HAFTR Steps off: Salute to Israel Day Parade

When the Salute to Israel parade steps off at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue at 11:00 this Sunday morning, the middle school of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaways (HAFTR) will be first in the line of march.

HAFTR won the right to lead the parade after one of its students made the winning submission in a contest to design this year’s parade poster.

Sixth grader Matthew Hoenig adapted the theme of “Lights... Camera... Action... Israel!”

“The winning design was used for the parade posters, and we used a version of it for our shirts,” said HAFTR art teacher Rena Mosak.

“My poster had a clapboard, reel tape, and a megaphone,” said Hoenig. “I was really excited and the whole school is excited to be marching first.”

In contrast to previous parades, which stretched from 57th Street to 79th Street along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, this year’s Salute to Israel will end at 74th Street.

The New York City Police Department cited the ongoing budget deficit as a reason to trim all parade routes in the city. The NYPD will save as much as $3 million a year in overtime and other costs as a result.

The Jewish Community Relations Council, which organizes the parade, will supplement the extensive and expensive police presence with its own private security, according to Michael Miller, executive vice president of the JCRC.

“We will do everything we can to ensure safety, and make sure people have an enjoyable experience,” Miller said.

In past years the organizers have noticed a lack of local Israeli participation in the annual parade dedicated to Israel. This year a stronger push was made to highlight local Israelis as part of the larger local Jewish community.

The grand marshal of the parade is philanthropist and filmmaker Meshulam Riklis, who was born in Tel Aviv, in what was then British Palestine.

The Israeli-born forward of the Sacramento Kings, Omri Casspi, and boxer Yuri Foreman, who was raised in Israel, are also scheduled to march in the parade.

HAFTR middle school principal Rabbi Dovid Kupchik noted that the school’s participation in the parade is only a small, albeit very public example of HAFTR’s advocacy for Israel.

Among participating synagogues, Congregation Machane Chodosh of Forest Hills will feature a film reel of its own Talmud Torah’s trip to Israel.

“Our banner will show our last visit to Israel,” said Talmud Torah principal Richard Schneider. “In one photo they’re wearing tefillin at the Kotel, and in another, they’re diving underwater in Eilat.”

“This was made entirely by our students,” said Schneider proudly.

Beginning at 2:30 p.m., the parade will be accompanied by the Manfred R. Lehmann Memorial Israel Day Concert — the 17th annual free concert — a collection of contemporary Jewish music performers peppered with speeches.

“Every year it’s special,” said Dr. Paul Brody of Great Neck, one of the organizers. “But this year in particular, the Jewish people will not remain silent.” Facing a hostile Iranian leadership, Brody said that Israel is also facing pressure from President Barack Obama, to give up more land and divide Jerusalem.

Among the invited speakers is Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele.

The GOP’s “ideology seems to be more in sync with the hopes and aspirations of us who are in the nationalist camp and ideology,” said Brody.

The leading Israeli figure at the concert will be World Likud chairman and Deputy Knesset Speaker Danny Danon.

“Too many politicians signal right, then turn left,” said Brody. “We will demonstrate to say no more concessions in Yehuda and the Shomron.”

Like the parade, the concert will also employ private security. “We will be careful to ensure the security and safety of every individual,” said Brody.

While the parade will be limited to five-hours and a somewhat reduced route, the JCRC’s Miller urged spectators to come in unlimited numbers.

“We will make it work,” he said, “and we want as many people [as possible] to come and show their solidarity with Israel.”