50,000 Marchers Salute Israel in Fifth Avenue Parade

On Sunday thousands of Jewish day school students were joined by marchers from Jewish nonprofits, non-Jewish allies, dancing troupes, and identity groups such as Russian-speaking Jews to show support for Israel and demand that the hostages in Gaza be released from their captivity.

As Luke Tress and Jessica Steinberg wrote in The Times of Israel,

The march mostly retained its festive tone, with day school groups doing choreographed dances and costumed performers playing music.

The parade is a significant show of support for Israel in the city, and a moment of solidarity for the Jewish community, as Jewish New Yorkers continue to deal with the fallout from the October 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel.

The theme for this year was “Hatikvah,” meaning “The hope” — the title of Israel’s national anthem.

The annual event is organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, with the support of the UJA-Federation of New York. Organizers strive to keep the march nonpolitical in tone.

The annual parade began in 1965 with an impromptu march by thousands of Zionist youth in support of Israel. JCRC-NY has managed the event since 2011.

Here's a sample of the hours-long parade, with 400 students of SAR Academy of Riverdale marching and singing down Fifth Avenue.

Enjoy!

Yihye Tov - A Love Letter to Israel From the Students of SAR Academy

The students of SAR Academy in Riverdale, New York, have recorded a love letter to Israel in the form of a new version of David Broza's iconic song Yihye Tov (It will be good) expressing hope for peace in our time. 

It's a hope that has been voiced for many years, longer than the 35 years that have elapsed since Broza first composed it. Over the years he added about 30 new verses, bringing the song up to date as prospects for peace continued to rise and fall.

Vocals were performed by the SAR Academy Choir and middle school students.
Song production, arrangement and recording at SAR Recording Studios were done by Shim Craimer.
Video was done by Batya Sharbat & Becca Glassberg, and Lyrics & Direction by Benji Hain.

Below the SAR version and English translation we're including a video of David Broza performing his original song at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, in Hebrew with English translation in subtitles.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

SAR Version With New Lyrics



English translation of the lyrics:

I’m sitting here in class and hear some more bad news
Israel’s so far away but it’s close by in my heart

I’m scared and I’m worried about family and friends
And I’m trying so very hard to keep the hope alive

Life will be good
Yes, life will be good
with unity and love
We support you
and pray to Hashem
for peace in Israel

I think of our forefathers in exile for thousands of years
who dreamt of returning home but never got the chance

And now our generation is living out their dreams
but we must never forget the sacrifices they made

Life will be good
Yes, life will be good
with unity and love
We support you
and pray to Hashem
for peace in Israel

So come on, what should we do? How can we make a difference right now?
How can we help the children of Israel deal with what they must face?

We all know that Am Yisrael will live forever
and we can accomplish anything if we march together hand-in-hand

Together we’ll tell the world that Israel has the right to exist
and that it must protect its people from every possible threat

We will all pray with one heart for peace throughout the land
and send a loving hug to Israel from the children of the world

Life will be good
Yes, life will be good
with unity and love
We support you
and pray to Hashem
for peace in Israel

David Broza Singing His Original Version