2019- Only in Israel – Rak B’Yisrael
Where in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.
Where ancient villages stand beside ultra-modern cities.
Where a 2,000 year old language was resurrected for modern speech.
Where exiles from the four corners of the world have come home.
Where skill and chutzpah together make the impossible come true.
Where barren deserts are transformed into flourishing fields.
Where diverse cultures produce a fusion of global cuisine.
Where pioneers build new frontiers in science and technology.
Where water can be produced from thin air.
Where those with incurable diseases are cured.
Where if you will it, it is no dream.
Only in Israel! – Rak B’Yisrael!
Grand Marshal: Edward A. Mermelstein
Honorary Grand Marshals: Ted Comet, Founder of the Celebrate Israel Parade; Siggy Flicker, Author and TV Personality; Sid Rosenberg, Co-Host of Bernie & Sid in the Morning; Stephanie Butnick, Host of the Unorthodox Podcast; Liel Leibovitz, Host of the Unorthodox Podcast
Elizabeth Savetsky, @ExcessoriesExpert Instagram Influencer
2018 – 70 and Sababa! (70 & Awesome!)
When Israelis say something is Sababa, they mean it’s awesome, fantastic, super! In just 70 years, this tiny, arid country with few natural resources, has grown, developed, and prospered beyond belief and expectation. With incredible landscapes and seascapes, gigantic skyscrapers and beautiful cities, amazing technological, medical and agricultural advancements, Israelis have been at the forefront of it all, and the whole world has benefited. Israel: You are Sababa!
Grand Marshals: Dina and Jonathan Leader
Honorary Grand Marshals: Actor, Childhood Icon and Birthright Israel Alum Jonathan Lipnicki; TV Personality Siggy Flicker; World-Renowned Chef Eyal Shani; Singer, Entertainer, and Artist Lipa Schmeltzer; and Israeli Journalist Liel Leibovitz
2017 – Celebrate Israel All Together
Together, we are stronger. We encourage and support each other; we celebrate our differences and find common ground; we increase our understanding of ourselves, each other and the world. Our love for Israel unites us throughout history, now and forever! All together, we celebrate Israel!
Grand Marshal: Rabbi Haskel Lookstein
Honorary Grand Marshals: Tiki Barber, Nir Barkat, Jamie Geller, and Chaim Gozali
2016 – Sight, Sound & Spirit
Israel, a small country about the size of NJ, is bursting with energy, has an amazing variety of climates and geographical contrasts – mountains, valleys, deserts – and is filled with an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Everywhere you go, there are ultra-modern cities with towering skyscrapers alongside ancient, Biblical cities. With more than 8.4 million people from over 30 regions and countries in the world, Israel is a model of diversity. Israelis are warm and friendly, happy to have coffee with you and then invite you home for dinner! Celebrated as the Start-Up Nation, Israelis think out of the box to solve problems and are at the cutting edge of science, technology and invention. Israel speaks to our history and to our hearts. In Israel, there is so much to see, so much to do, so much to feel and embrace.
Grand Marshal: Moshe Gil – Charisma Large Formal Painting
Honorary Grand Marshal: Kathie Lee Gifford
2015 — Israel Imagines
The founders of Israel had a dream. They imagined a vibrant, independent and Jewish state that would not only be a haven for Jews from all over the world, but also one that would incorporate the best characteristics of its citizens: brains and brawn, creativity, determination, fairness and imagination – a state whose greatest natural resource is its people who could imagine that future – one that would benefit the whole world! Today’s Israel is a result of that dream. We invite you to use your imagination and creativity to highlight some of the things that Israel imagined and continues to imagine – some that have come to fruition and some still to be achieved.
Grand Marshal: Ilya Salita – Genesis Philanthropy Group
2014 — 50 Reasons to Celebrate Israel
It’s the Parade’s Golden Anniversary! Join us and celebrate 50 years of parading together as a community. Use your imagination and creativity to portray what makes Israel great from Israel’s history of endless accomplishments to its bright future. Celebrate Israel’s achievements in agriculture, ancient landscapes, education, environmental protection, food, high-tech innovations, humanitarian work, inventions, research, science, sports, Torah scholarship, etc.
Grand Marshal: Robert Ben Rimon
2013 — Picture Israel; The Art & the Craft
Participants will bring to Fifth Avenue illustrations, paintings, collages, tapestries to show the diversity of Israel and its people, the land/sea/city-scapes, accomplishments, etc.
Grand Marshals: Melodie and Martin Scharf
2012 — Israel Branches Out…
Participants learned about Israel as it relates to: flowers, blossoming, being fruitful, growing, going out on a limb, branching out into (hi-tech), stemming the tide of, trees, plants, agricultural models, finding our roots, seeds and they brought a Garden of Delight to Fifth Avenue!
Grand Marshals: Gloria and Harvey Kaylie
