Jersey City & Beit Shemesh, Israel sign sister cities agreement to bolster economic partnerships

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The City of Jersey City and Beit Shemesh, Israel signed a sister cities agreement to bolster economic partnerships between relevant industries such as urban planning, diversity and inclusion, and workforce development at City Hall yesterday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Jersey City.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“This is a particularly special moment not only for our sister city relationship but also domestically as we see an unfortunate resurgence of antisemitism across the country and certainly in this region. Today is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment in Jersey City and New Jersey to making sure that there is a strong bond with Israel, not only our words but also our actions,” Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.

“We look forward to building a meaningful, long-term relationship with Beit Shemesh that will establish more trade partnerships, work with corporations that can invest in both sides of the ocean, and make sure we have an opportunity to grow together.”

Beit Shemesh, the youngest city in Israel, is a medium-sized municipality that is growing rapidly. Located between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, its economy features light manufacturing, services, and an expanding tech sector.

Mayor Aliza Bloch is seeking a major municipal partner in New Jersey to consolidate that growth.

“It is no coincidence that this special partnership was founded between the cities of Beit Shemesh and Jersey City. Beit Shemesh has become a major player in the field of absorption and immigration, similar to Jersey City, where thousands of Jews found a refuge during the Holocaust,” Bloch added.

“The connection between these two cities known for their diversity is built on a combination of willpower and responsibility. I am sure that the business community of Jersey City will see Beit Shemesh as a valuable base for economic cooperation. I would like to thank city council member Zvi Wolicki who was a partner in the previous trip in creating the connection. We are waiting for you in Beit Shemesh and are excited to continue this common path.”

Beit Shemesh is an especially diverse community, featuring a sizeable population of new immigrants, including many Russian speakers from the former Soviet Union, and an expanding flow of North American immigrants.

Furthermore, the agreement aims to maximize the resources of each city by optimizing their shared industries, streamlining immigration and integration, leading urban revitalization in the face of rapid population growth and codifying shared workforce development strategies.

“Sister cities are a large-scale manifestation of that vision, paving the way for strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between municipalities and thereby uniting multiple diverse populations,” stated Consul for Public Diplomacy of Israel in New York Yuval Donio-Gidon.

“On behalf of the State of Israel, I commend Beit Shemesh and Jersey City for this deeply exciting agreement and look forward to the opportunities it will doubtless foster and provide.”


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