Synagogue tunnel fuels conflict in Brooklyn Jewish community: Nine arrested
6:27 AM EST, January 10, 2024
The disagreement unfolded at the world headquarters of the Hasidic group Chabad-Lubavitch in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, as reported by Associated Press. Officials and community members brought attention to a hidden tunnel extending from the basement of a vacant residential property to a Jewish temple. Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson stated that this unlawful tunnel reportedly runs beneath several offices and lecture rooms.
When the leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch attempted to seal the tunnel on Monday, protests and riots were provoked. The young Jews who excavated the passageway defended it as part of an "expansion" plan instigated by the group's former leader, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The current group leader viewed the tunnel construction as an act of vandalism and denounced the "extremists who penetrated the synagogue wall, severely damaged the sanctuary, and sought to retain illicit access to it".
As per the statements of these young Jews, they initiated the tunnel construction project at the end of the previous year. The intent was to extend the synagogue by connecting it to an underused, vacant space. A critical juncture was reached when a truck arrived to pour cement into the tunnel. Supporters of the tunnel organized a protest in response.
Police officers were called to manage the escalating situation. Witnesses mentioned that the officers spent several hours convincing the young men to vacate the tunnel entrance. When appeasement failed, the officers resorted to employing direct force. "When they yanked out the first individual and put handcuffs on him, chaos ensued," Baruch Dahan, a 21-year-old student, informed AP. "(...) The sight of the handcuffs triggered pandemonium and shoving."
Police arrested nine individuals aged between 19 and 22. Charges include resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, and obstructing governmental administration. Some were also charged with disturbing the peace. The synagogue will remain closed until a building inspection is conducted.
Source: AP
