New York City’s annual Israel Day Parade – the world’s largest gathering in support of Israel — features tens of thousands of marchers, dignitaries and more making their way down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue off in Manhattan today for the 61st year in a row.
(One can also watch the parade live by clicking here.)
Maccabiah stars and freed former Hamas hostages are among the marchers at this year’s event, which has been managed by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York since 2011.
Security has been tightened, with street closures and screening checkpoints in effect.
“The NYPD will be employing metal detectors to screen all attendees, and spectators will not have access to the parade route from Central Park,” parade organizers said.
Madison Avenue was closed from East 42nd to East 57th Streets starting at 7:30 am, and from East 57th Street north starting at 11 am.
Spectator access points are located at East 61st, 63rd, 70th and 73rd Streets off Madison Avenue and were available on a first-come first-served basis.
Once the parade gets underway, pedestrians will only be allowed to cross Fifth Avenue at East 51st, 59th and 79th Streets. MTA buses have been rerouted down Second Avenue.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted in a briefing Friday that this year’s parade – the city’s annual statement of support for the State of Israel – comes at a time of heightened tension.
“Since the October 7 attacks, there has been a notable increase in demonstrations and deeply personal emotions on all sides of the conflict. We’ve also seen an unacceptable uptick in antisemitic threats and rhetoric,” Tisch said.
“Everyone has a right to express their views peacefully, but no one has a right to engage in criminal activity, and we will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt this event or endanger those who come to celebrate.”
Backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, folding chairs, coolers and/or alcohol were all banned along the route due to the heightened security.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators are cheering on more than 40,000 marchers, including American and Israeli community leaders and dignitaries as well as entertainers, artists, musicians, dancers, marching bands and celebrities on floats.
There are just over 1.3 million Jews living in the New York City metropolitan area, making it home to the largest Jewish community in the world after the State of Israel.
