I was in an employee leadership conference the other day, speaking from the podium and telling my U.S. Environmental Protection Agency colleagues about my views on leadership. Eventually, my formal remarks were done and we opened the floor to questions. That's when it really became interesting.

One of our staff members asked me whether I felt my personal life — specifically my religious beliefs — ever interfered with or inhibited my work. I thought that was a terrific question and almost leapt thru the microphone to respond. I told her emphatically, "No, my personal and professional beings were almost never in conflict. In fact, I think people have a tendency to respect devotion — whether it's devotion to an ideal, a religion or a purpose, or all three."

As an Orthodox Jew, I may miss an hour or two of work for Shabbat, but, as my staff can tell you, I more than make up for it with the follow-up phone calls and e-mails. And, yes, I may have a few more holidays than others, but I can't say any major decision has been stalled because of my absence — again, my staff and I stay in close contact to ensure continuity and expediency.

Far from creating a conflict, my personal and professional lives have intertwined often — and often for the better. I have always been sensitive to issues that affect the Jewish people and Israel, in particular. For inspiration, I revert to the Bible and, when it comes to loyalty, I recall the passage in which Mordecai told Esther not to forget her people.

When I worked for the Whitman administration in New Jersey state government, first as assistant commissioner of the state Department of Commerce and Economic Development and later as executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, in addition to all of my other official duties, I was asked by the administration to review all of the governor's invitations to and speeches for Jewish events. I felt quite privileged.

Little did I think that when I was appointed regional administrator of the EPA in the Bush administration, I would have any workplace connection to Israel, yet I should have known that my personal and work lives would, in fact, once again blend fruitfully. This, in a region that consists of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and seven federally recognized Indian Nations in those areas.

Not long after settling into my new position with the EPA in 2005, I received a call from our headquarters in Washington. The caller indicated that the government of Israel needed our help. We made arrangements to send several of our hazardous waste experts to consult with Dr. Avishay Braverman, president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, on the Ramat Hovav chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste disposal site. Our people were instrumental in helping the Israeli Ministry of the Environment determine whether a particular technology was appropriate for an industrial cleanup in the Negev.

Again, earlier this year, one of our scientists traveled to Tel Aviv to consult with the Ministry of the Environment on asbestos issues and lead a workshop on the subject. One thing I've taken away from these experiences is that pollution knows no international boundaries.

Everyone and every country has a stake in a clean and healthy environment, and anytime we can use our expertise and experience to help another country with an environmental issue, we are more than prepared to contribute. When that other entity is Israel, I take additional pride in our ability to make a difference.