By:  Fern Sidman

Fifth Avenue in Manhattan transformed into a living tapestry of blue and white on Sunday, as tens of thousands of New Yorkers rallied together for the 77th annual Celebrate Israel Parade. With this year’s theme—Hatikvah, or Hope—the event took on a more solemn and determined tone than in years past, reflecting both Israel’s enduring spirit and the collective grief of a global Jewish community reeling from an ongoing war and prolonged hostage crisis.

From 57th to 74th Streets, the iconic avenue pulsed with energy as more than 40,000 marchers—according to The Jerusalem Post—waved Israeli flags, raised placards, and voiced a clear message: that Israel does not stand alone.

Unlike previous years where the atmosphere skewed toward festive celebration, the 2025 parade struck a delicate balance between joyful solidarity and poignant remembrance. Many marchers wore yellow ribbons to mark the now 19-month ordeal of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza since the October 2023 Hamas massacre—a tragedy that has cast a long shadow across Israeli society and global Jewry alike. Chants of “Bring Them Home” punctuated the rhythm of drums and marching bands, lending a human urgency to the sea of celebratory banners and slogans.

As reported by The Jerusalem Post, the diversity of participating groups was a testament to the parade’s wide-reaching appeal. Jewish day schools, yeshivot, synagogues, youth movements, college clubs, cultural delegations, and pro-Israel advocacy organizations all walked side by side. Each group carried its own message of unity, reflecting a mosaic of voices united in their support of Israel. Entire school groups marched in coordinated shirts bearing uplifting slogans like “Hope Unites Us” and “Together for Israel,” while toddlers on their parents’ shoulders waved miniature flags with quiet resolve.

This year’s theme, “Hatikvah,” invoked the enduring anthem of Israel and resonated powerfully with attendees. “The parade has always been important to me, but this year is different,” one participant from the Yeshiva of Central Queens told The Jerusalem Post. “I feel it’s important to support Israel in the current political climate where anti-Israel voices are getting louder.”

The message was also political. “New York is the largest Jewish community outside of Israel—it’s crucial we show our support,” a Yeshiva University alumnus told The Jerusalem Post, alluding to the city’s upcoming mayoral election. “We need our elected officials to see just how broad and deep the support for Israel is within this city.”

The Jerusalem Post report highlighted the elevated security presence at the event, as public safety was of paramount concern for organizers and city officials. The NYPD was out in full force, lining the streets with barricades, officers, and surveillance units. Coordination with parade organizers had been underway for weeks in light of heightened tensions and protest activity in the city.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, in remarks reported by The Times of Israel, made it clear that while the right to protest peacefully would be respected, “no one has a right to engage in criminal activity. And we will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt this event or endanger those who come to celebrate.”

Yet the atmosphere remained one of unity and peace. Crowds applauded as each float passed—some carrying Israeli folk dancers, others decorated with symbols of Israeli innovation and resilience. Hebrew pop music and traditional songs like “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” echoed down the avenue, turning Fifth into a corridor of cultural and spiritual affirmation.

The significance of the moment was not lost on those in attendance. For many, the event offered not just a show of support, but also a form of healing. As The Jerusalem Post observed, numerous participants saw this year’s parade as both an act of protest and an act of faith—faith in Israel’s future, and in the strength of a Jewish people determined to stand tall despite immense adversity.

The broader political and emotional landscape gave new depth to this year’s march. With Israel engaged in a protracted conflict in Gaza following the unprecedented terrorist assault on October 7, 2023, diaspora Jews—particularly those in the United States—have been increasingly vocal in countering what they see as rising antisemitism and growing hostility toward Israel in academia, media, and politics. The Celebrate Israel Parade served as a rejoinder to these trends, providing a visual and emotional reminder of unwavering communal support.

Community leaders also emphasized the parade’s significance as a bridge between generations. “We are marching not just for today, but for our children,” said a local rabbi walking with a group of teens, according to The Jerusalem Post report. “They need to see that pride in Israel is not something to be hidden or politicized. It is something to celebrate, loudly and proudly.”

The parade also drew a small number of counter-protesters at various points along the route, though their presence was minimal and non-disruptive. Police maintained order efficiently, allowing the primary event to continue undeterred.

The day’s opening moments carried a somber weight as released hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel stood before the crowd and reminded the world that dozens of hostages are still being held in Gaza.

According to a report in The Times of Israel, the Siegels—who were both kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during Hamas’s October 7massacre and later released in separate hostage deals—were joined by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and prominent Jewish community leaders at the parade’s opening ceremony.

Keith Siegel, who returned home in February 2025 after enduring nearly five months of captivity, addressed the crowd with measured urgency. “Aviva and I are on a mission,” he declared. “We’re grateful for your support—it’s urgent.” He underscored the severity of his time in Gaza, which The Times of Israel reported he described as “horrendous,” and named four individuals he personally knows who remain in captivity, including brothers Ziv and Gali Berman.

Aviva Siegel, freed earlier in a November 2023 truce, spoke with emotion. “Keith is home. I am the lucky one,” she told the gathered crowd. “I know what it feels like being held hostage in Gaza, touching death and being treated in such a brutal way.” Her words, carried in The Times of Israel, left many in tears—an unfiltered testimony of survival and pain.

Dani Miran, whose son Omri is still among the hostages, also took the stage. His presence served as a chilling reminder that the crisis is ongoing, and far from resolved. With 58 hostages still unaccounted for as of parade day, the call to “Bring Them Home” was a consistent theme echoed in chants, signs, and speeches.

Despite the heaviness of these personal stories, the parade’s broader atmosphere was festive and resolute.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul offered strong remarks from the podium. Quoting President John F. Kennedy, she reminded the crowd that Israel had long been recognized as a “resilient people”—a truth tested repeatedly, and especially so in recent months. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think there would still be [58] hostages,” she said. “My God, we will not rest until ‘bring them home’ is a reality.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer brought the crowd to its feet with a booming “Am Yisrael Chai! (The People of Israel Live).” Drawing attention to the American-Israeli dual citizens whose remains are still believed to be in Gaza, Schumer emphasized the personal toll the hostage crisis has taken on U.S. families. He specifically mentioned Ruby Chen, father of slain hostage Itay Chen, saying, “I know how Ruby is suffering.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James also addressed the crowd but received a mixed reaction. As The Times of Israel reported, she was met with quiet boos, likely reflecting political tensions over her prior public stances. Nevertheless, she reaffirmed her commitment to the Jewish state, stating, “Israel and New York share the same values, and New York will celebrate Israel forever.”

Throughout the day, the parade seamlessly wove together celebration and activism. Floats from Jewish schools carried messages of resilience and hope, while yellow ribbons adorned lapels, backpacks, and signs—silent but powerful emblems of the hostage crisis that continues to haunt so many.

The day was more than just an expression of cultural pride; it was a global message from New York’s Jewish community. As The Times of Israel emphasized, the presence of survivors, political leaders, and tens of thousands of marchers demonstrated that Israel’s pain is felt deeply in diaspora communities—and that its victories and hopes are shared across oceans.

For Keith and Aviva Siegel, the event was not merely symbolic. It was a step in a campaign they have vowed to carry forward. “We are alive,” Keith told the crowd, “but our friends are still there. Don’t let the world forget.”

In this year’s Israel Day on Fifth, memory, identity, and hope were on full display. And as The Times of Israel noted, the city’s Jewish heartbeat continues to echo—loud, proud, and unshaken.

As the final contingents crossed 74th Street, the music still playing and crowds still waving their flags, one thing was clear: in a time of uncertainty, New York’s Jewish community had once again sent a clear message of solidarity, strength, and hope. Through song, march, and symbol, the 2025 Celebrate Israel Parade lived up to its theme—Hatikvah—and proved that the spirit of Israel continues to inspire, even from thousands of miles away.