directed questions from JLife Magazine to the Highland Park public information officer, Harry Glazer.
“Her support for religious communities is not exclusive to Jewish organizations,” he said. “One of her guiding principles is to meet with all respected county and state organizations as well as individual residents. She thinks very highly of the Jewish Federation and will take counsel from them.”
Foster, who is in her early 60s, consults with the Mayor’s Area Faith Leaders Group and attends events at local houses of worship.
“She tries to show up at community events when asked whenever possible,” Glazer said.
“She has her own personal trajectory of involvement and accomplishment,” Malomet said. “She is someone that we are genuinely proud of and enjoy a close relationship with.”
Though not Jewish, Foster calls Malomet “my rabbi.”
Foster, a Democrat, is in her first full term as mayor. She was elected to fill the remaining year in the term of the previous mayor, who resigned in December 2022. She was a member of the borough council for 21 years. She previously served as council president and chair for the Public Safety Committee, which oversees first-responder agencies. In prior terms, she served as council liaison to numerous other city agencies.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Foster had police check on members of synagogues and deliver news stories of the Hamas massacre so that Jews who were worshipping would know what happened. “She knew the Jewish community would want to know about that,” Glazer said.
“I thought her response to October 7th was unbelievable and remarkable,” said Malomet. “She stood with us. She spoke from the heart from a place of deep religious faith which I honor and respect. She cried with us, attended our community vigils.”
Many in the local Jewish community have ties to victims in Israel.
“This is a local story for us and she’s aware of that. Where we hurt, she hurts,” Malomet said.
Foster organized a nonpolitical vigil for the victims in Israel, which was well attended. “It was really cathartic for a lot of members of the Jewish community,” Glazer said.
The mayor has resisted calls for a borough council resolution, both for those seeking support for Israel’s actions and those calling for an immediate cease fire. “It’s created a lot of grief in other cities and the mayor does not want that kind of divisiveness in this town,” Glazer said.
Foster concurred with the Jewish community that Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel independence day), would be celebrated in private observances in 2024 because of the political climate.
Foster shows her support for Israel by attending and speaking at organized vigils and rallies. “She is tremendously present and supportive,” Glazer said.
“There are those that would take strong issue with her sympathetic stand toward Israel and Israel’s right of self-defense and the plight of the hostages,” Malomet said. “She’s had to weather some criticism.”
Ellen Braunstein is a contributing writer to Jlife Magazine.
