Write On for Israel

Hotdogs And Israel: An Unexpected Friendship

James Besser — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:50:57 +0000

Write On for Israel

Rachel Bronheim, Nina Mermelstein, and Alison Kolbert

On the corner of Fifth Avenue and Fifty-Ninth Street is a Sabrett hotdog stand, which is usually busy. Especially on Sundays, and particularly during a big parade.

But on this Sunday, May 23, vendor Manuel Ordóñez, a middle-aged native of Honduras, came to realize why business was slow.

After a few hours of standing on his corner, Ordonez realized why he was getting fewer costumers than expected. Many of the parade-goers were observant Jews coming to support the Israeli Day Parade, and they don’t eat non-kosher hotdogs.

Israeli Spectator Wonders Why Thousands Here Saluting Her Country

James Besser — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:46:54 +0000

Write On for Israel

Jackie Schechter and Ayelet Hochman

Special to the Jewish Week

The young woman walking along Fifth Avenue seemed confused. She was from a small country thousands of miles away, yet saw throngs of people in matching T-shirts waving her country’s flag and singing in her native language.

She hesitantly approached us as we stood on the sidewalk, watching the May 23 Salute to Israel Parade. “Excuse me,” she said, in an accent that was clearly Israeli. “Why is everyone walking down the street carrying Israeli flags?”

African-Americans Express Empathy For Israel

James Besser — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:44:08 +0000

Write On for Israel

Danielle Polland and Marisa Kelly

Special to the Jewish Week

The annual Israeli Day Parade was not just for about the Jewish community. The African-American community was well represented on Sunday by parade marchers and curbside supporters.