MONTREAL — Organizers are hoping 10,000 people will participate in this year’s downtown rally celebrating Israel’s 61st anniversary.

As usual, participants will gather at Phillips Square at 11 a.m. The parade to Place du Canada will start at 11:45 and the festivities there begin at noon.

More than 65 buses will be available departing from many areas of Montreal, as well as Sherbrooke, Kingston and Ottawa. Bill Surkis, one of the organizers, hopes a significant number of non-Jews will take part alongside the Jewish community.

American singer and musician Joshua Nelson, known for his “kosher gospel,” a blend of Jewish liturgical music and African-American styling, will headline the entertainment at Place du Canada. Representatives of the State of Israel and Canada will bring greetings, along with community leaders.

The event is organized by the Jewish Unity Partnership, formerly known as COJO (the Coalition of Jewish Organizations), which is made up of many local Jewish groups.

Compiled by CJN Staff