Twelve people arrested: secret tunnel discovered under synagogue in New York

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

There were wild scenes in a synagogue in New York. Young Orthodox Jews from the Chabad-Lubavitch movement shouted and destroyed wooden walls.

The reason for all the problems: a secret tunnel discovered in December is said to be closed. Construction workers wanted to fill the shaft with concrete. The situation escalated. The police had to come. Ultimately, twelve people were arrested, according to American media.

The tunnel was dug with simple means

The rabbi of the synagogue in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, Yosef Braun, strongly condemned the riots, insisting that the rioters were willing to “destroy and corrupt the sacred walls.”

The discovered tunnel leads to a former ritual women’s bath. It is not entirely clear why the young men started building the tunnel. Apparently they had been working on it for months. Using simple tools including shovels, pickaxes and sledgehammers.

Dispute between the movement and the leadership of the synagogue?

There may be a larger dispute behind the tunnel construction. Among other things, it is reported that there were disagreements between the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and the synagogue’s leadership, particularly over who owned the place of worship.

The building was once home to the movement’s leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994), and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Currently, it would involve an expansion of the synagogue, which has been repeatedly postponed. Much to the chagrin of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

Apparently the young men wanted to use the tunnel to force those in charge of the synagogue to finally enlarge the building. (ymh)

Source: Blick