Celebrate Israel Parade returns to Manhattan after COVID-19 hiatus

The sweltering heat wasn't enough to stop thousands of Israel supporters from descending on Manhattan to dance, march and wave Israeli flags Sunday at the Celebrate Israel Parade.

Billed as one of the world's largest expressions of solidarity for Israel, the annual event has been on hiatus since 2019 because of the pandemic.

But the event was back Sunday with a vengeance: The miles-long parade included colorful floats blaring rock music, children in matching T-shirts carrying glitzy banners, costumed marching bands and energetic dance troupes. They represented a cross section of the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jewish communities, who joined together in a giant spectacle of love.

The theme of the parade this year was "Together Again."

Atara Solow of Teaneck was among the throng of spectators who cheered for the groups that surged by.

"We are huge supporters of Israel," she said. "America is a strong friend and ally of Israel, and we are proud of that friendship."

Her son, Ori, 12, was red-faced, having just finished marching the nearly 20-block course. He said it was hot but "a lot of fun." During the march, he saw a gaggle of protesters, but that just "made me put in more energy and be even prouder," he said.

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There was a strong security presence, with police and barricades everywhere. As the sun blazed, everyone just smiled good-naturedly through their sweat.

Some, like Mazi Hanono of New York City, got into the spirit of the day. She painted an Israeli flag on her arm, and her children wore T-shirts bearing the blue-and-white image and waved giant flags in the air. When asked what she liked the best, her daughter, Janette, 6, shouted, "Everything!"

Anna Hakakian of Teaneck said she felt it was important to be there, as a show of support.

"Israel is our roots, our people and our home away from home," she said. "We are proud to be Jewish."

Pointing to her three children, ages 7, 4 and 2, who were transfixed by the floats that were passing by, she said, "It's important for them to see this."

Among the 250 groups from around the country that walked up Fifth Avenue were dozens of delegations from New Jersey, including Torah Academy of Bergen County in Teaneck, Yeshivat Noam School from Paramus, Ben Porat Yosef in Paramus and the Moriah School of Englewood. The students all wore matching shirts, and many of them carried banners and American and Israeli flags.

Although many American Jews disagree with the Israeli government, an overwhelming number consider caring about Israel to be "essential" to what being Jewish means, and a majority say they are emotionally attached to Israel, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey.

That feeling of connection was on display Sunday as many spectators sported Israeli-themed clothing and waved the nation's flag.

"This is a way to support Israel without getting on a plane," said Adam Lauer of Englewood. "We are proud to stand with Israel."

Sunday's celebration followed a sharp increase in antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents across the United States over the past year, according to the Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights group that tracks such incidents.

The event, organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, draws an estimated crowd of more than 40,000 participants, organizers said, and has been held since 1965 as a means of showing love and support of Israel.

Not all of the participants who came were supportive of the Jewish state. A small contingent of pro-Palestinian protesters from an activist group and from the Neturei Karta, an extremist anti-Zionist ultra-Orthodox group, rallied from the sidelines.

But the parade participants drowned them out with their cheers and marched on.

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: yellin@northjersey.com 

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Celebrate Israel Parade 2022: Thousands come out after COVID hiatus