(Courtesy of UJA Federation) Fifth Avenue sparkled in blue and white on Sunday, May 22 for the Celebrate Israel Parade, the world’s largest demonstration of support for the Jewish State. The event was produced by UJA-Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of New York and the Consulate General of Israel in New York.

This year’s parade featured the theme “Together Again—Kulanu B’Yachad” (We’re all together) celebrating the parade’s return following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

“We are delighted to be able to come together once again in what is the largest public demonstration of support for Israel in the world. Particularly now—with rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism in our backyard and an alarming recent increase in terror attacks in Israel—it is more important than ever to show our proud and public support for the state of Israel,” said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York.

The Celebrate Israel Parade typically draws hundreds of thousands of people to cheer marchers, bands and floats proceeding up Fifth Avenue from 57th to 74th streets.

New York dignitaries attending included Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Rep. Yvette Clark (D-NY), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and City Council member Eric Dinowitz, chair of the Jewish Caucus.

Israeli dignitaries included Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai, Aliyah and Minister of Immigrant Absorption Affairs Pnina Tamano-Shata, Knesset members Ofir Akunis and Gilad Kariv, and Gila Gamliel, United Nations Ambassador Gilad Erdan and Consul General Asaf Zamir.

The Celebrate Israel Parade (previously known as the Youth Salute to Israel Parade and, later, the Salute to Israel Parade) had been held annually on Fifth Avenue since 1964 before the pandemic struck.