Illegal Tunnels Spark Clash at Crown Heights Synagogue
Tunnels Spark Standoff, Dispute Over Synagogue. Wild scenes unfolded at the Chabad Lubavitch global headquarters in Brooklyn on Monday, as construction workers attempted to fill an illegally-dug tunnel used by young Orthodox Jewish men to connect the building to a nearby ritual bath. The incident at the Crown Heights synagogue revealed an ongoing property dispute and led to the arrest of twelve individuals.
In December, the discovery of tunnels beneath the Chabad Lubavitch headquarters raised questions about the motive behind the illegal construction. The youths involved have been in a longstanding dispute with the synagogue over property ownership. However, the purpose of accessing an adjacent ritual bath, or mikvah, remains unclear.
As cement mixers and construction crews arrived to fill the tunnels on Monday, the young men protested, physically obstructing their efforts. The NYPD was called to intervene, resulting in the forceful removal of the protesters. Videos capturing the chaos were widely shared on social media.
The conflict highlights a recurring issue, with reports indicating that members of Chabad-Lubavitch have been digging tunnels under the synagogue for months. There are rumors that these tunnels are used for everything from reaching an old woman’s mikvah to enlarging the synagogue.
Twelve people who have not been named yet were reportedly taken into custody. , according to the NYPD. “It is now known that several people were placed under arrest.” charges are pending.in this incident, no injuries were reported.
ILLEGAL TUNNELS FOUND IN NEW YORK TEMPLE pic.twitter.com/H45iG4RvHy
— The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) January 9, 2024
Rabbi Braun, condemning the actions of the young men, expressed shock at the vandalism of the synagogue, emphasizing the need to hold them accountable. He urged the community to denounce such behavior, calling it both dangerous and mind-boggling.
In a related development, recent weeks saw escalating tensions at 770 Eastern Parkway, the global headquarters of Chabad, when a resident discovered a tunnel dug by a group described as “young agitators.” Videos on social media captured the Chabad house interiors being torn apart, revealing a tunnel entryway occupied by yeshiva students. The situation led to a clash with the police, who were recorded expressing their intent to shut down the synagogue.
The origin of the internal dispute dates back to the ownership disagreement over 770 Eastern Parkway between Chabad-Lubavitch and a Messianic Chasidic sect. Despite a 2006 lawsuit ruling in favor of Chabad’s ownership, tensions persist, culminating in the recent illegal tunnel network discovery.
As authorities work to fill in the tunnels and restore order, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of Chabad, pledged to investigate the “odious actions” and expressed gratitude to the NYPD for their handling of the situation with “professionalism and sensitivity.” The sanctity of the synagogue, he assured, will be restored.
