The 55th annual Celebrate Israel Parade kicked off at 12 noon on Sunday, June 2nd on Manhattan’s fashionable 5th Avenue, thus turning the iconic NYC thoroughfare into a veritable sea of blue and white. This year’s grand marshall for the Celebrate Israel parade that is sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) was Edward A. Mermelstein. Joining him in leading the Parade as Honorary Grand Marshals were Ted Comet, Founder of the Celebrate Israel Parade; Siggy Flicker, Author and TV personality; Liel Leibovitz and Stephanie Butnick, Co-Hosts of the Unorthodox podcast, Sid Rosenberg, Co-Host of Bernie & Sid in the Morning.
Edward A. Mermelstein is an accomplished top-tier legal strategist, businessman, consultant, investor, and developer in NYC. He is founding partner of One & Only Holdings, LLC, which includes One & Only Realty, and former partner at Rheem Bell & Mermelstein, LLP. As Chairman of COJECO, Edward helps facilitate the integration of Russian-speaking Jews into the greater American Jewish community while preserving their cultural heritage.
As President of Zaka Search and Rescue, Edward leads an UN-recognized NGO, with thousands of volunteers, on call to respond to man-made or natural disasters. Edward has served on the Boards of UJA-Federation of New York, RAJE, and other charitable organizations. Fluent in English and Russian, Edward emigrated to the U.S. in 1976. In addition to his work, he is involved in numerous charitable organizations supporting local as well as national causes rooted in culture, politics, education and the arts. Edward lives in NYC with his wife, Rose, a Broadway producer and five-time Tony award winner, and his two sons.
According to a JPost report, a diplomatic delegation of UN ambassadors and diplomats from around the world took part in the festive proclamation of Israel’s pride which was led by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon.
“This is a demonstration of support of Israel by the international community and it is great to be here and see New York painted blue and white,” said German Ambassador to the United Nations Christoph Heusgen.
The delegation includes UN ambassadors from Australia, Germany, Ukraine, Norway, Nigeria and other countries.
Around 40,000 participants took part in the parade and there were hundreds of thousands of spectators all along the 5th Avenue route who joined the celebratory theme with enthusiastic cheering.
The parade marched down Fifth Avenue from 57th to 74th Streets and its theme celebrates “Rak B’Yisrael” – meaning “Only in Israel.”
“Only in Israel,” the event website reads, “where in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.
“Where ancient villages stand beside ultra-modern cities.
“Where a 2,000 year old language was resurrected for modern speech.
“Where exiles from the four corners of the world have come home.
“Where skill and chutzpah together make the impossible come true.
“Where barren deserts are transformed into flourishing fields.
“Where diverse cultures produce a fusion of global cuisine.
“Where pioneers build new frontiers in science and technology.
“Where water can be produced from thin air.
“Where those with incurable diseases are cured.
“Where if you will it, it is no dream.”
