Israel conquers Fifth Avenue
New campaign promoting Salute to Israel Parade in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary will see New York City streets carrying banners with images of prominent Israelis in hope of conveying full spectrum of country's diverse society in world's first multicultural capital
"My name is Derrick, I am Israeli," proclaims one of the banners that will soon line New York City's Fifth Avenue as of May 4.
The smiling face of the American-born captain of the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team, Derrick Sharp, will be joined by those of eight other well-known Israelis as part of the Consulate General's "Faces of Israel" campaign to promote the "Salute to Israel Parade." Sharp, who moved to Israel from Florida in 1993 and became a naturalized citizen. He also plays for the Israeli national team.
The massive rally will be held on June 1 in celebration of Israel's 60th Independence Day.
Spanning 46th to 97th Streets, each banner will be topped with an American and Israeli flag and feature the face of a different Israeli citizen.
Derrick Sharp, Miri Ben Ari and Rania Jubran (Photo: NYC Consulate)
Among those whose portraits will be displayed is Dao Rochvarger-Wong, who arrived in Israel as Vietnamese refugee (with the so-called 'boat people'). The group was granted citizenship by then-Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Dao now represents Israel’s Bank HaPoalim in Singapore.
Others participating in the campaign include Israeli Arab diplomat Rania Jubran, violinist Miri Ben-Ari, Soviet-born 'Star is Born' contender Sasha Grishkov, former Miss Israel Mirit Greenberg and celebrated vocalist Cabra Kasai, one of many Ethiopian members of the Idan Raichel Project.
Assaf Shariv, consul-general of Israel in New York, said the goal of the project “is to introduce Israelis as they are. Millions of people will walk along Fifth Avenue during May and be exposed to these portraits that show the incredible diversity of Israeli society.
"It is a society in many ways, similar to that of New York - a fascinating combination of immigrants who have come together to create one multi-faceted society. This is the Israeli story.”
