Orthodox Jews in New York City Dig Secret Tunnel to Protest Cramped Synagogue
Orthodox Jews in New York City have made headlines after digging a secret underground tunnel beneath their synagogue. The group, consisting of mostly teens and 20-somethings from the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, embarked on this unusual project to send a message to the elders in their community. They wanted to emphasize the need for more space in their synagogue, located in Crown Heights.
According to one of the excavators, who spoke exclusively to The Post on the condition of anonymity, the cramped conditions in the synagogue during high holiday services prompted them to take matters into their own hands. The excavator, whose family has been praying at the synagogue for generations, explained that they were tired of the overcrowding and wanted to initiate an expansion. By digging the tunnel, they hoped to push the elders to take action.
The idea for the tunnel excavation began in 2020, fueled by a mix of boredom and a belief that the late Lubavitcher Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson had intended for the synagogue to be expanded. Despite Schneerson’s passing in 1994, the synagogue’s size has remained unchanged, leading to increasingly cramped conditions during religious gatherings.
The excavator expressed concerns about safety in the current space, stating that it can comfortably accommodate only a few hundred people but often swells to thousands during high holidays. He emphasized the potential dangers in case of an emergency.
When the excavator joined the project in September 2022, about a third of the tunnel had already been completed. Text messages and interviews with other members of the Chabad community confirmed his involvement. He claimed that there was widespread support within the community for expanding the synagogue, stating that “90% of Chabad agrees expansion needs to happen, and quickly.”
However, Rabbi Motti Seligson, a Chabad spokesperson, dismissed the excavator’s claims, referring to the group as a “small group of rogue, and frankly, unwell youths.” Seligson condemned their actions, stating that they had caused damage to the synagogue and behaved recklessly.
The excavation was funded through donations, which covered the necessary tools and support beams. Professional contractors from the Hasidic community were brought in to ensure the safety of the project. In November, the group hired Spanish-speaking migrants to assist in completing the tunnel. However, their presence and increased noise eventually alerted neighbors and synagogue elders.
The covert construction became public knowledge when the leaders of the Chabad attempted to bring in cement workers to fill in the tunnel. Chaos ensued, resulting in the arrest of nine men aged 19 to 21. The city’s Department of Building conducted an investigation and issued partial and full vacate orders for certain buildings connected to the synagogue complex due to concerns about structural stability.
Efforts are now underway to repair the damage and restore the sanctity of the synagogue. Concrete has been poured into affected areas to reinforce the damaged walls. The Chabad community hopes that the synagogue will once again become a place of prayer, Torah study, and inspiration.
