Two parades, one people

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, two significant gatherings took place a hundred miles apart: the Israel Day Parade in New York City and the Adirei HaTorah celebration in Philadelphia. Both events drew tens of thousands, showcasing different facets of Jewish identity and connection.

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After October 7, when I was in Israel, ordinary Israelis stopped me on the street to ask whether the Diaspora was behind them. They were really asking whether they were alone.

The Israel Day Parade, a long-standing tradition on Fifth Avenue, served as an annual affirmation of the unbreakable bond between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel. For decades, it has been a powerful declaration of solidarity, a sentiment particularly resonant after the October 7th attacks when Israelis questioned the Diaspora's support. The massive turnout and the outpouring of donations and volunteer efforts from the Diaspora demonstrated that they were not alone.

Simultaneously, in Philadelphia, the Xfinity Stadium hosted the Adirei HaTorah celebration. This event highlighted Jewish learning and heritage, drawing a crowd of Jews dedicated to the "oldest covenant in human history." The arena overflowed with music, energy, and pride, celebrating a commitment to Torah study and tradition.

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The answer throughout that trying time, as we sent thousands of duffle bags of equipment and over a billion dollars in donations, with thousands of Jews flying from the Diaspora to serve in the IDF, was no. It was the same answer that those who marched on Sunday showed once again.

While both events celebrated aspects of Jewish life, underlying tensions exist within the community. Some participants in the Israel Day Parade expressed frustrations regarding the ultra-Orthodox community's relationship with the State of Israel and the IDF. Conversely, some attendees at Adirei HaTorah hold complex views on Zionism and the modern Jewish state. The article suggests a need for both Torah and Israel to coexist and work together, referencing former UN Ambassador Danny Danon's statement that "Without the Bible, we don’t have the claim to the land."

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Without the Bible, we don’t have the claim to the land.