Tunnel Turmoil: The Chabad-Lubavitch Conflict in Crown Heights Unveils Deep Communal Rifts
The incident at the Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has revealed intricate layers of religious, communal, and legal complexities. The discovery of a secret tunnel beneath this significant site for the Orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch movement led to a dramatic series of events, culminating in a riot and subsequent police intervention.
The origins of the tunnel are rooted in unauthorized attempts to access the 770 complex of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement from a nearby office building. Witnesses and a Chabad spokesperson indicated that the construction project broke through the basement walls of this office building. When those responsible for the unauthorized construction realized that a cement truck was brought in to seal the opening, they reacted by tearing down wood paneling in the synagogue, leading to a chaotic scene.
This unauthorized tunnel, approximately 60 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 5 feet tall, connected four neighboring buildings and was deemed “illegally excavated” by the New York City Department of Buildings. Due to safety concerns and foundation damage, a full vacate order was issued for one of the connected buildings.
The response to the attempt to seal the tunnel was intense. A group of yeshiva students, believed to be Chabad messianics, gathered at the site to protect the hidden passageways. Their actions included entering the building, tearing up wood paneling, and throwing wooden pews, with several retreating into the tunnel. The NYPD responded to reports of a “disorderly group” and subsequently arrested nine people on charges including criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and obstructing governmental administration. These individuals were reportedly mostly young men aged between 19 and 22, primarily from Israel.
The aftermath of the incident has been significant for the Chabad-Lubavitch community and the wider Jewish community. Rabbi Motti Seligson, Chabad’s media director, expressed distress over the incident, describing it as deeply troubling for the Lubavitch movement and the Jewish community worldwide. Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, chairman of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, thanked the NYPD and emphasized the need to investigate the actions of the students and restore the sanctity of the synagogue.
The event has also led to varying responses from residents in Crown Heights. Some expressed concern over the sanctity of the site being disrupted by a fringe group, while others pointed to the need for expansion due to the site’s growing number of visitors. The footage of the incident went viral on social media, unfortunately also sparking a proliferation of antisemitic posts and conspiracy theories, which were criticized by figures like Jonathan Greenblatt, Director of the Anti-Defamation League.
