A dramatic scene unfolded at a New York synagogue as young Orthodox Jewish men clashed with construction workers attempting to seal off a network of secret underground passages.

In a frenzy at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn, chaos ensued as construction crews arrived to fill these mysterious tunnels discovered in December. The synagogue leaders had ordered the tunnels to be flooded with concrete, prompting a group of Chabad-Lubavitch students, aged in their teens and early 20s, to assemble in defence of these hidden pathways.

Videos from the site captured Orthodox men causing damage to a cement truck and tearing up wood panelling within the building, revealing an intricate network of passageways below. Some individuals even entered the tunnels, attempting to obstruct the concrete-filling process, while others confronted law enforcement and overturned seats.

Footage circulating on social media platforms, including X, showcased a standoff between police and a group of Orthodox Jewish men inside the building, garnering millions of views. The perplexing scenes left many online users puzzled, questioning the unfolding events and expressing disbelief at the unexpected clash.

Amid the chaos, 10 individuals were arrested by the New York Police Department, leading to the closure of the synagogue in the aftermath.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s been uncovered so far in this intriguing saga:

Unveiling the Secret Tunnels:

The underground passages discovered beneath the Brooklyn synagogue connected the women’s section of the 770 building to an inactive mikveh (ritual bath) located on Union Street. Mikvehs hold significance in Jewish purity rituals, such as pre-marital immersion and conversion processes.

Videos revealed the disused mikveh filled with debris, with a small opening leading to a lengthy tunnel about a metre high. Construction workers initially stumbled upon part of the tunnel while installing plumbing near the site. A local resident’s prior reports of peculiar noises at night also raised suspicions, eventually leading to this surprising revelation.

Unravelling Chabad Lubavitch:

Chabad-Lubavitch, an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic group with origins in Russia, stands as one of the world’s largest Hasidic communities. Embracing Orthodox Jewish mysticism, the movement traces its roots to the 18th century and holds religious significance for its followers.

The Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters, known as ‘770,’ located in Brooklyn, became a focal point of contention within the community due to a prolonged ownership dispute spanning over two decades. This building serves both as a headquarters and a synagogue, with conflicting beliefs about the late Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s status dividing the community.

The disagreement led to a legal battle, resulting in a court granting control of the headquarters to the ‘non-messianist’ Agudath Chasidei Chabad faction in 2006, after a violent clash in 2004. The ongoing struggle for control continues to sow discord within the Chabad-Lubavitch community.