Israel Day on Fifth (formerly the Salute to Israel Parade and then the Celebrate Israel Parade) is an annual parade in support of Israel that takes place along Fifth Avenue in New York. The parade travels north on Fifth Avenue from 57th Street to 74th Street.
According to the organizers of the parade, it is the largest gathering in the world in support of Israel. It has been held annually in New York City since 1964.
Approximately 960,000 Jews live in New York City, and between 1.9 and 2 million in the greater metropolitan area as a whole. With a population share of about 12%, the city—particularly the borough of Brooklyn—is the most significant center of Jewish life outside of Israel.
In 1964 Haim Zohar, Charles Bick, Ted Comet, Alvin Schiff, and Dan Ronen worked together in order to plan a demonstration of American Jewish solidarity with Israel. They coordinated with the Manhattan Day School to march from their school to a theater on Broadway. This March was known as the Youth Salute to Israel Parade.
However, the episode of the Middle East conflict that has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, casts its shadow here as well. For the first time since 1964, the incumbent mayor, Zohran Mamdani, will not participate in the parade because—like so many others—he is a staunch critic of the Israeli government’s policies. Consequently, he can only endorse half of this year’s parade theme: “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists.” In response, several Jewish organizations have cancelled their participation in the mayor’s events—a move that, in turn, places them in a difficult position to explain themselves, particularly given that the majority of New York’s Jewish population voted for this very mayor. However, none of this has any consequences for the parade. As usual, the city has granted all necessary permits and is deploying a large police contingent to secure the event.
