A delegation of Israeli mayors and others visiting Milwaukee managed to make their way back to Israel last month – to be with their cities as Israel was under fire – after war abruptly broke out between Iran and Israel.
The delegation included Yosi Nava, mayor of Tiberias; Eli Gabay, deputy mayor of Kfar Tavor; Nitzan Peleg, head of Lower Galilee Regional Council; and Idan Grinbaum, head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council. While in Milwaukee, the Israelis met with Mayor Cavelier Johnson and compared what it’s like running different kinds of cities, visited schools, met with local rabbis, otherwise connected with Jewish Milwaukee, and then headed to New York and St. Paul, Minnesota.
The officials were participating in a Partnership2Gether program, with Milwaukee Jewish Federation, when Israel began its attack on Iran’s nuclear and warmaking capabilities on June 12. Iran responded with missiles, causing death and damage in Israel, while the delegation worked to get home.
“They had to scramble to figure out their next steps,” said Susie Rosengarten, associate director, of Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Israel Center. Rosengarten coordinated much of the delegation’s activities.
The group initially traveled to Greece, hoping proximity to Israel would facilitate their evacuation. One of them, Gabay, deputy mayor of Kfar Tavor, stayed in the United States.
The delegation had been filling out forms for emergency evacuation efforts while coordinating with Israeli authorities. The mayors returned to Israel on June 17 via what Rosengarten described as an official effort, though she declined to provide specific details about the repatriation process due to security concerns.
The visit was part of ongoing partnership efforts between Milwaukee’s Jewish community and Israeli municipalities. During their stay, the delegation participated in steering committee meetings and learned about local concerns including antisemitism and anti-Zionism.
“The delegation’s visit strengthened the partnership between the communities,” Rosengarten said, noting the stress organizers felt ensuring the officials’ safe return home. By June 17, one delegation member sent a photo from Israel showing children wearing Milwaukee Bucks jerseys, with a message expressing gratitude for their safe return after what one official called “a long journey across the world.”
The incident highlights how quickly Middle East tensions can affect international diplomatic and cultural exchanges, even those focused on community partnerships rather than formal government relations.
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