NY Jews rally for Israel

By Melissa Radler
May. 6, 2002
Jerusalem Post

NEW YORK – Half a world away from the suicide bombings, tourism
drought, and economic crisis in Israel, Jewish day school children, 
synagogue members, Jewish war veterans, and police marching bands 
filled a mile-long stretch of Fifth Avenue yesterday for the 
38th annual Salute to Israel Parade. 

This year's parade, called "Israel and America, Now and Forever, 
United We Stand," brought together 60,000 marchers – including 
officials from the governor to city council members – hundreds 
of brightly-decorated floats, and throngs of spectators waving 
flags, singing Hebrew songs, and cheering for Israel. 

"It's important for us to show our children that we identify 
with Israel," said Ricky Tadmor, educational director of the 
Dix Hills Community Center. Tadmor led a group of nearly 400 
students and parents, wearing matching blue-and-white T-shirts. 

Sarah Reimer of the Midwood Jewish Community Center, said 
interest in the parade was so high that the center had its 
first waiting list in 30 years. Among the hundreds of thousands 
of spectators who lined the streets to celebrate Israel's 54th 
anniversary was Elisheva Katschor, an Israeli expatriate who 
said she attends the parade every year. "I'm Israeli, and I 
support Israel's cause with all my heart," she said. 

Further up the street, Allan Braunstein said that he decided 
to attend this year's parade, his first, late last week after 
the Senate and House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly 
to adopt two pro-Israel resolutions. "I wanted to come out to 
show the US legislators that we support them," he said. 

While the mood of the parade was celebratory, with pro-Israel 
signs saying "Pray for Peace," and "Solidarity With Israel" 
replacing the anti-terror slogans common at most pro-Israel 
demonstrations, many participants cited Israel's war on terror 
and their sympathy for the victims of attacks when asked why 
they had come out to the parade. 

"I'm here because there's a lot to salute about Israel," said 
City Councilman John Liu, the first Asian-American to be elected 
to the council. "I want to support Israel and denounce the 
senseless violence that's going on there. You can only sacrifice 
so much for peace." 

Gov. George Pataki, who marched alongside former mayor Rudolph 
Giuliani, said, "Israel is under horrible attack by people who 
have no qualms about attacking children, and we have to stand 
with Israel more than ever." 

US Sen. Charles Schumer compared the war on terror in the US 
and Israel, and said, "By showing solidarity with Israel, we 
are showing solidarity with America