Crowds 'Salute' Israel's 60 years of achievement
Parade celebrates Israel's technology, culture, and heroes
, NJJN Bureau Chief/Central | 06.05.08

	Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy and Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston were well represented at the June 1 Salute to Israel Parade in New York.
	Taking part in the Salute to Israel Parade are contingents from, above, Temple Beth Shalom, Livingston; below, Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union; and United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ

Watching the seemingly endless stream of marchers in Sunday's 60th anniversary Salute to Israel Parade in Manhattan, one of the policemen controlling the crowds commented, "I never knew there were so many Jewish people in New York. And they all support Israel?"

That support was more evident than usual, in the T-shirts worn by members of each school, synagogue, or community contingent, as they trumpeted their message of devotion to Israel, its heroes, its technical and cultural achievements, its attractions, and its values.

The 43rd annual event began at 11 a.m. with a massive hora dance in the vicinity of 68th Street, and didn't wind up until well after 5 p.m. with a ride-by of motorcyclists. The organizers had said they were expecting 100,000 participants and coordinators asked along the way said they thought that number was realistic. Ham radio operator Steve Ostrove of Elizabeth, who has helped coordinate the parade for more than 16 years, said it was the largest turnout he has ever seen.

In parade-perfect weather, that made for a jubilant experience for the participants setting out at the start of the event, buoyed by cheers from the throngs of observers along the route. For those scheduled to march later, it was a bit different as long delays tried their patience.

Waiting in the increasing heat, many said, was more tiring than the walk up Fifth Avenue to 81st Street near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At patches along the way onlookers — some of whom had been at their spots from early in the morning — had already begun to drift away and there was an anti-climactic quiet.

Watching the streaming procession, one of the policemen marshalling the crowds confided that he does his best to avoid working at some of the rowdier national parades. "But this one isn't a problem," he said. "There are a lot of people, but I've never seen any trouble."

There were some protesters just south of Central Park, the usual gathering of pro-Palestinian and Jewish anti-Zionists who are always a presence at the parade, but neither they nor the overloaded logistics could dim the festivity of the giant march.

Local stories posted courtesy of the New Jersey Jewish News