Saluting50 years ofmarchingwith pride

By Erika PrafdEr

M azel Tov!To commemorate

its golden anniver-sary, this year’s CelebrateIsrael Parade is set to takethe excitement level tosoaring heights with newfloats carryingmusical per-formers, 15marching bands,35,000marchers and amodel replica of Israel’s firstmoon-bound spacecraft.Now in its milestone 50th

year, more than 200groups comprised ofsynagogues, Jewishday schools, com-munity centersand youth move-ments — as wellas rollerbladers,dance groups,motorcyclists andjuggling clowns — arepreparing to expressthe theme for this year’sparade, appropriatelydesignated as 50 Reasons toCelebrate Israel.“The importance

of the theme for usis that there aren’tmany events on thecalendar that ever reachthismilestone,” saysMichaelMiller, execu-tive vice president andchief executive officer ofthe Jewish CommunityRelations Council of NewYork (jcrcny.org). TheNewYork nonprofit group is aUJa-Federation of NewYorkaffiliate and represents theJewish community here togovernment officials, otherethnic and religious commu-

CELEBRATEIsRAEL

your guide to the 2014 parade

WHENSunday

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHEREFifth Avenue, startingat 57th St., ending

at 74th St.

The parade will betelevised live byWWOR(Channel 9) from noon to2 p.m.To watch the entireparade live online, log onto celebrateisraelny.org.

from small beginnings in1964, the Celebrate israelParade has become the

largest annual pro-israelgathering outside the

country itself.

See GOLDEN on Page A2

the theme for this year’s

designated as 50 Reasons to

calendar that ever reach

chief executive officer of

Relations Council of NewYork (jcrcny.org). TheNewYork nonprofit group is aUJa-Federation of NewYorkaffiliate and represents theJewish community here togovernment officials, otherethnic and religious commu-

The parade will betelevised live byWWOR(Channel 9) from noon to2 p.m.To watch the entireparade live online, log onto celebrateisraelny.org.

on Page A2

Goldenyears

1995:N.Y.Post:BolivarArellano;Bottom:2010:RobertKalfus

A2 CELEBRATE IsRAELCELEBRATECELEBRATE

nities, and the newsmedia.“We value this parade,”

saysMiller. “It’s central tothe role of theNewYorkJewish community’s supportof Israel. It’s the largest pub-lic event anywhere in theworld in support of [Israel].”In years past, “Mayors

Koch,Dinkins, Giuliani andBloomberg have participated,aswell as Senator Schumer,andGovernors Paterson,Pataki, Cuomo and Spitzer.”The event had modest

beginnings in 1964, as90-year-old Ted Comet,parade chairman from 1965through 1968, remembers.“At that time, I was the

director of the AmericanZionist Youth Foundation,which served as a majorsponsor of programs inIsrael for young people inAmerica,” says “Each year,we held an Israel-themedevent in Central Park, butI felt it was time to dosomething larger and morepublic to demonstrate sup-port for Israel. I thought

it was important for anevent to bring togetherdifferent elements of NewYork’s Jewish communitythat normally didn’t gettogether in a unifying way.I also felt it should havea theme for participatingyouth groups and schools.”That first Parade in

Manhattan, then called theSalute to Israel, the parade-goers only marched severalblocks. But 1967 put theparade on the map.“It took place the Sunday

before the outbreak of theSix-DayWar. There wasenormous concern and thethreat that Israel may go

under.We converted theparade into a demonstrationof solidarity. There were aquarter of a million peoplewhomarched. Suddenly,people recognized theimportance of having publicexpression,” says Comet.After recently reaching

his own milestone 90thbirthday, Comet says thatbeing able to march in thisyear’s milestone anniver-sary year is indescribable.“To have an idea actual-

ized and sustained oversuch a long period of timeis not a common phenom-enon. It’s a very powerful,emotional feeling,” he says.

FABULOUS AT 50

STEPPING OUTBefore this year’s kick-off, if you’re energized early

enough, join TheNewYork Road Runners Club at TheCelebrate Israel Run in Central Park.Organized inpartnershipwith the JCRC-NY,more than 6,000 run-ners are slated to run through the four-mile stretchdesigned as a symbolic journey through Israel fromEilat toTelAviv. Israeli music, snacks andmorewillbe featured. Start time is 8 a.m. for adults,with kids’races (ages 2 - 12) beginning at 9:30 a.m.For registration and logistical information, visit: nyrr.org/

races-and-events/2014/celebrate-israel-run-4m.

GOLDEN from Page A1

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BUILDING ISRAEL.ONE CHILD AT A TIME

AMIT SALUTES ISRAEL ON ITS 66TH ANNIVERSARY

• Providing the highest level of academic excellence. Teaching Jewishvalues and helping each child reach his/her fullest potential.

• Enabling graduates to become productive members of Israelisociety with the skills necessary to build a successful future.

• AMIT schools, teachers and students have received countlessawards and accolades from Israel’s Ministry of Education and ourschools are ranked among the best in Israel.

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Jennifer E. FalkCo-Chair

Judy KaufthalCo-Chair

Letter from the JCRC-NY CelebrateIsrael Parade Committee

Dear Friends,As stunning as it sounds, this year marks the 50th year that the New York Jewish communityhas gathered together to celebrate Israel on the streets of Manhattan. What started as afour-block walk up Riverside Drive has evolved into a five-hour Parade featuring 35,000marchers, dozens of floats, marching bands, special guests from Israel and hundreds ofthousands of spectators. Thanks to the throngs of people who come out to the Paradeevery year, the Celebrate Israel Parade has become the largest public event in the world incelebration of Israel.

Mirroring the country that it honors, the Parade has grown over time. A few years ago, theParade made its way to television and the web so that viewers in the metropolitan area andbeyond can celebrate with us. Similarly, the Parade’s adoption of social media enabledpeople around the globe to join the conversation and be #TogetherOnFifth.

This year, the Parade welcomes SpaceIL to Fifth Avenue, before taking Israel to the moon.Then, the US-IL Flying Club will join us with a flyover of more than a dozen single-propairplanes. And there’ll be a delegation of members of the Knesset leading the parade,followed by performances from Israeli recording artists Chen Aharoni, Hagit Yaso and DJMr. Black. And for the first time ever, we’ll be using two Israeli mobile apps – AppMyDayand Askem – to add even more fun.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of NY, the producer of the Celebrate Israel Parade,would like to thank our many supporters for making this great parade possible especiallyUJA-Federation of New York, the Jewish Communal Fund, the State of Israel, BankLeumi, Israel Bonds and the Israeli American Council.

So please join us on June 1st as we come together to say with one voice, Am Yisrael Chai.

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A3

Macy’sCelebrates the66th Anniversaryof Israel’sIndependence

A4 CELEBRATE IsRAEL

I f one Israeli nonprofithits its lunarmark nextyear—attempting to land

the smallest spacecraft everon themoon— itwill be onegiant hop formankind.The attempt is the result of

aGoogle competition. TheLunarXPRIZE competitionin 2015 (googlelunarxprize.org) has 25 participatingcountries vying to be thefirst to launch and landan unmanned, privatespacecraft safely on themoon. Israel’s SpaceILorganization aims not only towin the high-profile, highlyincentivized ($30million inprizemoney) internationalcontest, but to inspire thenext generation to thinkdifferently about pursu-ing careers in the science,technology, engineering andmath (STEM) fields.“We’re the only nonprofit

team, andwe plan to donateour prizemoney to scientificeducation,” says Kfir Damari,co-founder of SpaceIL. “Kidswho sawNeil Armstrongwalking his first steps on themoonwere inspired to be

scientists and engi-neers.Wewant to do

the same thing and getkids to realize that science iscool and exciting,” he adds.Born in Israel, 31-year-old

Damari recalls howhis owninterest in the STEM fields

took flight.At age 6, inspired

by his LEGO-buildingpastime and a passion forunderstanding how thingswork, Damari began learningcomputer programming. Heended up in Israel’s Intel-

ligenceCorps and earnedundergraduate and graduatedegrees in communicationssystems engineeringwith aspecialization in cyber secu-rity and computer networks.In 2010, Damariwas

conjuring up business ideaswhen he learned ofGoogle’sXSpace challenge onfacebook. He latermet twoequally impassioned engi-neering partners, Yariv BashandYonatanWeintraub,online.“The three of us

met thatweekendto begin thinkingand drawing ideasup together,” saysDamari.The partnersmet

with the heads of theIsrael SpaceAgencyand Israeli Aerospacefacility to informthemof their plans. “Ourdesign thenwas no biggerthan aCoke bottle, but theywanted to help.We raisedthemoney in ten days,” saysDamari.With tens ofmillionsmore

needed to develop theirspacecraft, raising capitalwas no small feat. The jobwas tackled in large partbyDaniel Saat, director ofbusiness development for

SpaceIL.“I knew I had to get

involved,” he says. “It’s soexciting and challenging. It’san amazing story of Israeliphilanthropy, aswe’ve hadthousands of donors frominternational business,academia and privately—somewho’ve contributed 18sheckels, and otherswho’vedonatedmillions. Our bud-get is $36million andwe’ve

raisedmost of it.”Recently, SpaceILlaunched a crowd-funding campaignthrough itswebsite,where anyone can‘Send amessage tothemoon’ on a nano

computer chip for $18,buy an official teamT-shirt and feel a partof themission, saysSaat.

NewYorkerswill get asneak peak of SpaceIL’smis-sion at the parade on Sundaywhen teammembers,includingDamari, prepare totake-off on a float showcas-ing amodel prototype oftheir craft, whichwill be thesmallest spaceship to land onthemoon.“It’s the size of a dish-

washer sowill cost a fractionof other spacemissions.We

don’t have to build our ownlaunch pad,” saysDamari.from an engineering

standpoint, “We neededto think differently,” saysDamari. “Just like you canuse a smartphone to get a lotof information, we believeall the electronics you needto land on themoon existin your pocket,” he says.“Building our spacecraftas simply as possiblewiththe smartest technologywill likely have far-reachingimpact on future economicand scientific experiment.”“Velcro, plastics andUV

sunglasses came out of theApollo program in the 70sand 80s,” says Saat. “There’sthe solar energy industryand astronaut ice cream.Anything is possible here.Investing in the space indus-try has amazing implicationsfor Earth’s economy.Weexpect our network of scien-tists and engineers to buildamazing things in Israel.”for the SpaceIL team,win-

ning the competitionwouldbe a dream realized.“Theworld ismade up of

impossible. The onlywaytomake it possible is if yougo and do what’s neededto make it happen, ” saysDamari. — Erika Prafder

SPACERACE

SpaceIL gets set totake an Israeli craft

to the moon

A prototype of SpaceIL’s tinymoon lander will feature on

their parade float this Sunday.

Kfir Damari,co-founderof SpaceIL.

Wendy Tomkiel, LCSWPrivate Practice, NY, NY | WSSW ’94

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COME TOGETHER

For information about the Celebrate Israel Parade, visit www.celebrateisraelny.org.

Once a year, our richly diverse New York Jewishcommunity comes together at the Celebrate IsraelParade to express our abiding love for the State ofIsrael and its people.

This year, a broad delegation of Knesset membersfrom across the political spectrum along withIsrael’s Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar will kick offour march up Fifth Avenue.

Their participation in the largest annual pro-Israelgathering outside of the Jewish state itselfreminds us that the parade is an occasion forputting aside differences and remembering ourshared commitment to Israel.

As we have for 50 years, we will celebrate —as one community — the country we love.On June 1st, that’s all that matters. Join us.

facebook.com/ujafedny

twitter.com/ujafedny

A6 CELEBRATE IsRAEL

For twodecades, FreddySivan flew F-15s for theIsraeli Air Force. Sivan,

likemany of his fighter pilotfriends, went on to fly for thecommercial Israeli airline, ElAl, and today captains 747seachweek fromTel Avivto the States. Sivan is alsoamember of a unique, all-volunteer group based out ofLong Island’s republic Air-port— theUS Israel FlyingClub, an informal gatheringof pilots and aviation fansfrom theU.S. and Israel.The clubwas organized by

Avi Cobin, flight instructorrobert Keleti andAl Pereg,a former F-16 fighter pilot.They did it “becausewe liketo fly,” says Cobin.About once amonth, Sivan

and other El Al pilots spendtimewith local non-com-mercial pilots. This unlikelyband of brothersmay decideto fly on awhim toAtlanticCity or take a cross-countrytrip, all in small planesThis Sunday, however,

their diary is full. At 11:45a.m., 15 planes flown by theclub’s pilotswill fly over theparade to salute Israel.

“They’re all heroes andto fly with them is anincredible privilege,” saysMichael Harbater, 63, ofFar rockaway. “You figura-tively rub wings with theseguys. It’s a real honor.”For the parade, the club

will fly in threeV-formationsof five planes each. Just asthey practiced on a recentSunday, theywill take offfromrepublic Airport inFarmingdale, Long Island, flyalong the FifthAve. paraderoute, theHudsonriver andabove theWorldTradeCen-

ter, before landing at Princ-etonAirport for a ratherlarge celebratory picnic.They recently had a

practice runwith just twoplanes.WithHarbater at thecontrols and Sivan on hisright, the pair flew alongsideaCirrus Sr22 flown by Jef-freyHerskovitz, 32, of KewGardens. Herskovitz is thechief pilot forHopscotchAir,a private jet company basedat republic. To his right satCobin, 34, an Israeli nativewhomoved toNewYorkabout a decade ago.Last year, the club’s

parade-day flyover grew toits current 15 planes, but thisis the first year that paradeorganizers havemade it, asCobin says, “official.”“It is an amazing feeling,”

he says, “and it’s a big honorfor me to fly with all thesebig airline pilots. I alwayssay it’s worth coming fromIsrael to watch the parade,”he adds. “To close down thecity andmarch for Israel,you’re so proud, you can’tbelieve it.”—DianeHerbst

High-flying pilots fromElAl will lead their localflying club in a paradeflyover this Sunday

OVER MANHATTANWings

US Israel Flying Club pilots Jeffrey Herskovitz, Freddy Sivan,Avi Cobin and Mike Harbater are ready for takeoff on Sunday.

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• IDT• Jewish Homeland• Avi Chai• Carmel Car• Dr. Felix Glaubach• Russian American Jewish

Experience• IDB Bank• University Float: American

Friends of Bar-Ilan University,American Friends of the OpenUniversity of Israel, AmericanCommittee for the WeizmannInstitute of Science, AmericanCommittee for Shenkar Collegein Israel, and American TechnionSociety

• One Israel Fund• Shaare Zedek• The Hampton Synagogue• The Hebron Fund

FLOAT ENTERTAINERS• Hagit Yaso• Chen Aharoni• DJ Mr. Black• Howard Leshaw Klezmer &

Yiddish Soul• The Shul Band• Donny Baitner & The BaRock

Orchester• Hebrew Wizards• The Ramaz Band• DJ Alex Edge• Sandy Shmuely• Six Thirteen

STREET PERFORMERS• Barynya Entertainment Dancers• Israel Dance Institute• Areyvut Mitzvah Clowns• Celebrate Israel Performers Troop• Torah Tots

MARCHING GROUPS• A.J. Heschel School• AJC – American JewishCommittee• American Russian Jewish

Community ClusterCOJECO - Council of JewishÉmigré Community OrganizationsAmerican Forum of Russian JewryRJenerationBukharian Teen LoungeAmerican Association of Jewsfrom the FSUAmerican Association of Jewsfrom the FSU, NYAssociation of East-EuropeanJewryAssociation of BukharianJewish Youth of the USAACHDUT”American Association ofHolocaust Survivors from the FSUBeth HaKnesseth OhrHamizrach (Caucasian JewishCenter)Congregation Meor Hachaim ofLuna ParkCongress of Bukharian Jews ofthe USA and CanadaAmerican Association of Invalidsand Veterans of WWII from theFSUCongregation of IndependentChevra Tyfers IsraelCultural Center of Caucasian JewsEZRA USAHolocaust Survivors CharityJewish Community of Starrett CityWorld Forum of Russian JewryMetropolitan Russian-AmericanParents Association

New York Association ofHolocaust Survivors from theFormer Soviet UnionJCH of BensonhurstRussian American FoundationRussian American Cultural CenterRussian American OfficersAssociationRussian-American VotersEducational LeagueWomen’s Organization“Esther-ha-Malka” of theBukharian Jewish Congress of theUSA and Canada

• AMERICAN VETERANS OFISRAEL LEGACY

• ARZA - Association of ReformZionists of America

• Ashar• AZM -The American Zionist

Movement/WZO WorldZionist OrganizationHaBonim DrorHashomer-HaTsairMercaz USAAMITAmeinuBnai Zion

• ARZA• Barkai Yeshivah• Ben Porat Yosef• Bi-Cultural Day School• B’nai Jeshurun• Bnei Akiva of the U.S. and Canada• Boy/Girl Scouts of America• The Brandeis School• Camp HASC• Carmel Academy• Center for Jewish Life• Chai Riders• Congregation AABJ&D• Congregation Or Zarua• Eagles Wings East Midwood

Hebrew Day School• Ezra Academy• Friends of the IDF• Friends of Israel Scouts -• HaTzofim Tzabar• Frisch School• Golda Och Academy, West

Orange, NJ• HAFTR – M.S/H.S.• HALB – M.S./DRS/SKA• HANC - Lower School, Middle-

School, High School• Hannah Senesh Community Day

School• Hillel-The Foundation for Jewish

Campus Life• Hillel Yeshiva – Middle School,

High School• Jewish Agency for Israel• JCRC - Long Island

Congregation Beth-El, Mass-apequaCongregation B’nai Sholom/BethDavidCongregation Sons of IsraelDix Hills Jewish CenterEast Meadow Jewish CenterEast Meadow JCRCHuntington Jewish CenterJewish Center of the HamptonsKehillat Chovevei TzionMidway Jewish CenterNorth Shore Jewish CenterNorth Shore SynagoguePlainview Jewish CenterShelter Rock Jewish CenterSouth Huntington Jewish CenterTemple Beth El of HuntingtonTemple Beth El of PatchogueTemple Beth Sholom

Roslyn Temple Isaiah of StonyBrook

• Temple Sinai of Massapequa• Temple Sinai of Roslyn• Jewish Educational Center -• Yeshiva, Mesivta, Bruriah• Jewish Federation of Greater

MetroWest, NJDiller Teen FellowsMorristown Jewish CenterBeit Yisrael, Morristown, NJCongregation ShomreiEmunah, Montclair, NJTemple Shalom, Succasunna, NJCongregation B’nai Israel,Millburn, NJAdath Shalom Synagogue,Morris Plains, NJOheb Shalom Congregation,South Orange, NJOnward Israel Negev FellowsMount Freedom JewishCenter, Mount Freedom, NJ

• Jewish Federation NE PA• Jewish Federation of NNJ

Gerrard Berman Day SchoolJCC of ParamusCongregation Gesher Shalom,Fort LeeTemple Israel, RidgewoodTemple Emanu-el of ClosterGlen Rock Jewish CenterFair-Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation Bnai IsraelTemple Avodat Shalom, RiverEdgeTemple Beth El of NorthernValley, ClosterTemple Emanuel of NorthJersey, Franklin Lakes

• Jewish Federation RocklandCountyCongregation Shaaray IsraelNanuet Hebrew CenterJCC RocklandNew City Jewish CenterOrangetown Jewish CenterRockland Jewish AcademyTemple Beth Sholom

• Jewish Foundation School• Jewish on the Hudson -• Jewish Federation of Greater

Orange County, NY• Jewish War Veterans of the USA• Joseph Kushner Academy/ Rae

Kushner Yeshiva HS• Kids of Courage• Kings Bay Y• Kinneret Day School• LGBT

A Wider BridgeCongregation Beit Simchah TorahEshelJQYKeshet

• Lower Merion CommunityTorah AcademyKohelet HS

• Ma’ayanot Yeshiva HS for Girls• Magen David Yeshiva Lower

School/Magen David CeliaEsses HS

• Maimonides Academy• Manhattan Day School• Manhattan Jewish Experience• Marks JCH and Shorefront Y• Marlboro Jewish Center• Merrick Bellmore Jewish• Community Council• Mitchabrim NY• Monmouth County Cluster

Temple Beth AhmTemple Shaarei Emeth

• The Moriah School• National Conference of Shomrim

Societies• Northeast Queens Jewish

Community CouncilBabylonian Jewish CenterBay Terrace Jewish CenterBellerose Jewish CenterCongregation L’Dor V’DorHillcrest Jewish CenterHollis Hills Jewish CenterIsrael Center of ConservativeJudaismMarathon Jewish CommunityCenterParker RehabilitationTemple TikvahWhitestone Hebrew CentreNorthshore Hebrew AcademyMiddle School and High School

• OHEL Children’s Home &• Family Services & Camp Kaylie• One Family Fund• OU/Yachad/ NCSY• Palm Beach Synagogue• Park Avenue Synagogue• Progressive Cluster

Americans for Peace NowNew Israel FundPartners for Progressive IsraelT’ruahWest End Synagogue

• Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park EastDay School

• Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva• RAJE• Ramaz -Middle School and Upper

School• Rambam Mesivta• Shalhevet• Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North

Jersey• SAR Academy/SAR HS• SHAI• Shulamith School for Girls - Long

Island• Shulamith School for Girls of

Brooklyn• Skaters and Bladers in Memory of

JJ Greenberg• Solomon Schechter Day School of

Bergen County• Schechter School of Long Island/

Solomon Schechter Day Schoolof Queens

• Shalom Torah Schools and Shulsof Central NJ

• Solomon Schechter School ofManhattan

• Solomon Schechter School ofWestchester

• Stand With Us• Talmud Torah Congregation

Machane Chodosh• Team Lifeline (Chai Lifeline)• Temple Beth Abraham• Temple Israel of Great Neck• Torah Academy of Bergen County

(TABC)• United Jewish Appeal of Greater

Toronto• United Mashadi Jewish

Community of America (UMJCA)Youth

• United Synagogue of ConservativeJudaism

• Volunteers for Israel• Westchester Day School• Westchester Hebrew HS• Westchester Jewish Council

American Friends of SorokaCommunity Synagogue of RyeConservative Synagogue

Adath Israel of RiverdaleGreenburgh Hebrew CenterLincoln Park Jewish CenterNew Rochelle Jewish CoalitionBeth El Synagogue CenterCongregation Anshe ShalomTemple Israel of New RochelleNOW Israel of NorthernWestchesterBet Torah of Mount KiscoCongregation Sons of IsraelFirst Hebrew CongregationMount Kisco HebrewCongregationPleasantville CommunitySynagogueTemple Beth Am of YorktownTemple Beth El of NorthernWestchesterTemple Beth Shalom of MahopacTemple Israel of Northern West-chesterTemple Shaaray TefilaYorktown Jewish CenterTemple Israel Center of WhitePlainsWestchester Klezmer ProgramWestchester Reform Temple

• Yavneh Academy• Yeshiva of Central Queens• YBH of Passaic -Hillel• Yeshiva Derech HaTorah• Yeshiva Har Torah• Yeshiva at the Jersey Shore

CommunityCongregation Brothers of Israelin Long Branch Yeshiva at theJersey Shore

• Yeshiva University• Yeshivah of Flatbush -Middle-

School/ HS• Yeshivat Bitahon (formerly

Yeshiva of Belle Harbor)• Yeshivat Chovevei Torah• Yeshivat Noam• Young Judaea/Hadassah• ZOA-Zionist Organization of

America

MARCHING BANDS:• NYC Police Department Band• Cadets 2• Fusion Core• Saint Brigades Drum & Bugle

Corps• Connecticut Hurricanes• Bushwhackers Drum & Bugle

Corps• Windsor Regiment Drum & Bugle

Corps• Long Island Sunrisers Drum &

Bugle Corps• Upper Schuylkill Marching Band• Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps• Excelsior Drum & Bugle Corps

SPECIAL GUESTS• Space Il• Joint Services Honor Guard• Dr. Ruth Westheimer• Grover from Sholom Sesame• Ernie Anastos, Anchor, FOX

Television• Robert Moses, Reporter.

FOX Television• Becky Griffin, Sports

Commentator and former MTVEurope VJ

• SOULFARM• Hajit Yasso

• Chen Aharoni• DJ Mr. Black

JCRC-NY STAFFMichael Mittelman,Director, Celebrate Israel IntiativeHindy Poupko,Managing Director, Director,Israel and International AffairsDon Cohen,Israel Program Coordinator

PARADE STAFFPeter Kohlmann,Executive ProducerGianna Bergman,Director of SponsorshipKaren Ostrove,Creative Director

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENTEventage Event Production, Inc.,Matt Glass, Jen Glass.

TELEVISION PRODUCTIONBard EntertainmentDavid SternAnnette Jolles

TELEVISION BROADCASTPARTNERMy9 WWOR-TV, Lew Leone, VP& General Manager, Audrey Pass,Sr. Director, Communications andPublic Affairs

PRESS REPRESENTATIVESRubenstein Communications, Inc.Suzanne HalpinAlexandra SturmMike Stouber

ADVERTISINGHofstetter & Partners/Agency 212Bill HofstetterDenise GanjouErin McFarland

MERCHANDISINGCadett Marketing,Daniel Metzger

DECORATIONS, FLAGS,BANNERS provided by Five BoroFlag, Banner & Sign, Inc.

STORAGE AND TRUCKINGprovided by Avi Moving andStorage.

SECURITYprovided by T & M ProtectionResources, Sims Security.

THE EMPIRE STATEBUILDING –OFFICIAL LIGHTING PARTNER.

Water provided byIsrael Bonds and Manhattan BeerDistributors, LLC.

Special Thanks: New York CityPolice Department,New York City Department ofParks & Recreation,New York City Department ofTransportation.

Celebrate Israel logo designedby Milton Glaser

The parade will be rebroadcastas an on demand webcast.

Go to www.CelebrateIsraelNY.org

A8

Jewish Community RelationsCouncil of New YorkRonald G. Weiner, PresidentMichael S. Miller, Executive VicePresident and CEO

Jewish Community Relations

Council-New York Parade

CommitteeJennifer E. Falk, Co-Chair

Judy Kaufthal, Co-Chair

Grand MarshallRobert Benrimon

Government of IsraelAmbassador Ido AharoniConsul General of Israel inNew YorkAmbassador Ron ProsorPermanent Representative of Israelto the United NationsMinister Sofa LandverMinistry of Immigrant AbsorptionDeputy Minister Danny DanonMinistry of DefenseMembers of the Knesset :Hon. Tzachi Hanegbi,Hon. Yehiel Bar,Hon. Elazar Stern,Hon. Zvuloon Kalfa,Hon. Dov Alan Lipman,Hon. Itshak Cohen,Hon. Yizhak Vaknin

BENEFACTORSGovernment of IsraelUJA-Federation of New York• Alisa Robbins Doctroff, President• Linda Mirels, Chair of the Board

Jewish Communal Fund• Karen. R. Adler, President• Noel J. Spiegel, Chair, Executive

Committee

SUSTAINTERSFelix and Miriam GlaubachEugen GluckGloria and Harvey Kaylie

LEADERS• Greg and Marilyn Adler• Nicole and Raanan Agus• David and Jane Bloomgarden• Ludwig and Lotte Bravmann• Carol Bravmann Berlin• Stewart and Sandy Cahn• Jacob and Suzanne Doft• Michael and Florence Edelstein• Diane Bennett Eidman• Caryl and Israel Englander• Elliot Gibber• William Gottesman• Judy and Uri Kaufthal• Gerald Kestenbaum• Matthew and Gladys Maryles• Theodore Mirvis• Pamela and George Rohr• Helene and Robert Rothenberg• Amy Rubenstein• Third Point Foundation• Judy and Morris Tuchman

• Joseph and Judith Willner

SUPPORTERS• Neil and Sherry Cohen• Steven Cohn• Congregation Orach Chaim WF• Rella Feldman• Robert Fisher• Jack and Carole Forgash and

Family

• Stephen and Eleanor Hammerman• Joan Jakubovitz• Dina and Jonathan Kaufthal• Linda and Ilan Kaufthal• Larry and Teena Lerner• Julie and Jerrold Levy• Bernice Manocherian• Gabrielle Propp• The Sheila and Henry Marcus

Foundation• Corrine and Leonard Steel• The Beker Foundation

PARTNERS• George Arzt• Benjamin and Lynda Brafman• Arthur Dubroff• Charles and Madeline Dreifus• Corrine and Joe Franco• Morton and Dena Frucht• Rosalie Goldberg and Alan

Bandler• Robert and Virginia Hirt• Frances and Martin Irwin• Myra Johnson• Dr. Zvi Merans and Mrs. Nina

Kampler• David Kanbar• Martin Katzenstein• Joshua Kaufthal• Jay and Andrea Kestenbaum• Richard and Gloria Kobrin• Abe Kramer• Jules and Lynn Kroll• Donald and Yocheved Liss• Haskel Lookstein• Barbara and Michael Luxenberg• Zvi Marans• Cecelia and Rubin Margules• Irving and Betty Markowitz• Robert Mendelson• Arlette and Raphael Shaya• Joe and Michele Romano• Geri and Martin Singerman• Marvin and Sandra Tenzer• Howard Wallick• Ariel and Josh Weiner• Marion and William Weiss• Cynthia and Jeff Wiesenfeld• Shimon Wolf• Martin Wolpoff

• Karen and Howard Wydra• Barbara Zimet

PROVIDERS• Renee Albert• Marc and Gilda Angel• Martin Balsam• Lewis Bernstein• Lillian and Irwin Chanales• The Chavie Kahn & Heshy Kofman

Charitable Fund• Barry and Barbara Coller• Congregation Nusack Sfard• Shirley and David Ebner• Lee and Bob Furman• Paula and Michael Gottlieb• Leslie Green• Morton Horowitz• Rhonda L Kaplan• Rivka and Mark Kaplow• Ira Kellman• Michael Kirmayer• Laurie and Robert Koppel• Linda and Leib Koyfman• Abraham Kramer• Stanley Kreinik• Paul and Esther Lerer• Gilbert Louzoun• Roslyn Polonecki• Morton and Sandra Povman• Rose Romerovski• Charles Rose• Edith and Samuel Rosenbloom• Sharron and Philip Russ• Anita and Mark Sarna• David Schimel• Anna Shereff• Jenny Shliozberg• Laurie Simon• Herbert Smilowitz• Seymour Ulan• Walter Weiner• Ester and Howard Wolf

FRIENDS• Miriam Adelsberg• Milton Adesnik• Max Adler• Louis Appleman• Drora and Lior Arussy• James Bennett

• Joan and Lenny Berkowitz• Laura and Leonard Berner• Kenneth Blashka• Ethel Schwartz Bock• Faye Breitbart• Carolyn Brown• Jesse Brown• Gary Buchwald• Lloyd Carroll• Paul and Trina Cleeman• Linda Cohen• Samuel and Jerome Cohen• Phyllis Cohen• David Diness• Linda and Barry Eichler• Herbert and Judith Ennis• Reba Etra• Steven and Lelah Fleischer• Faith Fogelman• Marilyn and Jeffrey Freedman• Toby and Nissen Frishman• Florence Glazer• Leslie Goldberg• Gisele Goldman• Zelda and Sheldon Goldsmith• Naomi and David Greenberg• Harriet and Irwin Gribetz• Lois Grossman• Leslie and Arnold Gussin• Kaye Habib• Stefa Hasson• Jason L. Herman• Lev and Lisa Herrnson• Howard and Shelley Hershaff• Paul and Giselle Hochsztein• Sylvia Hoffman• Jewish Lawyers Guild• Hannah Katsenelenbogen• Claire and Meyer Katz• Sadie Khodorkovsky• Janet Kirchheimer• Michael Klein• Michael Kleinberg• Elaine Kleinmann• Marcia Kotkin• Paul and Naomi Kronish• Evelyn Lapin• Annette and Arthur Leon• Helen and Robert Levine• Eeta Linden• Ruth Loebmann

• Lisa Messinger• Midway Jewish Center• Sylvia Miller• Laura and Alan Moss• Doris and Leonard Nadel• Dana Butensky, Marilyn Olarsch

and Lauren Goodman• Eleanor and Sidney Packer• Judith V. Padolf• Allen and Karen Perl• Allen Popper• Stephen Rosenkranz• Rita Rothfleisch• S & H Equities (NY) INC.• Shoshana and Solomon Rybak• Ariela and Israel Schiller• Frieda Schimel• Sheila Schreiber• Maxine Shirman• Joy Silber• Sharon and Edward Silberfarb• Paul and Sara Silverstein• Belle and Arthur Simon• Stanley Slater• Deborah Solomon• Mindy and Mark Sotsky• Charlotte and Jack Steinberg• Deborah Tolchin• Myra and Herman Treitel• Herb and Irene Wald• Barbara Weinstein• Carl Wisotsky• Maida and Arthur Yagoda• Josh and Gayle Yashar• Helene and Gerald Zisholtz• Leonard and Ellen Zuckerman

IN HONOR OF GRANDMARSHALL ROBERT BENRIMON• Debra and Aaron Bassan• Mr. and Mrs. Jack Becker• Harvey Bell• Naomi and Howard Berg• Debbie and Ed Berliner• Andrea and Brian Bier• Cheryl and Paul Bier• Rabbi Michael and Yael Bleicher• Ora and Ira Bloom• Susan and Jeff Braverman• Efrat Bunker• Shari and David Cherna

• Abbie and Larry Cohen• Elisa and Mitch Cohen• Cindi and Tzvi Dresdner• Arthur and Hattie Dubroff• Charles and Rebecca Feldman• Debbie and Richard Finkelstein• Anne Goldberg• Marcia and Jay Goldfischer• Shira and Barry Hammerman• Doris and Jay Hartman• Beth and Lee Hindin• Rivka and Etan Hindin• Judy and Daniel Israeli• Batya and Michael Jacob• Barrie and Simon Jacob• Sue and Richard Kelin• Debra and Dov Lando• Eta and Mark Levenson• Judy and Ari Levitan• Libby and Larry Levitt• Linda and David Lewinter• Yaffa and Larry Liebman• Roslyn and Marvin Lipsky• Bobbi and Michael Luxenberg• Adam and Michelle Malek• Rabbi and Mrs. Alvin Marcus• Sheba and Stanley Mittelman• Rivka and Yaakov Moradi• Boni and Marty Moskovitz• Cheryl and Jason Munk• Barbara and Yosef Muskin• Lynn and Sam Pepper• Paula and Joseph Piekes• Larry Rein• Phyllis and Moshe Roth• Randee and Ken Rubenstein• Linda and Larry Schiffman• Esther and William Schulder• Mali and Steve Schwartz• Lisa and Irv Schwarzbaum• Rabbi and Mrs. Yosef Sharbat• Galina and Boris Shenfeld• Jonathan and Sharon Sherman• Robyn and Bruce Shoulson• Shoshana and Brad Shulman• Debra and Chaim Silverman• Linda and Robbie Sipzner• Sandy and David Small• Marilyn Smilowitz• Cookie and Marty Solomon• Roberta and Yitzchak Stracuhler• Andrea and Ronald Sultan• Sharon and Jerry Volk• Debbie and Marvin Weintraub• Tova and Howard Weiser• Sharon and Ed Zughaft• Rabbi and Mrs. Eliezer Zwickler

FLOAT SPONSORS• Orthodox Union• Jewish National Fund• Jordache• Hillel Yeshiva• Israel Bonds Float and Israel

Bonds sponsored Water Truck• UJA-Federation of NY• America-Israel Friendship League• State of Israel• Jewish Community Relations

Council of New York• American Zionist Movement• Bank Leumi• Ariel University• Space IL• Nefesh B’ Nefesh• Zone Camps• American Friends of Magen David

Adom• El Al and Israel Ministry of Tourism• Iranian American Jewish

Federation of New York andSephardic Heritage Alliance Inc.

• American Friends of Leket Israel

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• IDT• Jewish Homeland• Avi Chai• Carmel Car• Dr. Felix Glaubach• Russian American Jewish

Experience• IDB Bank• University Float: American

Friends of Bar-Ilan University,American Friends of the OpenUniversity of Israel, AmericanCommittee for the WeizmannInstitute of Science, AmericanCommittee for Shenkar Collegein Israel, and American TechnionSociety

• One Israel Fund• Shaare Zedek• The Hampton Synagogue• The Hebron Fund

FLOAT ENTERTAINERS• Hagit Yaso• Chen Aharoni• DJ Mr. Black• Howard Leshaw Klezmer &

Yiddish Soul• The Shul Band• Donny Baitner & The BaRock

Orchester• Hebrew Wizards• The Ramaz Band• DJ Alex Edge• Sandy Shmuely• Six Thirteen

STREET PERFORMERS• Barynya Entertainment Dancers• Israel Dance Institute• Areyvut Mitzvah Clowns• Celebrate Israel Performers Troop• Torah Tots

MARCHING GROUPS• A.J. Heschel School• AJC – American JewishCommittee• American Russian Jewish

Community ClusterCOJECO - Council of JewishÉmigré Community OrganizationsAmerican Forum of Russian JewryRJenerationBukharian Teen LoungeAmerican Association of Jewsfrom the FSUAmerican Association of Jewsfrom the FSU, NYAssociation of East-EuropeanJewryAssociation of BukharianJewish Youth of the USAACHDUT”American Association ofHolocaust Survivors from the FSUBeth HaKnesseth OhrHamizrach (Caucasian JewishCenter)Congregation Meor Hachaim ofLuna ParkCongress of Bukharian Jews ofthe USA and CanadaAmerican Association of Invalidsand Veterans of WWII from theFSUCongregation of IndependentChevra Tyfers IsraelCultural Center of Caucasian JewsEZRA USAHolocaust Survivors CharityJewish Community of Starrett CityWorld Forum of Russian JewryMetropolitan Russian-AmericanParents Association

New York Association ofHolocaust Survivors from theFormer Soviet UnionJCH of BensonhurstRussian American FoundationRussian American Cultural CenterRussian American OfficersAssociationRussian-American VotersEducational LeagueWomen’s Organization“Esther-ha-Malka” of theBukharian Jewish Congress of theUSA and Canada

• AMERICAN VETERANS OFISRAEL LEGACY

• ARZA - Association of ReformZionists of America

• Ashar• AZM -The American Zionist

Movement/WZO WorldZionist OrganizationHaBonim DrorHashomer-HaTsairMercaz USAAMITAmeinuBnai Zion

• ARZA• Barkai Yeshivah• Ben Porat Yosef• Bi-Cultural Day School• B’nai Jeshurun• Bnei Akiva of the U.S. and Canada• Boy/Girl Scouts of America• The Brandeis School• Camp HASC• Carmel Academy• Center for Jewish Life• Chai Riders• Congregation AABJ&D• Congregation Or Zarua• Eagles Wings East Midwood

Hebrew Day School• Ezra Academy• Friends of the IDF• Friends of Israel Scouts -• HaTzofim Tzabar• Frisch School• Golda Och Academy, West

Orange, NJ• HAFTR – M.S/H.S.• HALB – M.S./DRS/SKA• HANC - Lower School, Middle-

School, High School• Hannah Senesh Community Day

School• Hillel-The Foundation for Jewish

Campus Life• Hillel Yeshiva – Middle School,

High School• Jewish Agency for Israel• JCRC - Long Island

Congregation Beth-El, Mass-apequaCongregation B’nai Sholom/BethDavidCongregation Sons of IsraelDix Hills Jewish CenterEast Meadow Jewish CenterEast Meadow JCRCHuntington Jewish CenterJewish Center of the HamptonsKehillat Chovevei TzionMidway Jewish CenterNorth Shore Jewish CenterNorth Shore SynagoguePlainview Jewish CenterShelter Rock Jewish CenterSouth Huntington Jewish CenterTemple Beth El of HuntingtonTemple Beth El of PatchogueTemple Beth Sholom

Roslyn Temple Isaiah of StonyBrook

• Temple Sinai of Massapequa• Temple Sinai of Roslyn• Jewish Educational Center -• Yeshiva, Mesivta, Bruriah• Jewish Federation of Greater

MetroWest, NJDiller Teen FellowsMorristown Jewish CenterBeit Yisrael, Morristown, NJCongregation ShomreiEmunah, Montclair, NJTemple Shalom, Succasunna, NJCongregation B’nai Israel,Millburn, NJAdath Shalom Synagogue,Morris Plains, NJOheb Shalom Congregation,South Orange, NJOnward Israel Negev FellowsMount Freedom JewishCenter, Mount Freedom, NJ

• Jewish Federation NE PA• Jewish Federation of NNJ

Gerrard Berman Day SchoolJCC of ParamusCongregation Gesher Shalom,Fort LeeTemple Israel, RidgewoodTemple Emanu-el of ClosterGlen Rock Jewish CenterFair-Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation Bnai IsraelTemple Avodat Shalom, RiverEdgeTemple Beth El of NorthernValley, ClosterTemple Emanuel of NorthJersey, Franklin Lakes

• Jewish Federation RocklandCountyCongregation Shaaray IsraelNanuet Hebrew CenterJCC RocklandNew City Jewish CenterOrangetown Jewish CenterRockland Jewish AcademyTemple Beth Sholom

• Jewish Foundation School• Jewish on the Hudson -• Jewish Federation of Greater

Orange County, NY• Jewish War Veterans of the USA• Joseph Kushner Academy/ Rae

Kushner Yeshiva HS• Kids of Courage• Kings Bay Y• Kinneret Day School• LGBT

A Wider BridgeCongregation Beit Simchah TorahEshelJQYKeshet

• Lower Merion CommunityTorah AcademyKohelet HS

• Ma’ayanot Yeshiva HS for Girls• Magen David Yeshiva Lower

School/Magen David CeliaEsses HS

• Maimonides Academy• Manhattan Day School• Manhattan Jewish Experience• Marks JCH and Shorefront Y• Marlboro Jewish Center• Merrick Bellmore Jewish• Community Council• Mitchabrim NY• Monmouth County Cluster

Temple Beth AhmTemple Shaarei Emeth

• The Moriah School• National Conference of Shomrim

Societies• Northeast Queens Jewish

Community CouncilBabylonian Jewish CenterBay Terrace Jewish CenterBellerose Jewish CenterCongregation L’Dor V’DorHillcrest Jewish CenterHollis Hills Jewish CenterIsrael Center of ConservativeJudaismMarathon Jewish CommunityCenterParker RehabilitationTemple TikvahWhitestone Hebrew CentreNorthshore Hebrew AcademyMiddle School and High School

• OHEL Children’s Home &• Family Services & Camp Kaylie• One Family Fund• OU/Yachad/ NCSY• Palm Beach Synagogue• Park Avenue Synagogue• Progressive Cluster

Americans for Peace NowNew Israel FundPartners for Progressive IsraelT’ruahWest End Synagogue

• Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park EastDay School

• Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva• RAJE• Ramaz -Middle School and Upper

School• Rambam Mesivta• Shalhevet• Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North

Jersey• SAR Academy/SAR HS• SHAI• Shulamith School for Girls - Long

Island• Shulamith School for Girls of

Brooklyn• Skaters and Bladers in Memory of

JJ Greenberg• Solomon Schechter Day School of

Bergen County• Schechter School of Long Island/

Solomon Schechter Day Schoolof Queens

• Shalom Torah Schools and Shulsof Central NJ

• Solomon Schechter School ofManhattan

• Solomon Schechter School ofWestchester

• Stand With Us• Talmud Torah Congregation

Machane Chodosh• Team Lifeline (Chai Lifeline)• Temple Beth Abraham• Temple Israel of Great Neck• Torah Academy of Bergen County

(TABC)• United Jewish Appeal of Greater

Toronto• United Mashadi Jewish

Community of America (UMJCA)Youth

• United Synagogue of ConservativeJudaism

• Volunteers for Israel• Westchester Day School• Westchester Hebrew HS• Westchester Jewish Council

American Friends of SorokaCommunity Synagogue of RyeConservative Synagogue

Adath Israel of RiverdaleGreenburgh Hebrew CenterLincoln Park Jewish CenterNew Rochelle Jewish CoalitionBeth El Synagogue CenterCongregation Anshe ShalomTemple Israel of New RochelleNOW Israel of NorthernWestchesterBet Torah of Mount KiscoCongregation Sons of IsraelFirst Hebrew CongregationMount Kisco HebrewCongregationPleasantville CommunitySynagogueTemple Beth Am of YorktownTemple Beth El of NorthernWestchesterTemple Beth Shalom of MahopacTemple Israel of Northern West-chesterTemple Shaaray TefilaYorktown Jewish CenterTemple Israel Center of WhitePlainsWestchester Klezmer ProgramWestchester Reform Temple

• Yavneh Academy• Yeshiva of Central Queens• YBH of Passaic -Hillel• Yeshiva Derech HaTorah• Yeshiva Har Torah• Yeshiva at the Jersey Shore

CommunityCongregation Brothers of Israelin Long Branch Yeshiva at theJersey Shore

• Yeshiva University• Yeshivah of Flatbush -Middle-

School/ HS• Yeshivat Bitahon (formerly

Yeshiva of Belle Harbor)• Yeshivat Chovevei Torah• Yeshivat Noam• Young Judaea/Hadassah• ZOA-Zionist Organization of

America

MARCHING BANDS:• NYC Police Department Band• Cadets 2• Fusion Core• Saint Brigades Drum & Bugle

Corps• Connecticut Hurricanes• Bushwhackers Drum & Bugle

Corps• Windsor Regiment Drum & Bugle

Corps• Long Island Sunrisers Drum &

Bugle Corps• Upper Schuylkill Marching Band• Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps• Excelsior Drum & Bugle Corps

SPECIAL GUESTS• Space Il• Joint Services Honor Guard• Dr. Ruth Westheimer• Grover from Sholom Sesame• Ernie Anastos, Anchor, FOX

Television• Robert Moses, Reporter.

FOX Television• Becky Griffin, Sports

Commentator and former MTVEurope VJ

• SOULFARM• Hajit Yasso

• Chen Aharoni• DJ Mr. Black

JCRC-NY STAFFMichael Mittelman,Director, Celebrate Israel IntiativeHindy Poupko,Managing Director, Director,Israel and International AffairsDon Cohen,Israel Program Coordinator

PARADE STAFFPeter Kohlmann,Executive ProducerGianna Bergman,Director of SponsorshipKaren Ostrove,Creative Director

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENTEventage Event Production, Inc.,Matt Glass, Jen Glass.

TELEVISION PRODUCTIONBard EntertainmentDavid SternAnnette Jolles

TELEVISION BROADCASTPARTNERMy9 WWOR-TV, Lew Leone, VP& General Manager, Audrey Pass,Sr. Director, Communications andPublic Affairs

PRESS REPRESENTATIVESRubenstein Communications, Inc.Suzanne HalpinAlexandra SturmMike Stouber

ADVERTISINGHofstetter & Partners/Agency 212Bill HofstetterDenise GanjouErin McFarland

MERCHANDISINGCadett Marketing,Daniel Metzger

DECORATIONS, FLAGS,BANNERS provided by Five BoroFlag, Banner & Sign, Inc.

STORAGE AND TRUCKINGprovided by Avi Moving andStorage.

SECURITYprovided by T & M ProtectionResources, Sims Security.

THE EMPIRE STATEBUILDING –OFFICIAL LIGHTING PARTNER.

Water provided byIsrael Bonds and Manhattan BeerDistributors, LLC.

Special Thanks: New York CityPolice Department,New York City Department ofParks & Recreation,New York City Department ofTransportation.

Celebrate Israel logo designedby Milton Glaser

The parade will be rebroadcastas an on demand webcast.

Go to www.CelebrateIsraelNY.org

A8

Jewish Community RelationsCouncil of New YorkRonald G. Weiner, PresidentMichael S. Miller, Executive VicePresident and CEO

Jewish Community Relations

Council-New York Parade

CommitteeJennifer E. Falk, Co-Chair

Judy Kaufthal, Co-Chair

Grand MarshallRobert Benrimon

Government of IsraelAmbassador Ido AharoniConsul General of Israel inNew YorkAmbassador Ron ProsorPermanent Representative of Israelto the United NationsMinister Sofa LandverMinistry of Immigrant AbsorptionDeputy Minister Danny DanonMinistry of DefenseMembers of the Knesset :Hon. Tzachi Hanegbi,Hon. Yehiel Bar,Hon. Elazar Stern,Hon. Zvuloon Kalfa,Hon. Dov Alan Lipman,Hon. Itshak Cohen,Hon. Yizhak Vaknin

BENEFACTORSGovernment of IsraelUJA-Federation of New York• Alisa Robbins Doctroff, President• Linda Mirels, Chair of the Board

Jewish Communal Fund• Karen. R. Adler, President• Noel J. Spiegel, Chair, Executive

Committee

SUSTAINTERSFelix and Miriam GlaubachEugen GluckGloria and Harvey Kaylie

LEADERS• Greg and Marilyn Adler• Nicole and Raanan Agus• David and Jane Bloomgarden• Ludwig and Lotte Bravmann• Carol Bravmann Berlin• Stewart and Sandy Cahn• Jacob and Suzanne Doft• Michael and Florence Edelstein• Diane Bennett Eidman• Caryl and Israel Englander• Elliot Gibber• William Gottesman• Judy and Uri Kaufthal• Gerald Kestenbaum• Matthew and Gladys Maryles• Theodore Mirvis• Pamela and George Rohr• Helene and Robert Rothenberg• Amy Rubenstein• Third Point Foundation• Judy and Morris Tuchman

• Joseph and Judith Willner

SUPPORTERS• Neil and Sherry Cohen• Steven Cohn• Congregation Orach Chaim WF• Rella Feldman• Robert Fisher• Jack and Carole Forgash and

Family

• Stephen and Eleanor Hammerman• Joan Jakubovitz• Dina and Jonathan Kaufthal• Linda and Ilan Kaufthal• Larry and Teena Lerner• Julie and Jerrold Levy• Bernice Manocherian• Gabrielle Propp• The Sheila and Henry Marcus

Foundation• Corrine and Leonard Steel• The Beker Foundation

PARTNERS• George Arzt• Benjamin and Lynda Brafman• Arthur Dubroff• Charles and Madeline Dreifus• Corrine and Joe Franco• Morton and Dena Frucht• Rosalie Goldberg and Alan

Bandler• Robert and Virginia Hirt• Frances and Martin Irwin• Myra Johnson• Dr. Zvi Merans and Mrs. Nina

Kampler• David Kanbar• Martin Katzenstein• Joshua Kaufthal• Jay and Andrea Kestenbaum• Richard and Gloria Kobrin• Abe Kramer• Jules and Lynn Kroll• Donald and Yocheved Liss• Haskel Lookstein• Barbara and Michael Luxenberg• Zvi Marans• Cecelia and Rubin Margules• Irving and Betty Markowitz• Robert Mendelson• Arlette and Raphael Shaya• Joe and Michele Romano• Geri and Martin Singerman• Marvin and Sandra Tenzer• Howard Wallick• Ariel and Josh Weiner• Marion and William Weiss• Cynthia and Jeff Wiesenfeld• Shimon Wolf• Martin Wolpoff

• Karen and Howard Wydra• Barbara Zimet

PROVIDERS• Renee Albert• Marc and Gilda Angel• Martin Balsam• Lewis Bernstein• Lillian and Irwin Chanales• The Chavie Kahn & Heshy Kofman

Charitable Fund• Barry and Barbara Coller• Congregation Nusack Sfard• Shirley and David Ebner• Lee and Bob Furman• Paula and Michael Gottlieb• Leslie Green• Morton Horowitz• Rhonda L Kaplan• Rivka and Mark Kaplow• Ira Kellman• Michael Kirmayer• Laurie and Robert Koppel• Linda and Leib Koyfman• Abraham Kramer• Stanley Kreinik• Paul and Esther Lerer• Gilbert Louzoun• Roslyn Polonecki• Morton and Sandra Povman• Rose Romerovski• Charles Rose• Edith and Samuel Rosenbloom• Sharron and Philip Russ• Anita and Mark Sarna• David Schimel• Anna Shereff• Jenny Shliozberg• Laurie Simon• Herbert Smilowitz• Seymour Ulan• Walter Weiner• Ester and Howard Wolf

FRIENDS• Miriam Adelsberg• Milton Adesnik• Max Adler• Louis Appleman• Drora and Lior Arussy• James Bennett

• Joan and Lenny Berkowitz• Laura and Leonard Berner• Kenneth Blashka• Ethel Schwartz Bock• Faye Breitbart• Carolyn Brown• Jesse Brown• Gary Buchwald• Lloyd Carroll• Paul and Trina Cleeman• Linda Cohen• Samuel and Jerome Cohen• Phyllis Cohen• David Diness• Linda and Barry Eichler• Herbert and Judith Ennis• Reba Etra• Steven and Lelah Fleischer• Faith Fogelman• Marilyn and Jeffrey Freedman• Toby and Nissen Frishman• Florence Glazer• Leslie Goldberg• Gisele Goldman• Zelda and Sheldon Goldsmith• Naomi and David Greenberg• Harriet and Irwin Gribetz• Lois Grossman• Leslie and Arnold Gussin• Kaye Habib• Stefa Hasson• Jason L. Herman• Lev and Lisa Herrnson• Howard and Shelley Hershaff• Paul and Giselle Hochsztein• Sylvia Hoffman• Jewish Lawyers Guild• Hannah Katsenelenbogen• Claire and Meyer Katz• Sadie Khodorkovsky• Janet Kirchheimer• Michael Klein• Michael Kleinberg• Elaine Kleinmann• Marcia Kotkin• Paul and Naomi Kronish• Evelyn Lapin• Annette and Arthur Leon• Helen and Robert Levine• Eeta Linden• Ruth Loebmann

• Lisa Messinger• Midway Jewish Center• Sylvia Miller• Laura and Alan Moss• Doris and Leonard Nadel• Dana Butensky, Marilyn Olarsch

and Lauren Goodman• Eleanor and Sidney Packer• Judith V. Padolf• Allen and Karen Perl• Allen Popper• Stephen Rosenkranz• Rita Rothfleisch• S & H Equities (NY) INC.• Shoshana and Solomon Rybak• Ariela and Israel Schiller• Frieda Schimel• Sheila Schreiber• Maxine Shirman• Joy Silber• Sharon and Edward Silberfarb• Paul and Sara Silverstein• Belle and Arthur Simon• Stanley Slater• Deborah Solomon• Mindy and Mark Sotsky• Charlotte and Jack Steinberg• Deborah Tolchin• Myra and Herman Treitel• Herb and Irene Wald• Barbara Weinstein• Carl Wisotsky• Maida and Arthur Yagoda• Josh and Gayle Yashar• Helene and Gerald Zisholtz• Leonard and Ellen Zuckerman

IN HONOR OF GRANDMARSHALL ROBERT BENRIMON• Debra and Aaron Bassan• Mr. and Mrs. Jack Becker• Harvey Bell• Naomi and Howard Berg• Debbie and Ed Berliner• Andrea and Brian Bier• Cheryl and Paul Bier• Rabbi Michael and Yael Bleicher• Ora and Ira Bloom• Susan and Jeff Braverman• Efrat Bunker• Shari and David Cherna

• Abbie and Larry Cohen• Elisa and Mitch Cohen• Cindi and Tzvi Dresdner• Arthur and Hattie Dubroff• Charles and Rebecca Feldman• Debbie and Richard Finkelstein• Anne Goldberg• Marcia and Jay Goldfischer• Shira and Barry Hammerman• Doris and Jay Hartman• Beth and Lee Hindin• Rivka and Etan Hindin• Judy and Daniel Israeli• Batya and Michael Jacob• Barrie and Simon Jacob• Sue and Richard Kelin• Debra and Dov Lando• Eta and Mark Levenson• Judy and Ari Levitan• Libby and Larry Levitt• Linda and David Lewinter• Yaffa and Larry Liebman• Roslyn and Marvin Lipsky• Bobbi and Michael Luxenberg• Adam and Michelle Malek• Rabbi and Mrs. Alvin Marcus• Sheba and Stanley Mittelman• Rivka and Yaakov Moradi• Boni and Marty Moskovitz• Cheryl and Jason Munk• Barbara and Yosef Muskin• Lynn and Sam Pepper• Paula and Joseph Piekes• Larry Rein• Phyllis and Moshe Roth• Randee and Ken Rubenstein• Linda and Larry Schiffman• Esther and William Schulder• Mali and Steve Schwartz• Lisa and Irv Schwarzbaum• Rabbi and Mrs. Yosef Sharbat• Galina and Boris Shenfeld• Jonathan and Sharon Sherman• Robyn and Bruce Shoulson• Shoshana and Brad Shulman• Debra and Chaim Silverman• Linda and Robbie Sipzner• Sandy and David Small• Marilyn Smilowitz• Cookie and Marty Solomon• Roberta and Yitzchak Stracuhler• Andrea and Ronald Sultan• Sharon and Jerry Volk• Debbie and Marvin Weintraub• Tova and Howard Weiser• Sharon and Ed Zughaft• Rabbi and Mrs. Eliezer Zwickler

FLOAT SPONSORS• Orthodox Union• Jewish National Fund• Jordache• Hillel Yeshiva• Israel Bonds Float and Israel

Bonds sponsored Water Truck• UJA-Federation of NY• America-Israel Friendship League• State of Israel• Jewish Community Relations

Council of New York• American Zionist Movement• Bank Leumi• Ariel University• Space IL• Nefesh B’ Nefesh• Zone Camps• American Friends of Magen David

Adom• El Al and Israel Ministry of Tourism• Iranian American Jewish

Federation of New York andSephardic Heritage Alliance Inc.

• American Friends of Leket Israel

A10 CELEBRATE IsRAEL

CheeseBurekas1 lb. puff pastry9.5 ounces cream cheese3/4 cup feta cheese3/4 cup sour cream2 eggs4 tablespoons flourNigella andwhite sesame seeds

Thaw dough in the refrigerator twohours before use. Preheat the oven to350 degrees FahrenheitCheese filling:Beat together the cream cheese andfeta until smooth.Mix in the sourcream.Add in one egg and combine.Add the flour and beat until combined.Preparation:On a clean, smooth, floured surface,

unfold one puff pastry sheet. Using arolling pin, roll out the sheets to 12x12-inch squares. Cut each sheet into nineequal squares (about 4x4 inches each).In a small bowl, whisk an egg. Using

a pastry brush, brush the egg washonto the squares. Place one spoonfulof filling into the center of each square.Fold the dough squares over to theopposite corner to make a triangle.Using a pastry brush, brush the egg

wash onto the surface of each bureka.Sprinkle withmixed nigella andwhitesesame seeds. Bake the burekas for25-30minutes, or until golden brown.

Courtesy of Breads Bakery

LightYogurtCheesecakeCrust:7 ounces unsalted butter, roomtemperature1 cup sugar3 egg yolks2 cups flour1 teaspoon baking powderFilling:1 cup plain Greek yogurt2 cups heavywhipping cream3 eggwhites9 tablespoons sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degreesFahrenheit.In amixer bowl, beat butter and

sugar until light.Add the yolks one ata time until mixed, then add the dryingredients until combined. Divide thedough into ⅔ and ⅓, cover with plasticwrap and refrigerate for two hours.In a buttered springform pan, spread⅔ of dough to cover the pan’sbottom.In another buttered pan,

spread the remaining dough tocover the pan’s bottom. Bake justuntil the crusts are a light goldenbrown. Chill.In amixing bowl, whip 3

room-temperature egg whiteswith 3 tbsp. sugar to stiff peaks;transfer to a bowl.Whip the heavy creamwith 3

tbsp. sugar, and fold into the eggwhites.Whip the Greek yogurtwith 3 tbs. sugar, then fold into

the cream and eggmixture. Pour thefilling onto the crust. Crumble remain-ing crust and sprinkle on the yogurtmixture. Refrigerate overnight.

Courtesy of Zucker Bakery

By INNA DESILVA

A s 30,000 NewYorkers gather towatch sunday’s 50th

annual Celebrate IsraelParade on Fifth Avenue,chances are they will belooking for a fun snackor lunch with friends andfamily.These two NYC spots

are owned by Israeli-Americans with a deeplove of freshly bakedgoods and a desire toshare their culinary tradi-tions from the Land ofMilk and Honey.

Breads Bakery18 E. 16th St.(212) 633-2253; breadsbakery.comThis airy, modern space

is filled with too manydelicious breads andsweets to list, and masterbaker Uri scheft, whoseLehamim Bakery in TelAviv has a huge following,is at the helm.scheft, whose parents

immigrated to Israel fromDenmark, manages to combinehealthy Danish sensibility withother influences, produc-ing items like smorrbrod— adecadent Danish open-facedsandwich featuring salmon and

tuna topped with crème brulee.scheft was lured to NYC in

2010 by his partner Gadi Peleg,a successful Israeli-Americanbusinessman, who saw a needin the Big Apple.

“Everymajorcity in Europe hasa bakery on eachcornerwhere youeat the product rightthere and then. InNewYorkwe couldnot find that becausemost bakeriesmoveproduction outside ofthe city,” says Peleg.Peleg searched

for a couple of yearsbefore settling onthe Union squarelocation.“The green mar-

ket attracts peoplewho care aboutfood and freshness.We envisioned thatpeople would stopby our bakery forbread after buyingtheir fruits and veg-etables,” he says.Breads offers a

variety of treats,including cinnamoncroissants (whichtaste a bit likebabka), chocolaterugalach, and amore unusual

marzipan rugalach — naturally,they are all divine.The bakery also offers

burekas, a Middle Eastern pas-try filled with feta, potatoes orhard-boiled eggs.

ofheavenBy LINDA LAB

EinAtAdmonyTwomonths ago, Einat

Admony opened her thirdManhattan restaurant, BarBolonat; now, she’s headingto Los Angeles to man apop-up joint, testing theculinary waters there.Clearly, the gregarious

43-year-old embodiesthat fabled New YorkCity maxim: “If you canmake it here, you’ll makeit anywhere.” Yet in 2010,when she and her husbandand business partner stefanNafziger opened their firstrestaurant, Balaboosta,prospects weren’t sobright.“The first year, we nearly

closed,” says Admony. “Igot pregnant with my firstson, too. But I kept onworking at it. I really thinkthat if you do somethinggood here, and believe andbelieve, people see some-thing that stands out theylike, and they appreciateit. Hype and trends irritateme a lot,” she adds, “butwhen people find some-thing that’s genuine, theyappreciate it. I have greatcustomers who just keepcoming back.”Admony, who lives in

Fort Greene, first came toNew York in 1998 for threemonths to intern in “somenice restaurants.” as sheputs it. she returned to hernative Israel, but withina year she was drawnback: “stefan was in NewYork, so I came back to bewith him. It’s the perfectreason.”Not surprisingly, given

that she has translatedIsraeli cuisine here, shemisses Israel’s food scene.“The food thing over

there is something tocelebrate,” she enthuses.“There’s so much talent.The fresh fruit and vegeta-bles, everything is grownthere. There is no payingtriple money for somethingthat’s farm-to-table. Every-thing is farm-to-table.”

nililotAnNew

York-basedfashiondesigner

Nili Lotan has lived inManhattan longer than she

new

Hungry parade-goers can indulge at theseauthentic Israeli bakeries

Bread

ZuCker Bakery433 E. Ninth St.(646) 559-8425; zuckerbakery.comThis charming and cozy café/

bakery is owned by Zohar Zohar,a culinarymasterwho toiled formany years in the kitchens ofDaniel Boulud andDavid Bouley.Raised on a kibbutz in Israel,

Zohar gave up her cookingcareer many years ago to raisea family. In 2012, with herhusband’s encouragement, shedecided to open a small placenear their home to share herpassion for baking both thetraditional (chocolate babka,anyone?) and the very adventur-ous (turkey-stuffed doughnuts,

which are served in the monthof November).Family is at the heart of own-

ing a bakery, says Zohar, wholoves “watching my kids growup in a traditional family busi-ness where they can help outon weekends and get to knowour regular customers.”For those of you looking for

a little bite of Israel, try thealfajhores: a light-as-air cookiebrought fromArgentina thathas become a staple in bakeriesthroughout Israel. There arealso “roses,” or buns stuffedwith different fillings.For those looking for heartier

fare, there are daily lunch spe-

cials. This weekend, ZuckerBakery will also feature a lightcheesecake (pictured above,with the recipe, right) typicallybaked at home in Israel.

Vered Abeles of Breads Bakery displays mouth-watering varieties of bureka bread. Top: Try the

hearty babka from Zucker Bakery.

Mic

hael

Sofr

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A11

lived in her native Israel.So long, in fact, that the56-year-old has to thinkhard to recall moving herein 1980.“I went to school in

Israel and studied fashiondesign. I was in the armywhen I was 20, so I musthave moved here when Iwas about 23,” she ponders,astounded. Time has flownby for the mother of three,who lives in Tribeca withIsraeli singer David Broza.But even after all this time,the city still amazes her.“The energy and creativ-

ity are what inspire me. Imoved to a new studio ayear ago and already fiveart galleries have appeared.Change happens so quicklyhere and that continualmovement is energizing.What kept me here reallywas work,” she adds. “Evenfrom the beginning, mywork was very rewardingand successful.”Lotan worked for Liz

Claiborne, Ralph Lauren,and Nautica before launch-ing her own collectionunder the Nili Lotan labelin 2003. Her designs areeasy to wear, elegant, andfunctional.When she first arrived,

fanciful European fashionwas a great influence, butonce she started workingfor the likes of Claiborneand Lauren, and saw whatCalvin Klein was doingwith discreet clean lines,she grew to appreciate thesporty ease of Americandesigners.“For one thing, I don’t

think in terms of fashion,more of style,” she says.

“We don’tlive our livesat parties; welive our livesat work andpicking upchildren andgrocery shop-ping. I designfor womenwho have reallives and needclothes forthat, but whoalso want tolook prettywhen theygo out for anevening.”One strong

influence fromher homelandremainsthough: color.

“It’s interesting, and youcan see it in my collections,but I use a lot of armygreen and that’s becauseI grew up with the armyon the street. You see itevery day in Israel and itbecomes part of your colorscheme.”The biggest thing Lotan

holds dear about Israel isthe Israelis: “The people,their amazing spirit. Thatto me is the biggest thing tocelebrate about Israel.”

SharonaloufWhen

she was19 yearsold, Sha-ron Aloufmoved

from Israel to Manhattanto pursue a career as a pho-tographer. It was 1984 andthe fabled downtown artsscene was still buzzing.“Alphabet City, Area,

and Madame Rosa’s,”she recalls. “It was theJean-Michel Basquiat era.It was very exciting; itwas grungy, a lot of thingshappening. That was myperiod of exploring. I doubtthat this element of excite-ment ever dies in this city.Now it’s in Brooklyn orsomewhere else.”New York turned out to

be exactly what Alouf wasseeking.“I felt that Israel was

too small and it wasn’t asopen to new talent as NewYork is. This city doesn’tprejudge you. If you’retalented and you deliver,the sky’s the limit.”After working for the

likes of documentaryfilmmakers the MayslesBrothers and avant-gardeartist-musician LaurieAnderson, she eventuallyturned to jewelry designand built an A-list clienteleall over the world.Alouf’s bespoke commis-

sions can cost from ten tohundreds of thousands of

dollars, but she also sells“more accessible” pieces atDover Street Market NYCand London.“As much as I’m urban

and refined in my NewYork aesthetics, I’m a worldtraveler. I need differentcultures,” she says.Her greatest hope, she

says, is that Israelis and

Palestinians can also findpeace.“Peace often happens

one-on-one by changingpeople’s perception andletting them know that,for some of us, the biggesthope is to live peacefully.That’s my prayer.”Still, she finds something

to celebrate her homeland

for, and it connects to herBuddhist studies of beingin the moment.“In Israel, we strip

a moment down to itsessence. We’re a countryunder war and we’re liv-ing in the moment. We’redirect; we go straight to theheart. I would always raisea glass to that.”

CELEBRATE IsRAEL

wave of talent These three Israeli women aremaking their creative mark on NYC

GabiPorter

Which motor vehicle do you thinkwould make the biggest impression?

Goes from 0 to 60Goes from 0 to 60in under four seconds.

Can get a heart to go from 0 to 60Can get a heart to go from 0 to 60in under four seconds.

Some motor vehicles look good. But others do good — and save thousands of lives. Magen DavidAdom, Israel’s emergency medical response agency, has more than 1,000 ambulances on Israel’sroads, but the wear of everyday use means we have to replace a tenth of the fleet every year.

Please give today at www.afmda.org or contact your local office to learn more abouthow you, your synagogue, or other group can sponsor an ambulance for Israel.

352 Seventh Avenue, Suite 400New York, NY 10001

Toll-Free 866.632.2763info@afmda.org

www.afmda.org

A12 CELEBRATE IsRAEL

EVERYTHING OLD ISBy DAVID KAUFMAN

➊ ChefMeirAdoniTen years after launching his flagship

restaurant Catit (catit.co.il), baby-facedchef Meir Adoni continues to go fromstrength to strength. Along with a lucra-tive television career, Adoni now overseesa mini-empire of four Tel Aviv must-eats.On buzzy Nahalat Binyamin Street,

there’s his casual Mizlala (mizlala.co.il)which serves upscale takes on traditionalLevantine dishes along with posh Catit’snew incarnation.At the sea-facing Carlton

Hotel, Blue Sky (blueskybyma.co.il) is an indoor/outdoorroof-top spot with an inventivefish-focused menu, while down-stairs is Adoni’s latest invention,Lumina, a meat-lovers delight,raising kosher cuisine to tastyand inventive new levels.Next up for Adoni: a restau-

rant in New York.

➌ efendi hotelSet in the ancient northern Israeli town

of Akko and crafted from a pair of OttomanEmpire-era palaces, the Efendi is among the mostcomplex private restoration projects ever over-seen by Israel’s ultra-strict Antiquities Authority.The 12-room property reflects the centuries of

conflict that have defined this sacred land almostsince Biblical times. At the hotel’s base are 1,500year-old Byzantine support walls, that lead to aCrusader-era wine cellar capped by early Otto-man Empire-era dining chambers, themselvestopped by original late-Ottoman bedrooms nowhousing the guest chambers.Ornate and oversized, the suites are fit for

a Pasha and feature grandly arched windows,Turkish marble floors, contemporary Italianfurniture and a range of meticulously sourcedregional antiques. Prices run from about $500with breakfast.Louis IX Street; Acre, Israel (011 972 74 7299799;

hotel-efendi.com)

➋ BinyAMinAWineryFrom Biblical times onward, wine-

making has been a staple of life in theMiddle East, and today Israel is home toincreasingly sophisticated wineries.Among the best-located is Binyamina

Winery, founded back in 1952. It has beencultivating quality vintages ever since.Located barely 45 mins from Tel Aviv, a

visit to BinyaminaWinery offers an easy-access look at wine cultivation both oldand new. Head for the winery’s visitorscenter, which is housed in a 90-year-oldformer perfume factory first establishedby Zionist pioneer Baron BenjaminEdmond de Rothschild, from which thetown of Binyamina (Hebrew for “Benja-min”) takes its name.The roughly hour-long guided tour

includes strolls through the winery’svineyards, details about the wine-makingprocess, info on the region’s wine historyand— of course — samples of the win-ery’s tastiest pours. binyaminawines.co.il

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The food from Chef MeirAdoni (inset above) is as

good as this yacht-filled viewfrom his roof-top restaurant

Blue Sky in Tel Aviv.

Thanks to a booming economy and new crop of cultural attractions,Israel continues to be theMiddle East’s most dynamic destination.FromTelAviv’s creative culinary scene to Jerusalem’s new hotelwonders, the Jewish nation has never beenmore compelling.

From its snow-capped north to stark desert south,here are 10 top ways to experience Israel’s eclectic best.

A13

NEW AGAIN

➏ SaronaJust completed, the

Sarona (saronatlv.co.il)complex is an ingeniousexample of Tel Aviv oldand new. Set close to thecity’s cultural quarter, the47-acre site features 33 his-toric homes first built some140 years ago by the Ger-man Templar missionaries.Now renovated, it’s a

first-class mix of retail, restaurants, cafes and farmer’s markets,all set among beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyardstowered over by luxury residential buildings. The space hasfreeWiFi, while its central location finally links Tel Aviv’sup-and-coming east side with its western, sea-facing core.Best bets include Claro (clarotlv.com) — a massive mod-

Mediterranean restaurant.

➐ ritz-Carlton HErzliyaAlthough it’s barely 30 minutes north of Tel

Aviv, the town of Herzliya is a world away fromIsrael’s party capital.Directly fronting the sea and hosting some

of Israel’s best beaches, Herzliya is home toboth the nation’s high-tech industry as wellas its surfing and yachting culture. It’s herethat Ritz-Carlton chose to open its first Israeliproperty — a sleek, thoroughly modernhideaway with prime beach access, indulgentroof-top pool and sybaritic Shiseido Spa.Some 175 rooms fill the 12-story new-build

property, which offers among the bestMediter-ranean views in the nation. There’s also an out-post of uber-chef HaimCohen’s neo-Levantinerestaurant Herbert Samuel— fully kosher, ofcourse— the first kosher kitchen in the entirehistory of the Ritz-Carlton. ritzcarlton.com

➎ MitzpEHHayaMiM

Perched 1,500 feetabove sea level, the100-roomMitzpeHayamimwas Israel’sfirst full-service sparesort. Founded by aGerman homeopath, it’sa collection of rustic,stone-clad structures,23 spa treatment rooms,jacuzzis and pools,many

with views straight to the Sea of Galilee. The vegetarianmenuis based on extensive onsite organic gardens and dairies. The37-acre retreat also includes artists’ galleries, hiking trails and asmall gift shop. Opt for one of the resort’s newer deluxe suiteswith panoramic views straight onto theGolanHeights.mitzpe-hayamim.com

dEliCiouS iSraElIsrael’s increasingly sophisticated

culinary scene is now luring curiousfoodies from across the globe. TelAviv culinary expert Inbal Baum istaking this trend to the next levelvia Delicious Israel — personalizedculinary-themed walking tours.Crafted with each traveler’s interestsin mind, Baum offers everything

from intense hummus crawls to day-long winery tours to culinarysafaris where guests experience everything from small-scale goatcheese farms to tiny olive oil orchards. For those seeking a dose ofzen, Baum also organizes restorative yoga sessions.deliciousisrael.com

➑ CraMiMrESort& SpaThe 156-room Cramim Resort & Spa is set in the rugged hills

of Kiryat Anavim, a tranquil hamlet filled with boutique winer-ies just 10 minutes from Jerusalem. Mixingmodern designwithelegant, earthymaterials, Cramim is envisioned as a placewheretourists can delight in the region’s cultural and sybaritic wonderswhile locals enjoy a good night out.The resort’s key feature is its spa, with 24 treatment rooms, ele-

gant hammamand destination bar and restaurant. Cramim’s roomsare anchored by panoramicwindowswhich pour directly onto thecountryside, all elegantly designed byNYC-based firm StudioGaia.isrotel.com

➍ BErESHEEtIsrael’s 200-million-year-old

Ramon Crater starkly proves thatwhat’s very old can truly be newagain.Located 2.5 hours south of Tel

Aviv, the Crater’s barren edge isnow home to the nation’s mostluxe resort, complete with ultra

contemporary design.The Isrotel Beresheet is spread

over 12.5 crater-front acres.Beresheet (Hebrew for “Genesis”)has a straight-from-the-Bibleaesthetic that elegantly evokes thesurrounding landscape.The resort’s 112 rooms are spread

among 40 low-slung local stone

and Ipe wood structures — allfacing the 1,500 foot-deep crater,which runs for 25 miles throughthe silent Negev desert. Each fea-tures outdoor space -— includinga series of suites with Israel’s firstinfinity-edge plunge pools.isrotelexclusivecollection.com/

beresheet

➒WaldorfaStoria JEruSalEMWith iconic properties like The King David and American

Colony, Jerusalem has never lacked for elegant hotels. But itsnewest, TheWaldorf-Astoria, raises the bar even further. Setwithin walking distance of The Old City, theWaldorf pairs ahistoric shell with luxe, modern interiors.The property inhabits the preserved and intricately restored

facade of the 1930s-era PalaceHotel, whosemyriad columnsand arches are an eye-catching example of traditional Levantinearchitecture. The 226 rooms and suites are light-filled and spacious,while its impressive events hall has crystal-cladmonumental chan-deliers. This is easily Jerusalem’s hottest hotel for 2014.waldorfastoria.hilton.com

CELEBRATE IsRAEL

Itay

Siko

lski

Palo

ma

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on

AssafPinchukSivan

Askayo

EyalMarilus

GETTINGTHERE: ElAloffers22weeklyflightsbetweenNewYork(JFKandNewark)andTelAviv.LookfornewEconomyClassPlusseats,alongwithanart-filledloungeforpremiumpassengersatNewark.elal.co.il

A14

SHINING STARSCELEBRATE IsRAEL

HAGITYASOFrom the tiny war-torn

town of Sderot insouthern Israel nearthe border with Gaza,Hagit Yaso has madeit to FifthAvenue.Often

pack-aged as a sultrysoul singer, her

crystal-clear tone and perfect diction make hera mesmerizing performer.In 2011, the then-22-year-old won the ninth

season of “Kokhav Nolad (A Star Is Born),”with a bold blend of musical styles andlanguages: she sings in Hebrew, Amharic,English and Moroccan. In New York she willbe singing “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” (Jeru-salem of Gold). “It’s a song for Israel, you learn it whenyou’re little; I grew up on it,” she says. “This will be myfirst time singing on a truck. It’s going to be hard!”Her band, composed of three students at The New

School, will be her guide while she’s in New York. As shesays, “We were all in the army, so we know each otherwell.”Yaso’s ambition is to break into the American market.

“I want to connect with the audience here, the Jewish andIsraeli and American audience,” she says. To that end,Yaso is working on her first album, from which the single,“Anything that Mentions,” features a duet with her father.

— Joseph Gallivan. Translator: Carene Shaaltiel

DJMR. BLACKYaniv Biton lives for the kind

of crowd-sourced thrills a topDJ gets perched on the stagein front of thousands of half-dressed ravers. Whether he’sin Tokyo, Bangkok, London orat home in Tel Aviv, under hisstage nameMr. Black, he always

pushes himself to entertain.“I like to mix live because each crowd is different.

If you choose something and see people are not muchinto it, you have to reach in and try to bring somethingeveryone knows [to] try to connect people with thebeat,” he says.When Black, 33, composes, he starts with a hook. “I

take some melody, the main part, then I build the atmo-sphere behind it, and only then do I build the beat.”Speaking fromTel Aviv, Black says he is very excited to

get the chance to play Israeli pop inNewYork City at theparade. “It’s my first time, so I will be supportingHebrewacts like Balkan Beat Box and InfectedMushroom.”Mr. Black just finished a video called “Boombox”

with SonnyWilson. His song “Loud” was the track ofthe month on ClubbingTV.“These days the music is more aggressive, more

powerful. I don’t play the whole track like 10 years ago.Seven years ago, I’d play 20 tracks per hour. Thesedays, it’s 40 per hour,” he says.For his first time in New York City, Black is going

to take a week to enjoy the city, trusting his friends toshow him the best clubs.

— Joseph Gallivan

CHENAHARONIThe last time up-and-coming singer Chen Aha-

roni was in New York, his timing was a little off.“Superstorm Sandy hit the day before I arrived,”

he remembers. “I didn’t really see much.”This time, he’s excited to sing for the first time on

the back of a float at the Parade.“I’ll probably sing songs I feel the crowd can

connect with,” he says, including “Neshima,” hisfirst number one on the Israeli charts, and “NoseaRahok.”Aharoni sings mostly in Hebrew but speaks fluent

English. “I do pop music, but I bring somethingfrom Israel,” he says from his home in Ramat Gan.

His family hails from Yemen, and he isproud of that influence. “I got my voicethanks to my genes,” he says.

At 17, Aharoni came in fourth in thetalent show “Kokhav Nolad (A Staris Born).” This led to two seasonspresenting a show called “Ra’ash(Noise)” on the Music 24 channel.

Aharoni, who turned 24 inApril, also did three years in theIsraeli army. He worked as aninjuries coordinator and instruc-

tor at a medical complex in TelHaShomer. “You can do somethinggood for other people, to giveback,” he says. “We went to a lotof places where families and chil-dren [were] in need, gave themfood and help,” he says.Aharoni hopes to do some

acoustic gigs in New York. “I likethat I can see the audience and their

transformation as they understand what Iwant from them,” he says.

— Joseph Gallivan

Fresh Israeli actslight up the

Parade this year

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