I have no expertise in psychology, but I think it’s helpful, healthy and important for people to have ways and opportunities to express, embrace, and celebrate their identities. On many occasions, I have experienced the power, security, and pride in joining together with others with whom I share some aspect(s) of my identity. One example of this is participating in the Celebrate Israel Parade (now known as the Israel on Fifth Parade, but I think the prior name is more fitting!). I’m excited and delighted that every year, our CBI community has a group who participate in this parade together (a shout out to those who have helped to organize this over the years), and that this year, even with our huge and amazing concert event on the same day, we still have a nice turnout! We are one of the few area synagogues marching with its own shul banner! That’s something to be very proud of!
As far back as I can remember, going to the Israel Parade in Manhattan was something my family and I always tried to do each year, rain or shine! As a younger child, I remember standing on the sidewalk of Fifth Avenue, with crowds of other people around us, as my siblings and I tried to sneak under the old wooden blue police barricades to watch the floats and marching bands and community/school groups go by. My mom would loudly cheer for every group and she always managed to get many appreciating waves and smiles from the participants. In my school-age years, I marched in the parade with my synagogue’s Religious School (then called Talmud Torah, of East Midwood Jewish Center). In my 20’s and 30’s I mainly went as a spectator, but in 1994, it turned out that the day of the parade was the same day as my wedding!
As a child and even as a teenager, I thought of the Israel parade as just a fun experience (and it was the only parade we attended; I never went to the Thanksgiving Day parade or to any others in NYC). Reflecting on it now, I realize that as an American Jew who loves Israel, and for whom these are fundamental aspects of my identity, coming together on a designated day, in a very public way, on a main avenue in such a prominent city in the world, with so many other American Jews who also shared my love for Israel, fostered a great sense of pride, joy and affirmation for me. This is “community” on a larger scale, and these are feelings that I also experience so often right here in our own CBI community. As a Conservative American Jewish community, we should also feel very proud of the many different ways that we have shown our connection to and support for Israel, especially in these last few years, but also going back many, many years.
I am thrilled that as a community, we made the commitment this year to bring in a band directly from Israel for our Spring fundraising event. I am grateful to everyone for generously supporting this effort and for your dedication to this community. I know that for a variety of different reasons, many of you will not be able to attend the Israel parade in the afternoon in NYC or this Sunday evening’s event in our building, but know that as we march up Fifth Avenue, we will proudly display our CBI banner as we wave flags of Israel and the United States of America, and then we will celebrate the pride and strength of our community and of Israel as we dance together to the joyful music of the Israel Klezmer Orchestra, keeping our entire CBI community in our hearts along with our Israeli sisters and brothers, and of course the hostages and their families. Am Yisrael Chai!
Cantor Lorna Wallach
