New York, NY – Photos-Video: Fifth Avenue Overflows With Israeli Pride At Annual Celebrate Israel Parade

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    An ultra Orthdox man is seen at the Isreali Day Parade in nYC on June 4, 2017 (Stefano Giovannini/VINnews.com)New York, NY – The skies over Manhattan’s ranged from bright blue to rainy gray today, but the mood on Fifth Avenue was sunny all day long as thousands turned out on Sunday for the 53rd annual Celebrate Israel parade.

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    A day after terrorists struck in London, law enforcement was out in full force in Midtown, with large sanitation trucks blocking off numerous streets.

    Both police officers in regular uniform and heavily armed members of law enforcement patrolled the streets as tens of thousands took to Fifth Avenue to proclaim their solidarity with Israel.

    The gala event included more than 30 floats, 15 marching bands and an estimated 40,000 colorfully dressed marchers from 250 organizations, groups and schools who cheered their way up Fifth Avenue accompanied by festive music that had onlookers waving their hands and clapping along.

    Lieutenant John Grimpel of the NYPD’s Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information said that in addition to the many officers walking the streets, numerous others from various agencies in addition to the NYPD were posted in less visible areas in order to ensure the parade’s security.

    “We have the utmost confidence in the parade route so that everyone can have a fun day,” Lieutenant Grimpel told VIN News.

    Donna Parker of the American Veterans of Israel said that 1,200 Americans and Canadians fought in Israel’s War of Independence 69 years ago, with 42 making the ultimate sacrifice. Four of those veterans took part in the parade, with Marcel Berkowitz wheeled down Fifth Avenue by his son.

    “I started in ’48 and I fought in Sinai and in the Yom Kippur war,” said Berkowitz. “It is wonderful to be here.”

    87 year old Tzvi Krausher of Queens elected to walk the entire parade route.

    “I fought in ’48 in Milchemet Hashichrur,” said Krausher. “I think it is very important to support Eretz Yisroel like I tried to do when I was 18.”

    Ted Comet, the 93 year old founder of the parade, also walked his way north from the start of the parade at 55th Street until its 74th Street finish.

    He said that the idea of the parade came to him in 1965 as a way of drumming up support for Israel while uniting the many Jewish communities that called New York City home at the time.

    Ironically, the parade was met with opposition on all sides when Comet originally suggested the public celebration of the State of Israel.

    “The committed Jews said ‘a parade? It’s okay for the Irish, but how does that fit into our intellectual cultural tradition?’” recalled Comet. “And the non-Jews would say, “What, you are going to parade your Jewishness in the streets?’”

    The idea for the parade, then called Salute to Israel, caught fire in 1967 when the event was held just days before the Six Day War broke out.

    “I converted it into a demonstration of solidarity for Israel and a quarter of a million people came and marched,” said Comet. “After that, there was real recognition of the parade.”

    Asked how he felt seeing the parade blossom over the years, Comet waxed poetic.

    “As a parent, you have a baby and it grows up and you have nachas,” said Comet. “It is wonderful to see something that you have created exists, and is growing, and is playing a vital role in the Jewish community.”

    Grand Marshal Rabbi Haskel Lookstein said that it was an honor to march in the parade as a Jew, a Zionist and as someone who loves his fellow Jew.

    “It’s great to just march in the this parade and stand up like a Jew in a way that I couldn’t do when I was the age of these kids,” said Rabbi Lookstein. “We never would show our Judaism outside but today we can march on Fifth Avenue and say ‘We love Israel. We love Judaism. And we love being in America.’”

    Glancing ruefully down at his sneaker-shod feet Rabbi Lookstein said “It is the greatest day of the year if you have good feet. If you don’t have good feet it is a problem.”

    Senator Chuck Schumer took the opportunity to toss a few barbs at President Donald Trump as some onlookers greeted him with boos, saying “Did you criticize Trump when he didn’t move the embassy? Did you criticize Trump like you criticized Obama?”

    Professing his love for Israel, Schumer recognized the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.

    “Jerusalem is the eternal capital, undivided, of Israel and it has to stay that way and we should move our embassy now,” said Schumer.

    Jewish lifestyle expert and cookbook author Jamie Geller was one of several honorary marshals at the parade. Geller, who moved to Israel almost five years ago with her family, said that making aliyah had brought incredible blessing to her life and her career.

    “It is the biggest honor ever,” said Geller. “I can’t believe that I am here representing Israel.”

    New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo both marched in the parade amid tight security as did a large delegation from the City Council.

    “Continuing to develop strong relationships between New York and Israel and the United States and Israel is very important,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who described her 2015 trip to Israel as “eye opening.”

    City Councilman Paul Vallone said that his life was forever altered by his trip to Israel in March.

    “I was truly touched by the warmth and the pride and strength I saw there,” said Vallone. “The resolve of the Israeli people, to face everything that they do on a daily basis was so inspirational. And to walk the very streets where the Bible was written; how do you get any better than that?”

    Councilman David Greenfield walked the parade with his two young sons and said that he was pleased to see the large turnout from the city’s elected officials.

    Greenfield noted that while there were those who expressed concerns about security at the parade, the NYPD rose to the challenge with grace and dignity.

    “I’m convinced that the safest place in New York today was at the parade,” said Greenfield.

    Haitian born Councilman Matheiu Euegene recalled his own first visit to Israel after Haiti was devastated by an earthquake in 2010.

    “I know that Israelis were the first ones in Haiti to establish an emergency hospital to save so many lives and I won’t forget that,” said Eugene. “And then when I went to Israel they brought me to a children’s hospital and there was a child there who had been brought from Haiti after the earthquake. They treated him for free and I saw children from all over the world and everyone was like a mother to them. It was like one community and it was beautiful.”

    Even the rain that began to fall as the parade continued couldn’t dampen the spirits of parade goers.

    “Rain is a blessing,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “I come here every year because I support the Israel people and the Israeli country, the only democratic society in the Middle East and we have to stand up and defend them each and every time. We are all in this together and our support now means more than ever.”

    For Jeannie Rothstein of Teaneck, coming to the parade is an annual tradition, one that she has honored every year since they very first parade in 1965.

    “I remember that it used to be longer, all the way to 86th Street,” said Rothstein. “I met my husband in Yerushalayim in 1967 right after the war so it is always very emotional for me, but today, I’m here to see my grandchildren and to celebrate Israel.”
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    6 Comments
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    SuchHatred
    SuchHatred
    6 years ago

    Thank you very much, VIN!

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    6 years ago

    Thank you. I always appreciate the photo features.

    PureSatmar
    PureSatmar
    6 years ago

    Sadly enough all these participants believe that their love for Israel is a connection to their Jewish roots.
    Upcoming Sunday Klal Yisroel will outnumber them to show true commitment for the Torah and solidarity with our oppressed brethren in the so-called Jewish state.

    6 years ago

    This parade doesn’t draw the 150,000-250,000 crowds which it used to receive in the 1960’s, 1970’s, and into the early 1980’s. Most of the marchers are from various schools; in 1978, Menachem Begin was at the parade, and I saw him speak in Central Park. Incidentally, some of the photos showed protesters at the parade, but Vin did not identify those photos, as such. Also, for some reason there is very little publicity about this parade on television. Last, if one looks at the various tour books of NYC (with one exception), the Celebrate Israel Parade (formerly the Salute to Israel Parade), is not mentioned in any travel books, although the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Columbus Day Parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, etc., are all mentioned. By the way, the first year that this parade was held was in 1964, and not 1965.

    SuchHatred
    SuchHatred
    6 years ago

    To #3 (“PureSatmar”): Such sin’as yisroel you have towards your fellow Jews! Unless you think of all of them not as Jews but as goyim?! You really think that everyone who marched in the parade is a rasha, don’t you? And the only tzadikkim are you and the people who think exactly as you do. I don’t hate you; I feel sorry for you and your neshama.