:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/V6MOJGBW45SFI4FQDFUIYF5A2I.jpg "Nine Orthodox Jews arrested after fight over secret tunnel at New York synagogue")
Nine Arrested in Dispute Over Secret Tunnel at New York Synagogue
Nine people are facing charges after a dispute broke out at a New York synagogue over the attempted closure of a secret tunnel leading to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement’s headquarters building in Brooklyn.
Police were called to the synagogue Monday afternoon after reports of a “disorderly group” outside the building. The scene was chaotic, as protesters attempted to stop the arrival of a cement truck that was there to repair the wall following the closure of an unauthorized passageway connecting the sanctuary to the headquarters building of the Hasidic movement.
Videos posted on social media depict a tense situation, with allegations of vandalism and reckless behavior. Police have charged nine individuals, aged 19 to 22, with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
According to a Chabad spokesman, Rabbi Motti Seligson, the secret passageway was built by a “group of extremist students” not officially affiliated with the Chabad movement. The building has been closed for a structural safety review following the incident.
While details about the tunnel’s construction remain unclear, the incident has highlighted a long-standing division within the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. There are disagreements about the future of the “770” synagogue following the death of Menachem Mendel Schneerson in 1994, sparking a period of mourning and debate over his successor.
Rabbi David Bashevkin, host of the “18Forty” podcast, stated that the clash is indicative of a smaller group within the Chabad movement using disruptive tactics to expand the 770 building, while others focus on making Judaism more accessible.
Supporters of the expansion argue that the building has long been overcrowded and plans to create additional space have taken too long to materialize. However, the Chabad leadership has emphasized the sanctity of the synagogue, expressing hope that it will soon be fully restored.