Dr. Chaim Botwinick
Since last week’s Israel Day Parade in Manhattan, there has been a tremendous proliferation and flurry of articles, social media posts and opinion pieces regarding the Parade’s overwhelming success. In fact, with over 50,000 participants, it was the largest Israel Day Parade in its sixty-three year history.
These positive reactions and responses are true indicators of our Jewish community’s unwavering pride and support for Israel.
There were those in our community who chose not to support or attend the Parade. These outliers were unfortunately noticeably absent from the celebration. This was disappointing, but not a surprise.
The Parade attracted close to 50,000 people, many of whom were from out of town. Considering that the Greater New York Jewish population is an estimated 1.4 million Jews, it does beg the question – where was everyone else from our community on that bright beautiful Sunday morning? In light of Israel’s current situation, I would have preferred to have seen several hundred thousand marching strong.
Nevertheless, the Parade attracted many high ranking elected personalities as well a contingent of Israeli Knesset members who flew to the States from Israel for the sole purpose of attending the Parade. This was truly inspiring and heartwarming.
I will not opine as to why so many segments of our local Jewish community did not participate in the Parade, and why others proudly and boldly did. That reality requires its own post or article.
On a positive note, I and my family enjoyed watching the Parade via a live-stream station from our home. We observed the beautiful ocean of blue and white colored Israeli flags blanketing Fifth Avenue. I was truly moved by the tremendous number of people of all ages who were smiling, singing, dancing, and waving Israeli and American flags while walking in the Parade, and up 5th Avenue with visible pride.
This Parade was about life, resilience, hope and promise. It was also a stark reminder that no matter how small our numbers, our support for Israel continues to grow and flourish as we roar like lions in spirit and in deed.
Looking at the bright smiling faces of our Jewish day school children parading proudly, I felt reassured that our future as a Jewish community is one that embraces and celebrates achdut and continuity as well as a bright positive and optimistic tomorrow.
Yes, living in the diaspora has its challenges and deep concerns. This is especially the case as we continue to witness and experience the metastasizing growth of anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred. But irrespective of this concern, as a Jewish community we choose by design to live our lives through a glass that is half full as opposed to one that is half empty.
As we know it would be far easier and ironically safer to live in Eretz Yisrael, our homeland and birthright. But as long as we live in galut, and for whatever reason, we must make the best of it, until we are prepared to make that ultimate sacrifice and relocate to Israel.
When observing the Parade, I was beyond moved by one particular image which stood out the most. It was the beautifully decorated float sponsored by the Claims Conference.
On that float were sitting a group of Holocaust survivors. With bright beautiful smiles on their faces, they were all singing and waving miniature Israeli and American flags. What an amazing sight of resilience, defiance, hope and promise.
As I looked carefully at their faces, several of whom had walkers and aides by their sides, I tried to imagine the horrors, struggles, heartbreak and pain each of them experienced at the hands of the Nazis. And here they are today, almost eight decades later celebrating the dream and promise of Israel with thousands of their Jewish brothers and sisters in the heart of Manhattan. Truly an amazing reality of unimaginable proportion.
This image is an undeniable slice of Jewish life and history which will be seared in my heart, soul and mind.
Who knows how many of these precious survivors sitting proudly on that float, will parade in next year’s Parade, or ever again. The only certainty is that these remarkable heroes will be fewer every year.
Friends, the Israel Day Parade is much more than Jewish pride and unswerving support for Israel. It’s a testimony to our fortitude, unswerving commitment and resilience. Above all, it is about our ability to survive and flourish against all odds in order to fulfill our assurance and legacy as an ohr lagoyim, and a mamlechet kohanim, created bzelem elokim.
Finally, when observing young Jewish elementary and high school children marching in the Parade with their classmates, teachers and parent volunteers, I ask myself, will these children one day truly understand and appreciate their profound role in helping create and support a strong and vibrant Israel.
I am very confident that one day they will appreciate and remember their support and advocacy on behalf of our Jewish homeland, in the same manner I recall my experience of 50 years ago when I too marched in the Parade with my young children in the heart New York City. To be sure, we talk about that beautiful experience until this very day.
But, as we know, the current matzav in Israel and for world Jewry has changed significantly. We now confront a world that no longer hides its face in its open and vile anti-Jewish and anti-Israel hatred.
Today, for many of us living in diaspora Jewish communities, we continuously feel that we are all walking on egg-shells, just waiting for the next shoe to drop. But, thankfully, we gravitate towards events like the Israel Day Parade which help us adjust and recalibrate our emotions (at least psychologically) as we look forward the day we can live freely without Jew hatred or racial discrimination.
Celebrating and supporting our precious homeland Israel by participating in the Parade and other similar venues in support of Israel, including our continued tefillot, mitzvot and chesed provides us with a sense of achdut, purpose and renewal. It gives us hope for the future and confidence that one day soon, we will all witness the geula as we enjoy peace, calm and serenity.
As I write this article, Israel still faces a harsh reality of monumental proportion.
With continued threats now looming with Iran while protecting Northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks and bombardments, Israel, and by extension all of us, continue to live with these existential precarious threats and dangers.
But my friends, if there is one major lesson or take-away from the images of last week’s Parade and it it should be abundantly clear…..
If these amazing precious souls who experienced so much pain and sorrow during the shoa can parade on a float with a deep sense of honor and pride, than we too can surely elevate ourselves with the same Jewish pride, tenacity and resolve.
One final note. As the Parade was winding down, I couldn’t help but think about how these young day school and yeshiva students will one day be our next generation of proud Jewish leaders. This is a thought which inspires while creating a positive sense and direction for the future.
It is our hope and prayer that they together with achienu throughout the world we will be blessed with excellent health, safety and achdut as we continue to proudly celebrate the critical importance of Eretz Yisrael, Medinat Yisrael and Torat Yisrael for generations.
Am Yisrael Chai
Dr. Chaim Botwinick is an organizational consultant, master teacher and executive coach. He served as ceo of the central agency for Jewish education in Baltimore and Miami; and head of school/principal for a variety of Jewish day schools and yeshivot. As a prolific writer, lecturer and influencer, Dr. Botwinick specialized strategic planning, organizational development and school leadership. He is co-founder of LEV Consulting Associates and producer of the Chinuch Horizons podcast series.
