Do you know the news about the New York Synagogue Tunnel incident? The incident occurred at the World Headquarters on January 8, 2024 when construction workers discovered a secret tunnel connecting to an illegally dug Synagogue. Eventually, the incident ended with the arrest of nine rioters and the temporary closure of the synagogue. Well, on this page, we will share some information related to the New York Synagogue Tunnel incident.
Background
The World Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue are located at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. It turns out that this building has been the trigger of a dispute between Agudas Chasidei Chabad and the Gabbaim. For your information, Agudas Chasidei Chabad is the umbrella organization for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement worldwide, while the Gabbaim are the ones who control the day-to-day operations of the main synagogue and part of the Messianic sect of Chasidim. Gabbaim believe that Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Chabad Rebbe, is still alive and that he is the Jewish Messiah. In 2006, a court decision already ruled that full ownership of 770 belongs to Agudas Chasidei Chabad. Nevertheless, ongoing legal disputes have prevented Agudas Chasidei Chabad and Gabbaim from changing the structure.
Discovery of the Secret Tunnels
In mid-December, the New York City Fire Department received reports from neighborhood residents of a tunnel under the building. Then, on December 20, the New York City Fire Department conducted an inspection but the tunnel under the building was not detected. Upon investigation, it turned out that the tunnel was built by yeshiva students who believe in Chabad Messianism. According to The New York Times, the yeshiva students built the tunnel to begin the illegal expansion of 770. Two of the yeshiva students involved in the secret tunneling told The Forward that they took the initiative in the long-deferred synagogue expansion.
In January, an investigation conducted by the New York City Department of Buildings stated that the tunnel connected four adjacent buildings. The size of the tunnel is 60 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 5 feet high. Also, the secret tunnel did not use adequate shoring. As a result of the illegal tunnel construction, the neighboring building had to be vacated due to foundation damage. It is reported that the tunnel connected the building to a nearby closed men’s mikvah. Rabbi Motti Seligson attributed the illegal tunnel construction to “extremist students.” Later, construction crews were called in by Gabbaim to fill the tunnel with concrete.
Incident of the New York Synagogue Tunnels
The incident occurred on the afternoon of January 8, 2024 when a group of yeshiva students who adhere to Chabad messianism, gathered at 770 Eastern Parkway to protect the illegally dug secret tunnels, after they saw a cement truck coming to fill one of the tunnels. Initially, the tunnels went undetected. However, it was eventually discovered at the World headquarters of the Chabad movement, also known as Lubavitch, in Crown Heights Brooklyn. The secret tunnel ran from under the women’s section of the synagogue to the mikvah, which is a Jewish ritual cleansing bath.
According to the New York Police Department, the group of yeshiva students entered 770 Eastern Parkway by damaging wood panels from the walls of the sanctuary and trying to stop construction workers from filling the tunnel with concrete. They clashed with the construction workers, leading to chaos. Some of them ran into the tunnel to prevent it from being filled with concrete, while others entered the building, tore off wood paneling and threw wooden benches. The New York City Police Department then tried to secure the situation and warned the group of yeshiva students to get out of the tunnel, but they fought back against the police.
In the video that went viral on social media, we can see that a group of yeshiva students clashed with police officers and construction workers. They can be seen pulling wooden panels from the walls of the shelter and using wooden benches to block police officers. Also, the video shows one of the group of yeshiva students climbing out of a sewer system in the corner of the facility. In addition, in one of the videos reviewed by the BBC, an officer uses spray to disperse the escalating clashes.
As a result of the incident, the New York City Police Department arrested ten people for criminal misconduct, criminal trespass, and obstructing government administration. While three other people received summonses for disorderly conduct violations. Of those initially arrested, seven were later released by the police, while the other five were scheduled to appear in court to settle their cases in front of a judge in Brooklyn. Based on the information we got, those arrested were between 19 and 22 years old. Most of them are from Israel.
You should know that this building that sees thousands of visitors every year, was once the home of the leader of the Orthodox Jewish movement name Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. At that time, Rabbi successfully led Chabad-Lubavitch and revitalized the Hasidic religious community after it was destroyed in the Holocaust. In 1994, the rabbi passed away, but his headquarters remains a well-known Jewish center. The Chabad-Lubavitcher movement thrived and had a mission of welcoming Jews at all levels of religious practice, but it also had its share of disputes. These divisions and disputes were seen in the tunnel dispute at 770 Eastern Parkway earlier this month. The building has now been closed as inspection of the tunnel continues.
Aftermath of the Incident
Rabbi Motti Seligson said that the incident was very sad for the Lubavitch movement and Jewish communities around the world. Also, Seligson said that those who made the tunnel were a group of extremist students. As chairman of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky thanked the NYPD and said that the actions of the group of students will continue to be investigated and the sanctity of the synagogue will be restored. Pending a structural safety review, the historic building is temporarily closed.
There were varying responses given by Crown Heights Residents to the incident. Some Crown Heights residents are concerned that the group of students involved in the incident have disturbed the sanctity of the site and have done something irresponsible. Others stated that visitors to the site had exceeded its capacity and that there was a need for expansion of the building.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
