New York Mayoral Candidate Criticized For Breach of Customs In Orthodox Jewish Neighborhood

New York City Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota is being criticized for his lack of familiarity with Orthodox Jewish customs during campaign stops this week in Brooklyn's Boro Park neighborhood.  According to Haaretz yesterday, in a stop at a small Orthodox synagogue, Lhota had female staffers among those who walked  with him into an ongoing sex-segregated prayer service.  Subsequently at a kosher soup kitchen, Lhota twice tried to shake hands with Orthodox Jewish women whose beliefs preclude physical contact with men other than their husband.  Lhota's Democratic opponent in the mayoral race, Bill de Blasio, said:  "I find it perplexing that he would have organized an event in a situation women wouldn’t have access to."