Jews will walk united through the streets of Chicago and its suburbs this Sunday in the annual Walk For Israel, which was attended by about 20,000 people last year and raised about $150,000.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) will speak at the walk in the northern suburbs. Other communities will also feature speakers, entertainment and catering.

In the spirit of Israel Independence Day on Saturday, the walk provides an opportunity for Jews to support Israel.

“The purpose is to show solidarity with Israel and to make a strong showing of the Jewish community in the Chicago area,” said Bonnie Eckstein, who directs the Skokie-area walk and the Speakers Bureau of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation. “Jews in Chicago identify very strongly with Israel.”

Last year’s walk consolidated all the Chicago area into one event. This year, eight walks will be held simultaneously.

“We thought we should put the walk back into the communities for them to take ownership,” said Eckstein. “The communities are thrilled about this.”

The JUF raised $150,000 last year to support summer camps for at-risk Israeli youth. Many of these children live in low-income, immigrant areas that are disproportionately hit by terrorist attacks, said JUF spokeswoman Linda Haase.

“(The children) are literally kept safe by removing them from the line of fire,” Haase said. “They’re also being provided enrichment activities that add to their education and increases their chance for success.”

She said the program teaches Hebrew, which many of the children do not know because they immigrated to Israel.

Evanston borders walks in Skokie and Glencoe. Both have scheduled a speaker, entertainment and catering. Rick Recht will perform Jewish music at the Glencoe walk. The Skokie walk, featuring a large number of observant Jews, will forgo music for games in recognition of the Counting of the Omer religious observance.

For more information, see www.juf.org/walk.