Jewish city turns 100 and parties through crisis

AP ^ | April 05 2009 | ARON HELLER

[forkinsocket]

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Well past the Sabbath midnight, hours before the Mideast erupted once again into war, Tel Aviv was doing what it loves most — partying.

For a place founded a century ago to be the world's first Jewish city, the atmosphere was decidedly un-kosher. Christmas decorations lined the bars and the delis were open, selling pork. In the clubs, the dancers dripped sweat. Outside, tipsy women in revealing fashion stumbled in the streets, and at 2 a.m. drivers were hunting in vain for parking spots.

Inside the "Zizitripo" lounge, Omer Gershon downed a shot of vodka.

"The nightlife here is crazier than anywhere in the world. I've got people drinking here all night long," the 34-year-old owner yelled over the thumping electronic music. "There's a lot of escapism involved. Carpe diem (seize the day) takes on a whole new meaning here."

And there was plenty to escape from that night. An hour's drive south, Palestinian militants were firing missiles at Israeli communities, and Israel would shortly invade the Gaza Strip with air and land strikes to stop the barrages — an operation that ultimately claimed well over 1,000 lives by both sides' count.

It was hardly an auspicious prelude to a year in which Tel Aviv has begun celebrating its 100th birthday with art shows, outdoor concerts, a marathon and the inevitable all-night street party. But this is a city hardened to the shocks of Middle East conflict.

[forkinsocket]

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[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Outside, tipsy women in revealing fashion stumbled in the streets

TTIWWP.

[Tweeker]

Wasn’t Rishon LetZion the first Jewish city?

[chuck_the_tv_out]

Since this “aron heller” points out the missiles fired at Jewish communities, it’s a reasonable assumption this is not a leftarded dhimmi as is typical for ap.

Such writers should ABANDON ap. By selling out and producing material for the organization, they are not helping. AP is leftist propaganda, 99.9% of the time.

[Tolik]

The Founding of Tel Aviv, 1909

thanks to SJackson for finding this photo

[Tolik]