Virtual Israel Day Parade Postponed to Watch Anti-Israel Speakers

New York: Celebrate Israel parade was canceled due to virus pandemic

When is the Israeli Day Parade?

This year, the 56th annual Celebrate Israel parade was to have taken place on Sunday, June 7, 2020. Along with throngs of parade-goers, thousands more traditionally attend a mid-afternoon Israel Day music concert, located at the Central Park Summer stage located near 5th Avenue & 72nd Street.

Some 40,000 people participate in the annual march, but this year organizers planed a virtual event.

The annual Celebrate Israel parade which draws tens of thousands of supporters to march along New York’s Fifth Avenue, has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, which organizes the Celebrate Israel parade, confirmed Monday this year’s parade, scheduled for June 7, will not take place.

In its place, a virtual event will be organized, the council’s Executive Vice President and CEO Michael Miller said.

“We’re saddened by the necessity of canceling this parade,” Miller said. “Its absence on Fifth Avenue will be notable, but its absence in the hearts of New Yorkers, Jewish and non-Jewish, who support Israel is incalculable.”

The first Celebrate Israel parade first took place in 1965, and some 40,000 people participate in the march each year, since that time

The theme of this year’s parade is “Todah” or “Thank You” to essential workers who give tirelessly at great risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to celebrating together when we can give them the gratitude they truly deserve.

In addition, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all non-essential events scheduled for June would be canceled in addition to the Celebrate Israel parade, among them the Pride Parade and Puerto Rican Day Parade.

It was then announced that The Virtual UJA Federation Parade for Israel for June 7 was canceled so viewers can instead watch anti-Israel speakers at a Black Lives Matter forum on June 7.

The world has gone upside down, and we are privileged to part of it, when we don’t open our mouths.

First, the coronavirus moved one of the world’s largest demonstrations of support for Israel online. Now, the Celebrate Israel parade is being delayed to make time for New York Jews to hear from black leaders about racism.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York has postponed the parade, originally set for June 7, to June 21, “in recognition of the protests occurring across the country and in memoriam of George Floyd and the many other victims of racism and hate in America.”In its place, the JCRC announced Friday that it would hold “An Online Conversation on Racism in America” on Zoom. “This virtual gathering will provide an opportunity for Jews and non-Jews alike to hear messages from prominent Black community leaders in New York,” the council said in a press release

Out of respect for the current situation after the grievous killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests around our city and nation, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York is postponing the Virtual Celebrate Israel Parade until Sunday, June 21st at 1:00 pm (EDT). We stand in partnership with our sisters and brothers in the Black community, and in all communities of color, as we collectively strive to stamp out racism and prejudice in all of its forms from our society. We in the Jewish community know all too painfully the end result of unchecked hatred.

The event’s participants will include New York Attorney General Letitia James; Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Associations; Tamara Fish, the former president of the Jewish Multiracial Network; Rev. Charles Galbreath, senior pastor of the Clarendon Road Church in Flatbush, Brooklyn; and Samuel M. Pierre, chief of staff for New York City Council Member Farah Louis.

Now excuse me, isn’t this virtual? Don’t I have a choice to watch either or the parade or anti-Israel speakers? Does one preclude the other? There was plenty of unchecked hatred for Jews by the rioters across the county in LA and New York.

Every Jewish organization and Jew supports blacks around the country and the world in their fight against racism. But does the virtual Israel day parade have to be delayed, for other speakers to speak? This past Sunday was our traditional day. Two channels or a video can be watched later. What was the necessity to delay our parade to watch speakers, many of whom are bluntly Anti-Semitic as the Black Lives movement is.

And now so you don’t cry a little joke to laugh

Chaim and the Genie

One day Chaim Kaplan spotted a lamp by the roadside. He picked it up, rubbed it vigorously, and a genie appeared. “I’ll grant you three wishes,” the genie said.

Chaim thought for a moment and said, “I’ve always wanted to be spectacularly wealthy.”

And so it was that Chaim was wealthy.

“I’ve always wanted to be fabulously handsome.”

And so it was that Chaim was handsome.

Chaim thought for another moment and said, “I’ve always wanted to do something that no man has ever succeeded in doing.”

“Poof!” said the genie. “You can now cook Shabbos dinner.”