The Celebrate Israel Parade will be returning this Sunday to Fifth Avenue for the first time since 2019. If ever there were a moment for our New York Jewish community in all its wonderful diversity to be out in force proudly and publicly proclaiming its support for our miraculous Jewish homeland — this is it.

And we know why.

Early in the pandemic, we hoped that this shared life-altering experience might stem the tide of growing antisemitic and anti-Zionist activity. The opposite occurred. Fueled by conspiracy theories that blame Jews and Israel for spreading and then profiting from the virus, the current environment is ever more toxic. Last week’s horrific racist shooting in Buffalo, which took the lives of 10 Black Americans, was motivated by "replacement theory," a racist, anti-immigrant conspiracy that traffics in canards asserting Jewish power and control. But the grotesque malignancy that is white supremacy is not our only challenge.

In recent years, we’ve also seen how growing anti-Zionism from the far left has repeatedly and dangerously morphed into antisemitism. Last May’s 11-day conflict in Israel resulted in a dramatic uptick in attacks against visibly Jewish people on the streets of New York. Almost as upsetting was the lack of support for Israel — a deafening silence, even as Hamas deliberately targeted civilian neighborhoods with thousands of rockets from Gaza. Among the silent? Segments of the Jewish community and historic allies from other communities.

There’s no simple solution for antisemitism or anti-Zionism. But a universal truth: it’s far easier to demonize who and what you don’t know or understand. It’s far more difficult to hate somebody when you’ve sat in a room together, broken bread, and exchanged stories. Similarly, condemning the entire concept of a nation is near impossible when you’ve walked its streets, met its diverse people, and had a chance to develop a more nuanced understanding of its history and present reality.

Which is why UJA has long funded trips to Israel for a range of community leaders, scholars, and influencers. I’m glad to report these trips — on hold during Covid — are back up and running. Indeed, we've funded four such trips in the span of a month.

Three weeks ago, our partner JCRC-NY led an Israel study tour with CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez and 12 CUNY college presidents. The group met leading Israeli and Palestinian scholars in Israel and Ramallah, civil society groups, and governmental organizations that deal with peace, conflict, tolerance, diversity, and education from a wide array of perspectives.

Another UJA-funded trip during the same time, led by Alan van Capelle, president & CEO of UJA’s partner Educational Alliance, brought 15 leaders of various racial and religious backgrounds from the Lower East Side — who all identify as progressive. Alan called the experience one of the most "transformational" of his life, explaining, "I sat in progressive spaces and avoided talking about Israel because it felt safer, but the reality is we’re living in an unsafe moment. I wanted to take people to Israel who might have different points of view to hear all sides of the conflict and trust they end up committed to fighting antisemitism and becoming a voice for peace in the region."

A third UJA-funded trip that arrived back just this morning was led by the Westchester Jewish Council, and brought together interfaith clergy — Jewish, Muslim, and Christian — to experience Israel together. They visited Yad Vashem together. And they prayed together upon learning of the Buffalo shooting.

A fourth trip, which I’ll be joining next week, will bring to Israel a delegation of 16 United Nations ambassadors, led by Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan. And many more trips are in the works.

But we can't get everyone to Israel. So, for now, we can show people what Israel means to us. And that means showing up. March with us on the streets of Fifth Avenue. Cheer us on from the sidelines.

Our widely diverse Jewish community does not see eye to eye on many Israeli policies or actions. We often vociferously disagree. But on this one day, in this one place, in this particular time — we must show the world that we agree on Israel’s fundamental right to exist as our Jewish homeland.

UJA is proud to fund the Celebrate Israel Parade this year and every year, and we thank our partner JCRC-NY for coordinating.

Pack a water bottle and some sunscreen. I look forward to seeing you there.

Shabbat shalom