Featured
Israel Day Parade Article (2004 - 2005)
And
The Parade Goes Marching On…
By Maya Glickman
"Spring in New York means blooming flowers in Central Park, baseball in
the Bronx, and . . . Sunday morning traffic jams. Every weekend brings with it
road closures and gridlock alerts as another of New York's many ethnic groups
stages its annual parade. When it comes to the Salute to Israel Parade, however,
increasing numbers of New York area Jews are questioning whether all the headaches
and costs are worth it.
"Inaugurated in 1964 as a way of demonstrating
New Yorkers’ support
for the young and beleaguered Jewish state, the Salute to
Israel Parade has, over the years, become a fixture on the calendar
for numerous day schools, temples, and charitable organizations.
Promoted by its organizer, the Israel Tribute Committee,
as "the
single largest gathering in the world in support of Israel," the
parade has a dual objective of "public affirmation of
solidarity with Israel" and "expression of unity
within the American Jewish Community." (Read
more...) |
"In today's political climate, New York University
is a rarity in the pro-Israel movement: it is a fairly
neutral environment when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. In response to the reports of anti-Israel bias at Columbia University,
students and professors connected to NYU's department of Middle Eastern studies
were quick to tell NYU's newspaper, Washington Square News, that although class
discussion is often intense, particularly anti-Israel rhetoric is very uncommon." (
"Israel. When most hear the word, they think of the spiritual Jewish land
of ancient times or of the present Palestinian- Israeli conflict that is the
topic of so many news reports. However, to Fern Penn, owner and creator of Rosebud,
Israel connotes fashion that can be just as trendy and elegant as it is ethnic.
Rosebud is a “concept store” that Penn opened in October of 2004
in the Soho section of New York City. The store specializes in women's clothing
and accessories, giftware, bath products, art and current music--all imported
from Israel." (