Manhattan wrapped in blue and white The largest traditional march in support of Israel is currently taking place on New York's 5th Avenue under the name "Renewing Hope." More than 40,200 people and groups from 1965 different organizations participate in the parade: Jews and non-Jews, politicians from the right and left, members of Congress, mayors and other dignitaries. The parade has been held since <> and is organized by the Public Relations Council of the Jewish Community of New York (JCRC-NY).
The protests in Israel also reached a march held in New York, with various Jewish groups and organizations protesting against Knesset members and ministers from the current government, but so far no exceptional incidents have been recorded.
March for Israel in New York (archive), photo: AP
At the beginning of the parade, Gideon Taylor, executive director of the Public Relations Organization of the Jewish Community of New York (JCRC-NY), said: "We are aware that many people in our community are concerned about developments in Israel and believe that the parade is a unique opportunity for our community to come together and remind each other of all that makes Israel special, unique and important."
Jerry Alferstein, who represents the Jewish War Veterans Association and will participate in the march, said: "I fought against the Communists in the Vietnam War, I shot and bullets whistled above me. I've been attending every parade since 1999 and I'm not going to fight the Israelis. It's okay not to love what's happening in Israel, but you have to love Israelis."
Mind in soul
Rabbi Joshua Pass, co-founder and CEO of Nefesh B'Nefesh: "To stand here on American soil and witness New York City being painted blue and white, in the presence of hundreds of thousands of participants, is a spectacle to which I can never remain indifferent. This year we were privileged to be among the leading stages of the parade. Our participation in this important march is a living reminder to the local community that the State of Israel will always be here as the home of the Jewish people in the Diaspora and a testament to the strategic importance and economic contribution of Aliyah to the country."
The protest has reached New York
The protest against the legal reform reaches the march for Israel in New York: Amenu, a progressive American Jewish organization affiliated with the Israeli left, which until now has refrained from attending the annual parade on Fifth Avenue in New York, decided to participate in the march this year in solidarity with the protest taking place in Israel against the reform of the justice system.
The organization's activists will wear shirts and signs saying "pro-democracy" and convey the messages of the Kaplan protest in an American version.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us
