Secret Underground Tunnel And Soiled Mattress Found At Chabad HQ—Here's What We Know

Chaos erupted at the Chabad headquarters in New York after a group of Orthodox men attempted to stop construction crews from filling in a secret tunnel they had illegally dug, which led to a closed-down women's mikvah (a Jewish ritual bath). NYPD reports that officers were called to the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters after "a group of individuals unlawfully entered" the building by damaging a wall.

Footage shows resistant Jewish students – described by the synagogue leaders as “extremist men” – being held back by cops. Other viral clips on social media show them ripping down the wooden paneling at the synagogue. Some appeared to be protesting and were sitting or standing in the space behind the panel. About nine men between the ages of 19 and 21 were charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, with one being charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Newsweek states that an NYPD spokesperson does not have an exact number of individuals who were taken into custody, and charges are pending.

However, internet users were able to spot some concerning items in some of the viral videos – like a soiled, child-sized mattress and a highchair in the tunnel. “Who is being forced to sleep on these child-sized soiled mattresses hidden in illegal tunnels connected to a NYC Jewish temple?” asked Stew Peters on X.

One leaked video by @chininfo.official showing the inside of the tunnel includes a highchair inside.

Why Did Chabad Students Build a Tunnel?

While people can't help but speculate that the tunnel was being used for nefarious purposes, several outlets have tied the riot to "legal disputes." According to The JC, 770 Eastern Parkway (where the Chabad is located), functioned as a place of worship and school. It became an iconic site, attracting thousands of visitors annually. It became the center of a legal dispute when Agudath Chasidei Chabad asserted ownership over 770.

But a sect of Messianic Chasidm considered 770 as their sacred place. A lawsuit in 2006 ruled in favor of Chabad, granting them ownership of the headquarters. Is it possible that the sect of Messianic Chasidim were the ones who dug the secret tunnel to have their gatherings? "About six months ago, it appears that a group of yeshiva students associated with the messianic movement began to dig tunnels, connecting the synagogue with an unused mikvah to gain unauthorised access to 770," The JC writes.

Jewish Members Speak Out

Rabbi Braun says he was "horrified" that they vandalized the "shul," or synagogue, and that to “demolish and destroy a shul – never mind the dangerous aspect, never mind the religious aspect – it’s mind-boggling."

He added, "They need to be put in their place, put in their place in so many meanings of the word."

Motti Seligson, the Director of Media at Chabad, expressed his disappointment. "This is, obviously, deeply distressing to the Lubavitch movement, and the Jewish community worldwide," Seligson wrote on social media. "We hope and pray to be able to expeditiously restore the sanctity and decorum of this holy place."

"We hope and pray to be able to expeditiously restore the sanctity and decorum of this holy place."

The Chabad HQ released the following statement: "The Chabad-Lubavitch community is pained by the vandalism of a group of young agitators who damaged the synagogue below Chabad Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway Monday night. These odious actions will be investigated, and the sanctity of the synagogue will be restored. Our thanks to the NYPD for their professionalism and sensitivity. We are grateful for the outpouring of concern, and for the support of our Chabad-Lubavitch institutions around the world."

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