Annual parade in support of Israel in New York City
Israeli flags flown at the parade
Israel Day on Fifth (formerly the Salute to Israel Parade and then the Celebrate Israel Parade) is an annual parade in support of Israel that takes place along Fifth Avenue in New York. The parade travels north on Fifth Avenue from 57th Street to 74th Street.[1]
According to the organizers of the parade, it is the largest gathering in the world in support of Israel. It has been held annually in New York City since 1964.
In 1964 Haim Zohar, Charles Bick, Ted Comet, Alvin Schiff, and Dan Ronen worked together in order to plan a demonstration of American Jewish solidarity with Israel. They coordinated with the Manhattan Day School to march from their school to a theater on Broadway. This March was known as the Youth Salute to Israel Parade.[2]
In 1965 David Ben Gurion visited New York. Thousands of people stood on 5th Avenue watching Ben Gurion, in an impromptu event. This later created parade route followed in future years.[3]
In 2011, the parade was renamed the Celebrate Israel Parade in a launch event at the Edison Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan.[1]
2020 saw the parade go virtual.
United Kingdom parade
In July 2007 the United Kingdom-based Jewish Leadership Council, together with other UK Jewish groups announced that a UK Salute to Israel parade would be held in Central London and Manchester on June 29, 2008 as part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel.[4] These events attracted over 45,000 people to simultaneous street parades followed by open air rallies in Trafalgar Square London and Heaton Park Manchester.
Parade history
Parade Number
Israel's Anniversary
Year
Date
Theme
Marchers
Notes
0
16
1964
Original Youth Salute to Israel Parade by Manhattan Day School
1
17
1965
Impromptu parade on 5th Avenue in honor of David Ben Gurion's visit
2
18
1966
3
19
1967
Shortly before the Six-Day War, drew a quarter-million people[5]
