Friday, April 26, 2013
Dressing down Jews

Is City Hall about to take action against the dress codes at Manhattan's top-flight restaurants? 
Of course not. And that only underscores the hypocrisy that all too often animates this administration. Because the city is going after Hasidic-owned store-owners who ask their patrons to dress modestly.
The  city's Commission on Human Rights has cited seven small stores in the  Hasidic section of Williamsburg for discrimination. Their offense?  Posting signs that read: "No Shorts, No Barefoot, No Sleeveless, No Low  Cut Necklines Allowed in the Store." Which is no different than  restaurants requiring men to wear a jacket and tie — or a pizzeria  posting a sign reading "No shirt, no shoes, no service."
 The city disagrees, and is suing the shops. Cliff Mulqueen, the  commission's general counsel, explained to The Jewish Week that while  "dress codes are OK . . . telling someone they have to abide by certain  rules of the Jewish faith crosses the line into [establishing] a  protected class."
But again, that's not what the signs say. And the city hasn't found a single person refused service because of his attire. 
Here's  the operative distinction: Anyone turned away from these stores for his  or her dress can change clothes and be admitted. Anyone denied service  because of his or her race, religion or gender can't do that.
The  commission took action after The Post first reported the signs last  July. At the time, a top official of the city Law Department said the  signs appeared to be OK.
The good news is that the case has now  attracted the attention and support of a top law firm, Kirkland &  Ellis, which is representing the shop-owners pro bono. Notably, the firm  is citing important First Amendment religious-liberty issues.
The  city would do us all a favor if it limited its authorities to fighting  genuine discrimination under the law — not inventing it where it doesn't  exist.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/dressing_down_jews_NdWHsRBy97EF15b8wo8SLK
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