NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Sixty-four percent of Jewish New Yorkers who plan to attend Sunday's "Israel Day on Fifth" parade on the Upper East Side are "very" or "somewhat" concerned about their safety amid the spike in antisemitism, according to a new survey.
This is a stark difference from the pre-Oct. 7 world: 77 percent of respondents who had attended previous Israel parades never had such concerns and 18 percent said they had security concerns.
The survey was commissioned by Belong, a new Israeli company which assists Americans move (or make Aliyah) to Israel, or travel, work, study, volunteer and invest there. Following the spike in antisemitism in the U.S., notably on college campuses, its services have been in demand.
More distressing about Jewish New Yorkers' fear for their safety, is that only one in five -- 20 percent -- of those who previously attended the parade in the past five years, said they plan to do so again on Sunday.
“Jews are worried about being supportive of Israel and scared for their safety in the streets of New York City, and this should concern American and Israeli decision-makers alike," said Eilon Gilad, CEO of Belong. "It is important for the American Jewish community to know: we see you and we support you."
The survey of 287 Jewish New Yorkers was conducted May 22-23 by Liraz Margalit, PhD, of Topicx, an advanced AI platform, through virtual phone interviews powered by generative AI, "which engages participants in conversations to gain a deeper understanding of their views, perceptions, and emotions."
Organizers of the parade wrote on X, "While this year’s parade may be less festive in tone than other years, it is just as important, if not more important, to come together, and show our love and support for Israel and its people and culture. We are truly one people, one heart."
The theme for Sunday's parade is "One People, One Heart." It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Fifth Avenue, from 62nd Street to 74th Street.