Middletown Is Sister City With Ofakim, Israeli Town Where 48 Were Killed Oct. 7

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On Monday at Middletown town hall, Mayor Tony Perry signed a sister-city agreement with Itzik Danino, mayor of the southern Israeli city of Ofakim.

The sister-city pact is meant to symbolically unite the two cities. This is Middletown's first sister-city agreement in the town's history.

Perry first met Danino last January, when the Middletown mayor visited Israel as part of delegation of New Jersey elected officials. They had been invited to tour Israel in the wake of Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. That three-day trip was organized and funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ, which was present at Monday's ceremony and funded Danino's trip to America.

Ofakim is a small city in southern Israel, close to the border of the Gaza Strip, and was one of the towns invaded by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7. Ofakim has about 50,000 residents and was already used to experiencing rocket fire from Gaza.

A total of 48 Ofakim residents were killed on Oct. 7. The murder and violence was so bad that one street in the town is known throughout Israel as "Death Street," because Hamas militants walked down it that day, indiscriminately firing into homes and shooting people — including children — who ran for their lives. Residents in Ofakim locked themselves in their homes and bomb shelters as Hamas roamed the streets.

“The partnership with Middletown is a moving expression of solidarity and friendship,” said Mayor Danino, speaking through a translator. “Mayor Perry chose to visit Ofakim amidst the pain and destruction which demonstrated what true friendship between cities, and people, look like."

Perry said he feels a kinship with the Israeli city, as both towns have experienced terrorism first hand: Middletown lost 37 residents on September 11, 2001 and continues to feel the impacts from that day.

As part of the sister-city pact, Middletown and Ofakim will form a committee of representatives from both towns. The committee will meet on an annual basis to review their progress and discuss technology, agriculture, and sustainable development practices, encourage business partnerships, share first responder training tips, and promote research opportunities and educational innovations throughout the year.

“This ceremonial joining of our two towns is only the beginning of the work we plan to do together,” said Perry. “This alliance is a testament to our common aspirations to stand together to denounce terrorism, deepen economic connections, share best practices to enhance public safety, and build bridges through education that promote cultural enrichment and understanding.”

After the signing, both mayors presented keys to each other’s cities. State Sen. Bob Singer and Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone presented proclamations and Duvi Honig, founder and CEO of the Jewish Chamber of Commerce, presented Mayor Perry with a unique mezuzah crafted from Israel's Iron Dome scrap metal, which intercepts missiles targeting Ofakim civilians.

Rabbi Shmaya Galperin of the Chabad Jewish Center of Holmdel affixed the mezuzah to the door of the Middletown Mayor’s office. Rabbi Rob Tobin of B’nai Shalom in West Orange conducted the invocation.

Perry made the Jan. 2024 tour of Israel with 22 people total, including New Jersey school superintendents (they did not name which districts) and other NJ state legislators, including Point Pleasant Beach Mayor/Assemblyman Paul Kanitra (NJ10), Assemblymen Michael Inganamort (NJ24) and Greg Myhre (NJ9).

Last January: Middletown Mayor, Other NJ Republicans Visit Israel This Week