New Yorkers head to Tel Aviv beach - in Central Park
Hundreds of 'bathers' played in sand brought in from Israel to celebrate Tel Aviv's centennial.
By Shlomo Shamir Tags: Tel Aviv 100 Israel news New YorkNEW YORK - The weather in Manhattan Sunday was not quite the same as on the Tel Aviv coast, but thousands of New Yorkers ignored cool temperatures and rain from the previous night's downpour still dripping from the trees, and headed for a day at "the Tel Aviv beach" - in Central Park.
Hundreds of "bathers," mainly families with children, played in sand brought especially from the beach in Tel Aviv, ice pops were provided by volunteers and people played the quintessential Israeli beach game of Pro Kadima paddle ball.
"It's heartwarming to see New Yorkers, who on a regular day don't give much thought to Israel, coming to have an Israeli experience," David Saranga, media consul for Israel in New York, who initiated the project, said Sunday.
The Israeli reggae band Hope 6 and Army Radio's DJ Hadas Marks provided the entertainment for the event, held to celebrate Tel Aviv's centennial.
The cost of the event, estimated at around $150,000, was covered by the Foreign Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, the Tel Aviv Municipality and El Al Airlines.
In the event's one strident moment, five young women in bikinis entered the "beach" and raised signs reading "Free Gaza."
The protesters were quickly removed by police and security.
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