American-style holiday parade comes marching through Jerusalem
Floats, balloons, a pirate ship and stilt-walkers take to the streets
It began with a burst of blue-andwhite streamers.
And then came the floats, the balloons and some 6,000 marchers parading down central Jerusalem streets on Monday afternoon. Plus a rapper aboard a pirate ship, a collection of classic cars, a marching band and an internationally famous NBA star turned local hoopster wearing tzitzit.
The hoopla, billed as “Together: Marching with World Jewry,” was the initiative of the Diaspora Affairs Ministry and was designed to celebrate Hanukkah and demonstrate unity between Israelis and Diaspora Jewry.
“I’m grateful to the State of Israel for working so hard to strengthen the relationships between Israel and [the] Diaspora. It’s very important,” said US Ambassador David Friedman at the kickoff of the parade. “This is a great idea. Today we’re coming together – not because of, God forbid, a terror attack, not because of a calamity. We’re coming together to celebrate in good times, on Hanukkah. We should keep doing this forever. Am Yisrael Chai.”
The parade was fashioned after the Celebrate Israel Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – both annual and storied traditions in Manhattan.
So how did that magic translate to the streets of Jerusalem?
The focal point of the parade was the four 15-meter high balloons floating along the route; though the connection to the theme of the day was more than
a little tenuous. A golden dragon floated past, as did an enormous smurf, a muppet named Animal (the drummer from Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, of course) and a Nutcracker-esque toy soldier. The balloons were held on to by groups of high schoolers, IDF soldiers and other marchers. At times, the smurf and dragon listed and tilted as the handlers struggled with the wind. But all the balloons survived the parade without punctures or deflation. And the sun was shining on the thousands of marchers and spectators – far from a guarantee in Jerusalem in December.
“As we’re marching we’re thinking about one thing, all Jews are responsible for one another,” proclaimed Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett at the outset of the parade. “We have Jews in the US and Russia and Mexico and Brazil and Iran and South Africa and England, Australia, Chile,” he added, rattling off countries. But aside from marchers from several absorption centers in Israel – who are now Israelis, not Diaspora Jewry – there was little to connect the parade to its stated theme.
The Israel Police marching band brought a welcome, festive addition to the participants. A pirate ship ridden by a woman rapping in Hebrew was entertaining but confusing. I didn’t get a chance to ask the people on stilts juggling balls if they were Jews from the Diaspora. I did, however, spot former NBA star and Hapoel Jerusalem player Amar’e Stoudemire – wearing tzitzit – gamely posing for selfies with fans and helping pull along a globe float.
The festivities ended with a concert by Nechi Nech, then Matisyahu, speeches from politicians and a hanukkia lighting ceremony. Sure, the ministry pulled off a successful event that was a fun day for children celebrating Hanukkah. But it’s hard to see how it brought Israeli and Diaspora Jewry any closer together. •