Beit Shean/Valley of Springs Becomes Official Sister City of Cleveland

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is thrilled to share this milestone achievement. Congratulations to everyone who has been involved in Beit Shean/Valley of Springs who helped make this partnership possible.

Read a press release from the City of Cleveland now. Text provided below:

City of Cleveland and Beit Shean/Valley of Springs, Israel Become Official Sister Cities

CLEVELAND – The City of Cleveland, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Global Cleveland announced today that Israeli city Beit Shean/Valley of Springs will become an official Cleveland Sister City. A celebratory ceremony occurred Thursday, May 2 at 9 a.m. at Cleveland Public Library Louis Stokes Wing located at 525 Superior Ave. View photos and video from today’s event.

“Cleveland’s strong international presence continues to be enhanced through educational, economic and cultural exchange with our sister cities,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “We continue to build on our city’s tradition of cultural interchange and welcome Beit Shean as our newest sister city.”

As a result of Cleveland’s partnership with Beit Shean, the Cleveland Public Library is adapting a student-run model based on what its leadership has learned from the Beit Shean library. Similarly, Cleveland Community Development Corporations have shared their Place making methodologies to support the efforts of Beit Shean’s city center. In the last year alone, more than 500 Clevelanders have visited Beit Shean/Valley of Springs.

“For nearly 25 years, the Federation has worked closely with residents and civic leaders in Beit Shean/Valley of Springs to address a wide range of social and cultural issues confronting that region,” said Lynne Cohen, Federation’s Overseas Connections Committee Chair. “Through this work, we have been able to positively impact thousands of lives in Beit Shean/Valley of Springs and Cleveland. We are thrilled to see this relationship with the City of Cleveland take this significant step and look forward to the continued mutual-rewarding benefits that come from it.”

Mayor Jackson and Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York, provided remarks at the ceremony. Global Cleveland will host the inaugural Cleveland Sister Cities Conference immediately following the ceremony. The Sister Cities conference will be held May 1-3, 2019 and is free and open to the public.

“Building connections with cities throughout the world is an important step toward sharing cultures and ideals with an understanding that we are all brothers and sisters united together,” said Council President Kevin J. Kelley. “I heartily welcome Valley of Springs, to our Cleveland community.”

With the addition of Beit Shean/Valley of Springs, Cleveland now has 23 sister cities around the world.

About the City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at www.city.cleveland.oh.us, Twitter at @cityofcleveland or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland.

About the Jewish Federation of Cleveland
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is the only organization in Cleveland that focuses on the health and vitality of the entire Jewish community. For 115 years, the Federation has created the critical scale necessary to drive meaningful social change and provide relief in times of crisis in ways no one person or organization could do alone. As Jewish Cleveland’s hub for innovative solutions and collaborative services, the Federation is able to change and improve lives in Cleveland, Israel, and around the world.