From East to West, North to South, the world — well voters in New York City — are all asking themselves, their friends and their relatives: Were women thrown out of a Shul? Was Joe Lhota aware of the sensitiveness and bad timing? Was de Blasio right by commenting on the story? Are reporters allowed to cover religious oriented event? This is the talk of town less than 3 weeks before New Yorkers head to the polls to elect the next mayor.
Below you’ll find some commentary, contradicting views and observations, YWN has compiled for the interest of our readers:
“First the bris milah became a topic for debate in the New York City mayoral election and now it’s the mechitza that’s being thrust into the limelight.” (COLlive)
“[De Blasio] will be the next Bloomberg as far as religion is concerned. Bloomberg went after bris milah he has a problem with mechitza, next will be boys only yeshiva classrooms then shechita but the askanim only think about welfare section 8 and food stamps.” (jgreenberg – comment #15)
“Lhota Boro Park controversy seems much ado about nothing. Lhota’s poor advance work created a rather awkward situation in a shul. De Blasio took a very vague shot at the poor advance work but everyone knows he does gender segregated events all the time.” (Colin Campbell)
“It is a disheartening quote, not because he is incorrect — Lhota’s aides should indeed have prevented the situation from occurring — but because it cheapens the sanctity of shuls for the politics of moment. (It also was not an “organized event,” but a spontaneous decision to go in.) A “no comment” would have been more appropriate and sensitive, especially for a former councilman who represented parts of Boro Park. De Blasio’s comment is the sort of political strategizing that operatives discuss but keep to themselves.” (Yochonon Donn)
“It may be unfair to Lhota to blame him for not knowing the reputation of the place. In all liklihood, Lhota did not know. But at some point politicians have to start demanding of their orthodox liaisons that they steer them clear of those culpable in the worst way.” (Frumfollies)
And here is Councilman David Greenfield discussing the Lhota story with listeners on his weekly radio show:
(Jacob Kornbluh -YWN)
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4 Responses
I’d like to see Bill de Blasio take a female along with him when he visits his new friends in the Satmar Aharoni camp!! Big talker that he is!!!
For once, I must say that I agree with Anthony Weiner. The media simply does not care of the issues that NYC voters care for. Think about it: Would de Blasio stand any chance in a race dominated by policy? He was the weakest in the Democratic pack and his community organizing and race baiting does not compare to Mr. Lhtoa astute knowledge of city affairs and experience at running multifaceted organizations. Yet, the media found a Shul-Gate scandal.
Good move by deBlassio campaign turning non issues into issues to distract from real issues and run out clock on j-lho.
To follower up to commenter#1, I’d like to see how he would act at a mosque since he has seemed to “curry” favor as of late with NYC Muslims.