What Impressed the Editor

Rob Eshman, editor of the Los Angeles weekly “Jewish Journal,” writes this week about the cancellation of the 63nd annual Israel Independence Day Festival.

“Can anything replace the festival?” he wondered.

He then went to report that “One morning this week, Rabbi Chaim Cunin e-mailed me to announce that Chabad will hold a Lag b’Omer Unity Parade on May 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Pico Boulevard, between Doheny and Robertson.

“The event has taken on added significance in light of the recent canceling of the Woodley Park festival,” Cunin wrote, “especially when Jewish unity and pride are more important than ever.”

“I’m sure it will be a great success. Cunin, one of thirteen children, can get 7,000 people just from his immediate family. And anyone who can convince me to lay tefillin in front of 400 passengers on El Al Flight 5 to Tel Aviv, as Cunin did last month, can certainly pull off any other miracle.

“The Unity Parade will suffice this year, but we need more. An Israel Independence Day Festival is a singular opportunity for us to come together as one community.

“With better organization, better leadership and more funding, a true community-wide event could come back, much bigger and better. We need it. At a time when Israel is facing growing delegitimization, a very public, very festive show of support is more important than ever. It is not an evening event — bring the kids!

“It’s not a fundraiser, mission or banquet — affordable to all! It’s not a parade — stay, shmooze, check out what the community has to offer, in all its mind-bending diversity. And it’s not just Jewish — a great festival can bring people out from across the entire city to show their support.

“So, to those with the vision and wherewithal to organize next year’s big event, I make this vow: No complaints.”