The annual Celebrate Israel Day Parade marched up New York City’s Fifth Avenue on Sunday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor Andrew Cuomo, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Consul General of Israel in New York Ido Aharoni and other local and international officials were among those marching in the parade.
They joined 35,000 marchers, 17 bands and 30 floats in the parade that started at 11 a.m. from 57th Street to 74th Street.
This year’s theme focused on the arts in Israel.
Marchers carried paintings, collages, and tapestries to show the diversity of Israel and its people.
In the evening, the Empire State Building will beam the Israeli colors to celebrate the 1948 creation of the Jewish state.
Also later Sunday, Israel’s national soccer team is scheduled to play the team from Honduras in Queens.
Security was tight along Fifth Avenue. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly watched over the lineup and helicopters hovered overhead.
Kelly told Eyewitness News that anytime there are large crowds in the area, the NYPD puts in place a counterterrorism overlay.
“The Boston Marathon bombing has had an effect on what we do, it’s only common sense to do that,” said Kelly, “So [we] brought more resources in play, yes some of the bomb dogs will be working, they’ll be walking through the crowd, behind the crowd that sort of thing.”
The clearly noticeable increase in security was visible both on the avenue and on the side streets.
“I see more police, but there are lots of not so obvious changes that people don’t know that I can’t tell you about but that are very good,” said Senator Charles Schumer.
(Source: WABC)
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10 Responses
I was B”H at the counter-protest today, for my first time, and it was tremendous! There was (give or take) about 1000 frum protesters. The largest ever. No doubt fueled by the pride abomination marching in the Israel Parade.
It was a true tremendous Kiddush Hashem tol see so many frum Jews protesting the parade.
I was t the actual parade, it was B”H a tremendous Kiddush Hashem with tens of thousands of Jews coming out in support of our Jewish state.
Actually, it was a tremendous chillul hashem for the goyim to see so many Jews protesting the parade. They did not understand that you were there as a protest to the “pride abomination.” All they saw were so many Jews protesting against the Stae of Israel, which just adds fuel to the their fire. The best way to show your protest would have been to simply tay home.
On another count… Do you like being able to daven at the kotel, or send your children to learn in one of the many fine yeshovos in Israel? Then I suggest you find a way to support Israel, so that it doesnt soon become a “No Jews Allowed” territory controlled by our Arab cousins.
Re: to ujm
your so frum but are you Jewish? I don’t know about you but I think expressing your hatred toward other Jew in public is probably not a Kiddush Hashem. I also am very sure you may have been able to do something more productive and helpful for the Jewish nation. May Hashem bless to make better decisions in the futer my holy brother.
#1 I was B”H at the parade today, to watch my son and his Rabbeim march, following the example of their Rebbe R”H Shachter Shlita. It was tremendous. You must be so proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Hamas protestors. Ah, what frumkeit you exhibited. I suppose you were there with your Rebbeim too? Were you there witha world class posek too?
If you don’t want to march, or participate, then don’t. But please do not stand shoulder to shoulder with those who attended a Holocaust denial conference in Iran, and with those who would like to kill your brothers.
For shame.
#1, I concur with you fully. It is unfortunate that the Soton is alive and well in NYC with so many so called “frum Yidden flollowing him. Shameful
Were the protesters standing with the Neutrei Karta and Arab sympathizers?
#5. Rabbi Schachter did not march this year. if he is your rebbe, please call him and ask him why !!! you might be in for a shock.
UJM
Calling your actions a kiddush Hashem do not make your actions a kiddush Hashem. I assume that you use this term because a posek told you to go and protest. Would you mind telling everyone who your posek is?
wolfman calls it like it is! and poskim rule by shita not concensus