By COLlive reporter
A few of the red bricks that were taken from the courtyard wall of Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights were returned on Wednesday.
The wall has been in decrepit shape because of a water drainage problem and is scheduled to undergo renovations.
With the cement block on top being removed and the bricks being exposed, 770 officials were concerned when bricks started disappearing. A total of 7 bricks were taken.
In a public note, officials stated on Tuesday that “The bricks on the courtyard wall belong to the Agudas Chabad – 770 building and are needed to return it to its former beauty (we can’t get similar stones).”
An official at Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, which operates 770 along with Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, has told COLlive.com that since there are no companies who make such bricks today, they need to retain all of the bricks in order to properly restore the wall.
“The cost of fixing the wall will already cost upwards of $20,000, and the cost to replace any missing bricks will raise the price even higher,” he said.
The next day after the article ran, 4 of the bricks were returned by more than one individual, COLlive.com was told. “We are grateful for that and are waiting for the other 3 bricks to be returned as well.”
Constructed in 1920 in a Gothic revival style, the building at the address 770 Eastern Parkway was purchased in 1940 by Agudas Chasidei Chabad on behalf of the Chabad Lubavitch movement and as a home for the Rebbe Rayatz.
It has since become an iconic and holy site as the Rebbe’s shul and base of Chabad’s global operations. It attracts thousands of visitors from around the world every year and is considered one of the busiest synagogues in America.
Actually so impressed with the person / ppl who returned them . Seems like an article did some good in the world . Nice job
Another article is titled “Jewish Man Attacked with Brick in Crown Heights”…there is no such thing as a chasidishe genayvah, there is simply genayvah, theft. Nowhere in Jewish law does it talk about or allude to even by hint of such a thing and all those bricks need to be returned to their owner: AGUCH,which represents everyone in chabad lubavitch. Please, whoever you are or whatever your reasons, these bricks will bring nothing but shame and negativity to their holder. Ask Hashem for brachos.Daven to Hashem.
It was a chasidishe Geneva, it was one of our people, because: the sign was in Hebrew, so only a yid would know what the sign says……..
Sign should be in english as well. I still say its possible goyim took the bricks as well
All kinds of people follow it. I’m still bothered by the idea that Jews might have done something like this
The sign should be in english as well. Goyim who may have taken bricks dont read collive or hebrew.
Also there are jews who may not understand the hebrew sign
This wall of bricks needed fixing years ago, it was falling apart. it was brought to the attention of the “proper” people but they just kept ignoring it. till it began falling apart and apparently some people found the bricks hefker and walked off with them.
Each brick not returned is “a lebediker bombe”
כִּי אֶבֶן מִקִּיר תִּזְעַק, וְכָפִיס מֵעֵץ יַעֲנֶנָּה
When Moshiach comes, stolen bricks that have been incorporated into structures will announce that they are stolen, and to whom they belong.