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ewish Voice J
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Deuteronomy 32:1
M AY T H E E A RT H H E A R T H E WO R D S O F M Y M O U TH
May 29nd, 2009 | 6 Sivan 5769 Salute to Israel Parade Highlights Tel Aviv Centennial BY MAXINE DOVERE
Vol. 9, Iss. 20
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Israel’s Independence Celebrated on 5th Avenue
Larry A. Silverstein
With Broadway star Tovah Feldshuh leading the celebrity contingent, the 2009 Salute to Israel Parade, an annual celebration of support for the State of Israel, stepped off on its march up New York’s Fifth Avenue. This year’s festival of blue and white brings together contingents from throughout the United States and Israel. The Parade has enjoyed active community support since its founding in 1964.
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Attempted Shul Bombing Shakes Community >> pg 9
The annual parade pays tribute to our dear holy land.
The History Behind the Salute to Israel Parade In 1964, thousands of Jews gathered to walk down Riverside Drive together in a show of support for the young State of Israel. Since then, the Salute to Israel Parade has continued its tradition as the world’s largest gathering in support and celebration of Israel and its people. A major vehicle for
Zionist expression, the Parade enables our communities to come together in a non-partisan, apolitical show of unity and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel. The Parade is also a vehicle for our non-Jewish “friends of Israel” to express their pride and connection to the Israeli spirit. n 2009, the Parade will feature 100,000 costumed marchers representing public and private schools as well as Jewish organizations and community centers. Nearly one million enthusiastic spectators will gather to watch community leaders, American and Israeli Dignitaries, celebri-
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Max Media Foto
lmost 50,000 marchers participated in the 2009 annual Parade, cheered on by a crowd of spectators estimated at close to one half million. The Parade, a project of the Israel Tribute Committee, enjoys major sponsorship from the UJAFederation of New York, Israel Bonds, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. The extraordinary efforts by Executive Producer Michal Brickman and long time Float and Sponsorship Director Milton Kaplan assured the success of this exciting annual event. For the second consecutive year, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield has been the major sponsor of the colorful pole banners that flew above Fifth Avenue for the full month of May. Water supplied by Gristedes’ Supermarkets helped quench marcher’s thirst throughout the afternoon. American and Israeli dignitaries, politicians, celebrities and community Leaders led a wonderfully varied group of floats, marching bands and enthusiastic school and community groups up the Avenue. During the weekend prior to the Parade, the Empire State Building was alight in blue and white, symbolic colors of the Israeli flag.
Harry Frazer
Honored by Museum of Jewish Heritage
Bomb Rocks Upper East Side >> pg 8 Candle Lighting Times for NY, NJ & FL .........
pg. 3
War on Terror..............
pg. 12
Pearls of Wisdom by Rabbi Yoshiyao Pinto . . . . . . pg. 34