NEW YORK — Four individuals accused of causing damage to a Brooklyn synagogue during a confrontation linked to the finding of a covert tunnel at the global headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement are set to go on trial after rejecting a plea bargain from prosecutors.
The accused face serious felony charges of criminal mischief for their involvement in a violent altercation last January that resulted in damage to the prestigious complex, a highly regarded Jewish site that attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The incident unfolded as many young men gathered to demonstrate against the synagogue leaders who were planning to seal off a makeshift tunnel that some congregants had constructed without permission to enlarge the prayer area. Authorities allege that when police responded, some individuals destroyed wooden siding from the walls, tossed prayer books around, and refused to vacate the dusty excavation site.
Following the chaos, sixteen individuals were apprehended, with parts of the brawl documented on video, which quickly garnered attention on social media.
During a court session on Monday, six defendants accepted guilty pleas on lesser charges and agreed to a protective order prohibiting them from making any “alterations, excavations or demolitions to the synagogue” for three years. Previously, six others had also entered guilty pleas for reduced charges.
“This reflects poorly on the Chabad movement,” Judge Adam Perlmutter expressed while reprimanding the men for failing to engage with synagogue leadership regarding their expansion plans. “Constructing buildings is achieved through proper channels—raising funds, hiring architects, securing necessary building permits, and any relevant rezoning until it is accomplished.”
The four defendants — Yaakov Rothchild, Yisroel Binyamin, Yerachmiel Blumenfeld, and Menachem Maidanchik — chose to reject the plea deal offered by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. They are expected to stand trial on April 28, facing felony charges that carry a potential maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Jonathan Strauss, the attorney for Blumenfeld, labeled the charges as “outrageous,” asserting that his client merely participated in a “civil dispute that has persisted for many years.” He described Blumenfeld as a “20-year-old kid” and argued that young individuals often take such actions under the guidance of “much older and wiser authorities.”
Advocates for the tunnel claim they were acting in line with the wishes of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a revered leader within the Chabad movement who spoke of the need to expand the congested religious area prior to his passing in 1994. Certain members within the Chabad community continue to regard Schneerson as alive, believing he is a messianic figure.
However, this messianic perspective has been consistently dismissed by officials within Chabad, who view the unauthorized tunnel as an act of youthful vandalism.
“There is no moral or theological justification for their violent and unlawful actions,” remarked Rabbi Motti Seligson, spokesperson for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. “We hope they reflect on the Rebbe’s teachings about ethical conduct, recognize the significant error of their ways, and seek to make spiritual and moral reparations for the considerable harm they’ve caused.”
The tunnel, measuring 60 feet long and 8 feet wide, connected various buildings within the Jewish complex through breaches created in the basement walls.
An investigation led by the Department of Buildings concluded that the excavation had compromised the stability of several adjacent structures, resulting in vacate orders being issued. The tunnel has since been filled with cement.
