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Does City's Removal Of Yiddish "Move, Woman!" Signs Violate Freedom Of Speech?
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 11, 2011
Modified Oct 11, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 11, 2011
Modified Oct 11, 2011
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Earlier this week, the Parks Department removed 16 controversial signs in the predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of South Williamsburg because they were screwed into public trees. The Yiddish signs, first reported on Failed Messiah, roughly translated to: "Precious Jewish Daughter: Please move to the side when a man approaches!" Today the Daily News checks in on the neighborhood and finds that some of the locals feel the city is suppressing their civil liberties.
"It's taking away freedom of speech," one 70-year-old woman told the News. Another local resident, 18-year-old Abraham Klein, said, "The signs don't bother anybody. Men and ladies don't go together. It's just our religion." The News also spoke with Deborah Feldman, who left the Hasidic community and wrote a book called Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots. She speculates the signs were probably posted as "part of a crackdown on rebellious behavior by women."
Whatever the reason, without the signs things are heating up on the sidewalks of Williamsburg, where proximity to women in wigs and ankle-length dresses is no doubt driving the men to distraction. Next thing you know, the government will be forcing them to look at scintillating photos of that wicked Goy temptress Hillary Clinton!
Tagged
jewish
jews
orthodox jews
south williamsburg
yiddish
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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