Orthodox community tackles bad landlord rep

Following the Village Voice’s notorious “Top Ten Worst Landlords” list, published in March, several religious Jewish advocacy groups leapt into action, according to the Voice, after learning that several of those named on the list were Orthodox Jews. Today, some of the city’s most influential religious leaders say they’re creating awareness about the issue. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, founder and president of Orthodox social justice group Uri L’Tzedek, said he’s particularly concerned with how the “slumlord” label is affecting his community. “There’s clearly a big problem with certain sects of the Jewish community in how they are treating their tenants,” Yanklowitz said. “It’s my belief that our first obligation is to clean up our community. The priorities are to create a community of socially responsible and just Jews.” [Village Voice]