Israel Day on Fifth

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 on Fifth Avenue alongside Central Park in New York City. The participants come from the New York metropolitan area, as well as other parts of the country, and represent Jewish schools, synagogues, youth groups and other Jewish and Christian organizations.

History

In 1964 pro-Israel activists planned a demonstration of American Jewish solidarity with Israel. They coordinated with the Manhattan Day School to march from the school to a theater on Broadway, a march known as the Youth Salute to Israel Parade.

In 1965, the first "Salute to Israel" parade was held. The marcher started on East 72nd Street and turned on Fifth Avenue, concluding with a rally in Central Park. Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. addressed the crowd.

In 1971, more than 150,000 spectators and 75,000 marchers attended the annual event. Participants marched with shackled wrists held high to highlight the plight of the Jews in Russia.

In 1977, an estimated 300,000 spectators attended as 75,000 participants marched from 57th Street up Fifth Avenue and across 86th Street. The theme of the 1977 parade was "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem," to commemorate the anniversary of taking back Jerusalem after the Six-Day War of 1967.

In 1979, celebration of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty was an underlying theme of the 15th annual Salute to Israel Parade.

In 2011, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York assumed management of the parade, which was renamed the Celebrate Israel Parade.

In 2024, the parade was renamed Israel Day on Fifth (IDO5).

In 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, citing his opposition to the Israeli government during its war and genocide in Gaza, fulfilled a campaign pledge to not attend the parade, becoming the first mayor in the parade's history not to participate. The 2026 parade was led by grand marshal Jessica Tisch, chief of the New York City Police Department. At a joint press conference with Mayor Mamdani to discuss security at the parade, Tisch said "It's the mayor's decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly."Bauman, Ali. "NYC Mayor Mamdani will not attend Israel Day Parade. NYPD Commissioner Tisch is a grand marshal" , CBS News, May 28, 2026. Accessed June 5, 2026. "Zohran Mamdani will be the first New York City mayor in recent history not to attend the Israel Day Parade this weekend. It's a stark contrast to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who will be grand marshal.... 'It's the mayor's decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly,' Tisch said.""Spectators gather for Israel Day Parade along Fifth Avenue", WABC-TV, May 31, 2026. Accessed June 5, 2026. "NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch was front and center as a Grand Marshal, along with a long list of politicians and former New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Not present was Mayor Zohran Mamdani, breaking with tradition and choosing not to attend." Other American politicians at the 2026 event included Chuck Schumer, Kathy Hochul, Letitia James, Thomas DiNapoli, Mark Levine, Eric Adams, Michael Bloomberg, and Julie Menin. Israeli cabinet ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Ofir Sofer, Amihai Eliyahu and Yitzhak Wasserlauf were also in attendance as part of a delegation of 26 Israeli elected officials, as was Knesset speaker Amir Ohana.

Gallery

List of parades Year Date Theme Marchers Notes 1964 Original Youth Salute to Israel Parade by Manhattan Day School 1965May 2 1966 1967 Shortly before the Six-Day War, drew a quarter-million people 1973May 6 1974June 9 1975May 11 1976June 13Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Dignitaries who attended Mayor Beame; Gov. Brendan Byrne of New Jersey: Lt. Gov. Mary Anne Krupsak: State Controller Arthur Levitt; State Attorney General Louis Lefkowitz and U.S. Senators Clifford Case of New Jersey and Jacob K. Javits of New York. 1977If I forget thee, O Jerusalem," to commemorate the anniversary of taking back Jerusalem after the Six-Day War 75,000 300,000 spectators 1979Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty 1995May 21 2001May 20 Amid the Second Intifada. 2002100,000 750,000 spectators 2011June 5 Celebrate Israel Parade was renamed from Salute to Israel Parade 2012June 3Israel Branches Out…35,000 First contingent of LGBT marchers. 2013June 2 Picture Israel; The Art & the Craft35,000 2014June 1Dobnik, Verena. "sea of white and blue at nycs israelday ". Poststar.com. June 1, 2014. Accessed June 1, 2014. 50 Reasons to Celebrate Israel35,000 2015June 10 Israel Imagines 40,000 Knesset members Avraham Naguise, Yoav Ben-Tzur, Revital Swid, Ksenia Svetlova and Ofir Akunis led the parade with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. 2016June 5Sight, Sound & Spirit 30,000 Andrew Cuomo announced the signing of Executive Order 157, barring the BDS Movement 2017June 4Celebrate Israel Together40,000Opera star David Serero performed the U.S and Israel anthems for the opening of the parade. Andrew Cuomo prior to the parade officially declared it Shimon Peres Day. 2018June 370 and Sababa! (70 & Awesome!) 50,000 2019June 2Only in Israel – Rak B’Yisrael 40,000Theodore Comet, one of the creators of the parade, marched in the 2019 parade, marking the 55th anniversary of the parade. Comet was 95 at the time. 2020Cancelled due to COVID2021Virtual celebration held due to COVID 2022May 22Together Again – Kulanu B’Yachad40,000 2023June 4Israel 7540,000+ 2024June 2One People, One Heart50,000+Eden Golan was among the high-profile participants. 2025May 18Hatikvah40,000+Zusha and six of the released Gaza hostages were among the high-profile participants. 2026May 31Proud Americans, Proud Zionists50,000+ American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council attended as the first Muslim participating organization. Zohran Mamdani did not attend, the first for a mayor in the parade's history.

Israel Day on Fifth

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