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Rabbinical Students in Bklyn Tunnel Saga at Lubavitch HQ Released Without Bail
Edited by: TJVNews.com
As was previously reported on Tuesday, four Lubavitcher rabbinical students found themselves facing legal troubles after being discovered in a clandestine tunnel beneath a historic Brooklyn synagogue, as was reported by the New York Post. The incident unfolded under the revered Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, leading to charges of obstruction, criminal mischief, and a series of events that have left the tight-knit Orthodox Jewish community in shock.
The suspects, identified as Dov Ber Shenhav, Shmuel Malka, Blumenfeld Yerachmiel, and Henachem Mulakando, embarked on a subterranean mission to expand the synagogue’s sanctuary, according to a report on Wednesday in the Post. Frustrated with the delays from higher-ups, the renegade students began their ambitious project by gaining access to an abandoned Jewish men’s mikvah, or ritual bath, on Kingston Avenue. The Post report indicated that from there, they broke through a metal gate in the bath’s basement, proceeding to tunnel their way under a sanctuary space reserved for women and eventually breached the synagogue’s main sanctuary.
We never saw #Chabad getting so much bad publicity. https://t.co/fRzLYS4SLs
— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) January 10, 2024
The criminal complaint detailed the extent of their actions, accusing Mulakando and Yerachmiel of using tools to destroy the synagogue wall in front of law enforcement officers, as was indicated in the Post report. Yerachmiel was reportedly wielding a crowbar, while Mulakando used his bare hands to dismantle wood panels.
“Yerachmiel was using a crowbar to remove wood panels, and defendant Mulakando was removing wood panels with his bare hands,” the complaint read, according to the Post report.
🚨🇺🇸 #BREAKING: The NYPD discover secret tunnels under a synagogue in NYC.
The tunnel allowed members of Chabad (a Hasidic Jewish sect) to attend the synagogue during lockdown.
Arrests are being made. pic.twitter.com/bNw5aubzGk
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) January 9, 2024
Video footage captured the bizarre tunnel, complete with a beer can and hanging electrical wires, shedding light on the audacious underground venture.
The situation escalated when the underground hideaway was discovered, prompting Chabad-Lubavitch authorities to call in cement-truck workers to fill in the tunnel. According to information provided in the Post report, a riot ensued as the renegades attempted to thwart the workers, tearing down wood panels and support beams in desperation to protect their subterranean creation. Law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, leading to a standoff with the students who vehemently refused to comply with orders to vacate the premises.
It’s time for the Chabad organization, to create one strong, centralize authority . Somebody need to take charge. ! @Chabad @ChabadLubavitch @Lubavitch #ChabadLubavitch https://t.co/fd9tIABmyj
— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) January 10, 2024
The criminal complaint also highlighted the students’ refusal to leave the wall despite repeated orders from law enforcement officers. The report in the Post said that in addition to the obstruction charges, a fifth student, Levi Tyz Lahav, was charged with obstruction for interfering with the efforts to apprehend the others. The report added that all five suspects pleaded not guilty at their arraignments in Brooklyn Criminal Court, and were released without bail.
Chabad official statement #tunnels #ChabadLubavitch #Chabad https://t.co/K9SDB6O9l5
— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) January 9, 2024
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Lubavitch community, with the synagogue at the center of the controversy temporarily shut down, as was noted in the Post report. City building inspectors were dispatched to assess the complex for any violations, though the outcome of their investigation remains unclear.
Dispute Over Tunnels at Iconic Chabad HQ in Bklyn Ends in Arrests – https://t.co/JTsPNa3C8y @Chabad @Lubavitch #tunnels @CHInfoNews #Brooklyn #770EasternParkway #mikvah #synagogue @NYPDnews
Follow the TJV Breaking NEWS #101 channel on WhatsApp: https://t.co/jesT9DsCP5— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) January 9, 2024
As legal proceedings unfold and investigations continue, the motives behind this bizarre undertaking and the ramifications for those involved are yet to be fully revealed.
