Among the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade's 43 floats, 21 bands and 18 equestrian units, there's not one Jewish entry. Not even a mum-covered "Shalom" banner, in this yearly, nationally televised parade held in Pasadena, California that is watched by approximately 40 million in the U.S.

Yet other religiously oriented groups have been able to field entries. The Lutheran Hour Ministries has what looks to be a thoughtful float in this year's parade. According to their website, "The float is laden with symbols of the promises that are ours through a personal relationship with God." Depicted florally on the float are doves, symbolizing peace, a picture of Jesus, and butterflies, representing new life.

The float is even being decorated by a group volunteers from a group called the Petal Pushers, a 5,000-plus-member group from the United States and Canada that includes families, church groups, Girl Scout troops, as well as individuals of all ages.

Since Jews love flowers too, especially on Shabbat, and considering we are the original mobile people, shouldn't we create a Rose Parade entry of our own--a Jewish float? The parade, long seen mainly as a showcase of corporate sponsorship, could use a little hora to add to the flora.

To gain the widest possible Jewish representation, our entry could be sponsored by the Jewish Federations of North America, and assembled by youth groups of the various Jewish denominations.

From my own experience, I know we can do this. A few years ago, I helped decorate a Rose Parade float. In a high ceilinged hangar, kept cold to preserve the flowers, my family attached whole flowers, petals and seeds, filling in the design. There was a real communal feel to the activity as we and others, glue buckets in hand, completely covered the float's surface.

Since the theme for the Rose Parade this year is "Just Imagine," imagine with me as a TV commentator covering the parade describes the event's newest entry:

"Is that klezmer music, I hear, coming down Colorado Blvd?  Yes, and the music of Matisyahu and Debbie Friedman too. Called, "L'Chayim," "To life," this float presented by the Jewish Federations of North America is their inaugural entry in the Rose Parade. Covered with flowers from Israel, where they are grown for export, the float represents scenes from Jewish life:

At one end of the float covered in white and pink petals we see the bima from a synagogue where a bat mitzvah is taking place. The Torah scroll that the 13 year old girl is chanting from was created entirely from white tulips and lilies. Next, spinning wildly in the float's center on a giant Rose of Sharon we have dark suited Chabad-Lubavitch dancers, decorated entirely with roasted sesame seeds. At the float's opposite end we see a wedding chupah, or canopy, covered in white and yellow roses. Watch as groom's electronically operated leg moves up and then down as he crushes the glass under his foot. Mazel Tov. And those volunteers you see walking alongside the float, what are they doing? Passing out bagel chips for the crowd to nosh on."

Not a bad bouquet for a first entry. But the next year, would the float be followed by a Jewish equestrian unit? Now you're really imagining.