New York, NY – Thousands of Israel boosters waved blue and white flags as they marched up Fifth Avenue on Sunday for the annual Celebrate Israel parade.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In keeping with this year’s theme of “Israel Branches Out” — celebrating growth and creativity — some marchers carried banners festooned with flowers and fruit.
“I think it’s very important to show our support for Israel and show our love for Israel,” said Barbara Elem, a teacher at Yeshiva at the Jersey Shore in Deal Park, N.J. “It’s a wonderful event to see that everyone is here in the spirit of togetherness.”
Elected officials including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo waved to constituents. Sen. Charles Schumer used a bullhorn to shout “Let’s hear is for Israel! And America!”
An NYPD marching band played “This is My Country” while entrepreneurs sold Israeli flags for $3 each.
Formerly called the Salute to Israel Parade, the event celebrates the birth of the Jewish state in 1948. It draws students from yeshivas and Jewish day schools around the Northeast as well as members of Jewish groups and synagogues.
Karen Popowsky was waiting to march with her group from Little Neck Jewish Center in Queens, one of 13 synagogues marching as a cluster.
“We support each other as synagogues by working together and showing our support of Israel,” she said.
Vered Dekel, a New Yorker who came to the U.S. from Israel 27 years ago, said she and her husband Naftali Dekel attend the parade every year.
“We feel more Israeli on this day,” she said. “It’s very emotional for us, seeing all these big crowds cheering for Israel. It’s a great thing for us.”
It’s interesting that there are 12 comments on the Queens flotilla and so much fewer here…
This event resonates with everyone so there is no need for any comments.
Fantastic event.
Huge amount of people up both sides of fifth avenue. I was thrilled to be there.
Why are there so many days. yom haatzmaot. yom yerushalayim. israeli day. nakba. Can’t we just combine them all and save some time and money?
mazel tov. israel …… May hashem continue to bless this nation in the right direction and may we contiue to see see Hahems miracles to this great nation. May the path of torah strengnthen daily as we see this happening before our own eyes even though this has been a long and difficulth road. May hashem bring Moshiach in our times…..
Because big brother isn’t allowing.
was a great parade!!!!!!!!!!!!
Parades are nice, but here’s what I don’t get: If all of these folks have such fond feelings for Israel, why don’t they live there? This makes no more sense than Americans having an American Day Parade in Jerusalem (l’havdil).
#8  211; Just as we deem it sufficient for Zevulen to support Yissacher and don 217;t expect him to sit in Kollel all day long, perhaps it 217;s enough for some American yidden to show support for Israel in their own way without actually living in E 221;Y. Who 217;s to say? I 217;ve been living in E 221;Y over 25 years but never  220;preach 221; aliyah when I 217;m in the States. Everyone has their own issues (family, jobs, children, etc) and sense of priorities. Which mitzvos a person decides to be machmer on is between him and his Creator.
# there are so man parades theoughout the year which celebrate many different heritages. this is to show the diversity here and allow everyone to celebrate and feel that they are part of nyc.
one of the things that we are still able to do without being told what to do such as large soft drinks , how much sugar to eat etc.
here’s to many more peaceful parades—making a toast with a supersized coca cola!!
My family and I marched with my older son and his yeshiva in the parade. It was really great to see the parade from the perspective of the marchers, but at my age, marching 22 city blocks is not that much fun.