Celebrate Israel Parade Kicks Off at 11 am Today on Fifth Avenue

A sunny, 77 degree day is forecast for New York City today as the annual Celebrate Israel Parade kicks off at 11 am on Fifth Avenue. From 11 am to 4 pm, thousands are expected to march  and hundreds of thousands are expected to watch and cheer on the American and Israeli community leaders and dignitaries, entertainers, artists, musicians, dancers, celebrities, floats and marching bands.

In 1964, thousands walked down Riverside Drive in support of the young State of Israel. This impromptu walk evolved into the Salute to Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue. Last year the name was changed to Celebrate Israel. It has become the world’s largest gathering in celebration of Israel attracting worldwide media. The Parade enables the tri-state community to celebrate in a non-partisan, apolitical show of unity with Israel.

For the Marching Groups and Clusters the Celebrate Israel Parade is a year-long Israel education effort using a creative theme. This year's theme is "Israel Branches Out." Each Group or Cluster works with the Parade staff to develop a creative presentation with colorful banners, costumes and props in a show of unity and pageantry.The participants will learn about Israel as it relates to: flowers, blossoming, being fruitful, growing, going out on a limb, branching out into (hi-tech), finding our roots, seeds etc. and they will bring a Garden of Delight to Fifth Avenue!

The Jewish Daily Forward published a graphic "Anatomy of a Parade," showing a breakout of the marching groups by category and other parade facts and statistics. For example, 48% of the marchers are day schools, 13.5% are youth groups, 11% synagogues, and 8% Federations and Pro-Israel advocacy groups. Of the participating day schools, 74% are Modern Orthodox, 14% Conservative, 6% nondenominational, and 4% Sephardic.

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If you can get to Manhattan today it will be a great way to spend a bright, sunny, joyous day in celebration of Israel's acheivements. Here's a short video with highlights of last year's parade. Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)