Students belonging to an Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic group secretly began digging a tunnel at their sect’s world headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The group explained that their reasonings for the project was to fulfill what they felt was their religious obligation to expand the holy site and to give themselves unauthorized access to the sanctuary. It was said by officials that the construction was done in secret by young men in the community, ages ranging between late teens early 20s. Once the leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters found out they tried to quietly seal the passage, which involved the police and soon became violent, leading to twelve arrests.
“The synagogue carries a profound significance to the Jewish people worldwide because the teachings, the Torah teachings, that emanated from it have impacted and transformed the Jewish community and society at large in a positive way,” Motti Seligson, the director of media at Chabad said. “And to see this episode exploited by antisemitic conspiracy theorists only adds pain to injury,”
The men began the tunnel in hopes of expanding the historic site, claiming that there was a large empty space behind and that members have been complaining about overcrowding for years. In doing this, the “group of extremist students” also broke down walls of buildings around the synagogue in order to complete the plan, which was said to have begun in the basement of an empty apartment building behind the sanctuary, leading through the basements of offices and lecture halls, which then connect to the synagogue.
“I can’t believe that actually happened. I hope the synagogue will be fixed and back to normal as soon as possible,” NHS senior Luke Phelps said.
A protest then erupted when the leaders of the group brought in a cement truck to close off the entrance, causing those who were in support of the tunnel to fight back. Videos and pictures posted of the protest show the group of men trying to block the cement, while others are seen pulling wood panels off the wall to shield themselves from the police, who were using spray against the protesters. Nobody was injured during the event.
“As a jewish person myself, I am in disbelief that such a sacred place was disrupted and I hope that the beautiful synagogue is restored soon,” NHS senior Hailey Freylikhman said.
According to the New York Police Department, out of the 12 students arrested, four were charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, three were charged with attempted criminal mischief, two were charged with attempted hate crime and criminal mischief and three were taken into custody for disorderly conduct.
For years, Lubavitch officials have tried to gain complete control of the property of the synagogue and land around it through the New York court system, even with constant success in court, the case has been continuously delayed.
“They are fanatical,” said the Chabad rabbi. “They are part of a small extreme group. The concept of Chabad is to be kind to everyone, and we are kind to them, but we never thought for a second they would make such problems. It’s a big mistake to let them into the community.”
The project began a little over a year ago and the movement started with six members attempting to dig the 3 foot high, 20 foot wide, 50 foot long tunnel with basic tools and their hands, stuffing the dirt in their pockets as they went. Not long after the men hired a group of migrant workers to do the job for them.
“The Mexicans lived in the building for three weeks during the work,” said Eitan Kalmowitz, a member of the Lubavitcher community in Crown Heights. “They slept and ate there because it was a secret operation,”
The building that inhabited the synagogue was once the home of the groups leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who became the organization's leader in 1950 and for the next 44 years, until his death in 1994. Advocates for the tunnel told reporters that they were attempting to follow through with the Rabbi’s plan to expand the holy site. Some felt that the plans were taking too long and decided to take action into their own hands.
“These odious actions will be investigated, and the sanctity of the synagogue will be restored,” Rabbi Yehuda Krinskey, chairman of the Chabad said.
The NYPD stated that the building will remain closed awaiting a structural safety inspection by city officials.