A record 250,000 spectators waving American and Israeli flags watched 75,000 costumed marchers, brass bands and scores of floats move along Fifth Avenue Sunday in the annual Salute to Israel Parade marking the 39th anniversary of the independence of the Jewish State.
The skies were cloudless, the temperature warm and a festive spirit prevailed along the route of march from 57th to 86th streets, bracketed by high-rise buildings and a verdant Central Park. The reviewing stand on 68th Street was packed with American and Israeli dignitaries, including this year’s special guest of honor, Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel. In brief remarks he declared, “As we achieved our independence in Israel, so we will achieve peace.” The Salute to Israel Parade is an annual event organized and sponsored by the American Zionist Youth Foundation. This year it marked not only Israel’s 39th anniversary but the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem; the 100th anniversary of the birth of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister; and the holiday of Lag B’Omer.
‘PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR TIME’
Peace and freedom was the theme. Peres, speaking from the reviewing stand, said, “Let us pray together that freedom will prevail in the world. Let us pray for peace in our time. Let us pray for freedom for Soviet Jews.”
Mayor Edward Koch of New York, who headed the delegation of local civic leaders, noted that as mayor he attends the parades of every ethnic group in the city. But this one, he said, he attends not only as mayor but also “as a proud son of Israel.”
Prominent Israelis on the stand included Minister of Religious Affairs Zevulun Hammer; Mayor Shlomo Lehat of Tel Aviv; Meir Rosenne, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S.; Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations; and Leon Dulzin, chairman of the World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency Executives. The master of ceremonies who introduced speakers was Eli Zborowski, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Zionist Youth Foundation.
Security was tight, particularly at the reviewing stand. Uniformed police were everywhere but the salute to Israel was unmarred by any incident.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
