On June 5, the Israeli-American Council (IAC) will host the Celebrate Israel Unity Festival, which is being sponsored by UJA-Federation of New York. More than 5,000 New Yorkers are expected to turn out for the festival, which will take place at the culmination of the Celebrate Israel Parade, and feature Israeli food, art, live entertainment and activities for families, kids and teens. The festival is one of the IAC’s six Celebrate Israel festivals across the U.S., which will bring together more than 50,000 people, representing the largest celebration of Israel ever held in the Diaspora. The event will be held at Terminal 5 in New York from 2 to 7pm.
“Israeli-Americans can leverage their unique identity and perspective to serve as a living bridge between Israel and the broader Jewish community in the U.S.,” said IAC CEO Shoham Nicolet. “The IAC is now focused on building our joint ventures with storied Jewish institutions, like UJA, to advance this important goal.”
“For more than 20 years, UJA-Federation has supported the Celebrate Israel Parade, the largest annual pro-Israel gathering in the world. This year, we are enormously proud to extend our support to the Unity Festival—broadening this special day to include even more opportunity for Jewish New Yorkers of all backgrounds to affirm and connect through our shared love for Israel,” said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York.
The IAC—which has emerged as the nation’s fastest-growing Jewish organization—has expanded from a single office in Los Angeles to 10 regional offices serving an active constituency of more than 250,000 across the country. In recent months, the IAC has deepened its ties with the broader Jewish community through a series of strategic partnerships and joint ventures with major Jewish organizations. The IAC has embarked on joint ventures with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston and Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly.
The festival will recreate Israel in New York, including a Tel Aviv beach sandy play area, a Meggido-style archeological dig, a large tree representing a kibbutz, and a replica of the Western Wall. Traditional, kosher, Israeli street food will also be available, and famous Israeli entertainers will perform on stage throughout the festival.
“The IAC’s New York Regional Council is honored and privileged to be one of the organizers of the largest celebration of Israel ever hosted in the Diaspora. It is such a thrill to see more than 50,000 pro-Israel Americans coming together from coast to coast to celebrate the Jewish state,” said Yehudit Feinstein, IAC New York Regional Director. “We are proud to see Israeli-Americans playing an increasingly important role in convening and uniting the broader Jewish and pro-Israel community.”
For more information and to purchase tickets: www.purplepass.com/CINewYork2016.
