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Kiryas Joel's Real Housewives of Orange County: Jewish mores enforce modesty

By April MacIntyre Sep 2, 2010, 5:15 GMT

No legs or arms showing please, Kiryas Joel in New York an ultra Hasidic town EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

In New York State, the hamlet of Kiryas Joel likes everyone, especially the women, covered up. Even in blistering summer heat.

CBSNewYork.com reports that the Orange County village of Kiryas Joel would like all visitors and residents to comply with strict Hasidic Jewish garment and gender restrictions.

People who go about their business in shorts and tanks are given dirty looks by the residents, who follow the most observant and dogmatic form of Judaism.

The village of many Satmar Hasidic Jews promotes modesty.  Congregation Yetev Lev posted signs to outsiders to cover their legs and arms, use appropriate language and maintain gender separation in public.

Some residents are respectful, others tell local CBS news that it violates their constitutional rights.

“I feel like my constitutional rights are being violated,” said Tyrone Wheeler, a worker.

“We’re not threatening anyone,” said Rabbi Jacob Freund. “Everybody is free to come in and be the same, like all other places in the United States.”