On a balmy, parade-perfect first Sunday in June, some 35-40,000 marchers (according to its sponsors) participated in the Celebrate Israel Parade, a now 50-year-old extravaganza of color, music, and generally enthusiastic support for the American Israeli relationship, with a dose of politics. Called “the single largest gathering in the world in support of Israel” by its sponsors—the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC NY) and the United Jewish Appeal (UJA), the community umbrella organization—the parade has become an internationally-known event.
Evolving from an informal march through Manhattan’s Riverside Park, the first informal effort attracted participants from across the United States, Israel, and international Jewish communities. Today, the more than four-hour line of march includes contingents and floats. Groups include schools and shuls, federations, organizations, pro-Israel products and services, regional representations (Judea and Samaria), and a multitude of political parties and representatives of the Israeli government. On the ground, a display celebrated Israel’s development of a moon shot; above, 16 planes “joined” the march in a flyover salute.
Schools from throughout the Bergen and Rockland County area joined the line of march for the Golden Annniversary event. SAR, Rosenberg Academy, Ma’ayanot, Kinneret, Yavneh, the Solomon Schecter School, and other local schools and synagogues sent enthusiastic groups to Fifth Avenue.
On the morning of the parade, JLBC spoke with John Ruskay, out-going CEO of the UJA. Ruskay has been the focus of criticism by a number of anti-BDS groups for what they consider a too “open tent.” Contingents of the New Israel Fund, Americans for a Progressive Israel, and B’Tselem had been allowed to participate in the march under what the UFA-Federation called “an open tent” policy. Ruskay claimed that the support and participation of more than 30,000 was evidence that the decision to include all groups had been correct.
Prior to the parade, the JLBC spoke with Jeff Wiesenfeld who serves on the board of the JCRC-NY. Wiesenfeld is a staunch adversary of BDS. While the determination to allow the participation of the BDS supporters had been based on the “open tent” concept, Wiesenfeld expressed the belief that a majority of JCRC-NY’s leadership were individually opposed to the “detestable” BDS groups.
Several groups countered Ruskay’s position, led by Rabbi Elie Abadi, Senior Rabbi of the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue and spiritual guide of the Moise Safra Community Synagogue, Congregation Magen David of Manhattan, and the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan. The rabbi, the leader of the Sephardic Jewish community in the Metropolitan region, chose to boycott the event. He, his congregants and supporters stood on the corner of 63rd Street, about halfway through the line of march. The Sephardic community had pulled its float and participation from the 2014 parade and on the day of the parade protested against the participation of groups who support BDS actions against Israel. Despite such ardent protests by Abadi, other groups presented the other side of the issue. Americans for a Safe Israel and JCC Watch, led by Richard Allan, had previously held a vigil outside the UJA’s 59th Street headquarters in April countering Abadi’s protest. Then, during the parade, signs displaying sentiments such as “Jews don’t boycott Jews” were visible among both spectators and the marching groups.
The Chai Riders Motorcycle Club roared—quietly, of course—along Fifth Avenue. In addition, bands of every ethnic background lent their musical support to the celebrations of Israel’s independence.
The Parade was followed by another annual event, a concert of Jewish and Israeli music in Central Park organized by Dr. Joseph Frager and headlined by Senator Ted Cruz. Kosher hotdogs sizzled on the grills, members of every generation enjoyed the music, and there was “dancing in the streets.”
By Maxine Dovere
