By Yaacov Behrman
In recent weeks, Hamas has murdered multiple hostages. There are over a hundred civilian hostages, some as young as one year old, still captive in Gaza. Several terrorist attacks in Israel have resulted in the death and injury of both soldiers and civilians. The antisemitic blood libel at the Hague adds to the severity of the situation. It is perhaps the most challenging time for Jews since World War II.
Despite this, we are witnessing resilience and unity. Unaffiliated Jews are exploring their roots, and Anash and Shluchim are providing support by traveling to Israel. Many more are offering assistance from here. The message is clear – we are all one family.
Then there’s the story of what the media is calling “the 770 tunnels.”
The harm inflicted is beyond repair. I’m not referring to the reckless and dangerous construction that could have led to serious injury or the destruction of the historic walls of 770 and the terrible Chillul Hashem of bochurim fighting police while ripping down walls. Hundreds of millions of people have read antisemitic tropes, lies, and false rumors circulating on social media, creating something that will never totally go away. The damage is beyond comprehension. This story has undoubtedly endangered Jews in Crown Heights and worldwide.
As an Askan in Crown Heights, many people have reached out to me regarding what can be done regarding 770.
It infuriates me and conflicts with my values that we are focused on the Shvil in 770 while these serious issues are taking place. On the same day as the recent Shvil incident, news broke that a father in Israel was informed they found his beheaded son’s head in Gaza, being sold by Hamas for 10k.
Do we need this in our tumultuous world now? The Chillul Hashem, more blood libels, the daily disturbances in 770, and internal fighting?!
On the other hand, we face a situation that has worsened, finally exploded, and become dangerous. It has occurred now, not by our choice, and due to the seriousness of the matter, it must be addressed immediately. However, it must be handled responsibly and with minimal drama.
The answer certainly isn’t Bochurim taking matters into their own hands, blocking the Shvil, or creating shame websites—especially not with everything else happening in the world.
So, what is the solution?
The Gabboim are the only group that unquestionably possesses the legal power to effect change. As of today, they still control the 770 property.
Nobody wants to shut down 770, even for a moment, but unfortunately, the Shul requires a temporary closure and a fresh reopening as the only way to address the problem.
The Gabboim could voluntarily close the Shul, not as a permanent measure but until the problems are fixed. Alternatively, the Gabboim could choose to resign, acknowledging that the issues occurred under their watch, and let someone else take over and handle the work.
We can all bang our heads and sign letters. It isn’t going to help. We don’t have the keys to shut down 770 or restore order. Give me the keys, and I’ll do it, but as of writing this op-ed, I don’t have them.
The Gabboim have the keys, and they need to fix the problem – and, honestly, it’s a problem that they created.
The author wrote the op-ed in his personal capacity, expressing his personal views
The silence by the gabboim is deafening.
770 is just back to being as bad as it was before.
Time for someone responsible to take charge.
He, is Not making sense, “close 770 and give me the key”
“The Gabboim have the keys, and they need to fix the problem.”
We will still make a shvil and sing YECHI and call up the rebbe to the Torah.
It doesn’t matter to us who’s Is the Gabbie Or Ruv that tells us not to.
In moshiach times the young will have chutzpah against their elders. Not to many bochurim today want to stand up against their elders – FOR THE RIGHT THING! keep it up!
Reb Yoel z”l was universally acknowledged as the foremost explicator of the Rebbe’s thought. He explicitly said we should NOT call the Rebbe up for an aliyah.
What you are doing is not Chabad chassidus. If you want to make a new religion, go buy a building and over there you can do what you want. But Aguch should if necessary take you to court to enjoin you from calling yourself Chabad or Lubavitch.
How so ignorant
This is a critical time of unity for our bare global survival
Unfortunately effecting every Lubavitcher (international business) specially Shluchim around the world in a very NEGATIVE/DESTRUCTIVE way eroding the platform piece by piece from the core
It needs a proper responsible response from the top heads, time is of essence Lubavitch/Chabad Moisads name/reputation are on the line. It’s really beyond words
Unfortunate there is no one to talk to
THIS IS A REAL
CHURBAN BAIS HAMIKDOSH
and everyone just seating back watching like a entertainment show/ news
NO LEADERS
Just as the books belong to Aguch, so too does 770. It’s time to stop disregarding the Rebbe’s will and return 770, which is now in the hands of Sicariim, to its rightful owner. Only then can we cleanse, rededicate, and expand 770.
This is the only solution short term! Reopen with rules in place but mostly with competent people certifying the rules are being kept. It’s time for real change.
This website was created by a man living in Kfar Chabad.
The website was ‘unfortunately’ taken off the web by Bochurim looking the minimize the chilul Hashem
Dear Gabboim, ALL CH RESIDENTS DEMAND: Step Up or Step Down!
Other than a few reckless meshugoyim, there’s nobody who’s willing to take over this mess, unfortunately
The Bochurim are the only ones who care!
We are all upset, CH Residents, Anash, Shluchim…
But why are we silent? We need to be vocal like the Bochurim?
They don’t like their formula either… But this is the only way they will make sure the responsible people wake up!
Gabboim! Rabbonim! CHJCC!
They also need to enforce no smoking inside and kick out all of the bochrim listed on the 770 wall of shame website
Thank You Yaakov Berman for taking a stand! May the Gabboim listen to this call. Amen.
The security guards should stop a shvill happening In the first place
Could not agree more with this and many times I disagree with Yakov Beherman options.
With people like Yaacov taking the stand! Our children will be in good hands!
But we need Moshiach now!
We Want The Rebbe Back!
Now More Than Ever!
yes 💯
whats needed.
A good idea would be to move the learning bochurim to the kingston ave empty store fronts next to tiferes zkainim. keep the shul for davening and farbrengens only.
Actually the rebbe wants this shul to be a place of learning so that’s a terrible idea but I agree that 770 MUST be restored with rules and mainly ENFORCERS
Learning can be done by anash as well.
Kevutze used to learn in chovevei Torah, perhaps they should go back there.
The issue is that no one is addressing the elephant in the room. It’s come to a point where 770 can barely accommodate the daily crowds for the tefilos there is no longer any room there for a Yeshiva. The Yeshiva needs to be re-located period. This is the only effort which will make forward strides in solving this huge issue 770 is currently experiencing.
A double solution,,, Time for renovations and maybe a little expansion, and during the construction of maybe 6- months to a year,, the yeshiva is temporary moved, and when they come back, a new reality is created in the shul, with where the Rebbe sat during Davening and Farbrengins remains and everything else is redesigned for the current needs… And Kvutza yeshiva is relocated to the old Kolel building on Union (instead of the old location of Chovevei)
We need to differentiate between violence and one’s Derech towards the Rebbe. Getting in the way of someone’s Derech of serving the Rebbe is also a form of violence. Why does anyone think that stopping someone from continuing the way they are used to, is not wrong? That is what they were taught!!! Violence of any kind, needs to be taken care of fully. Stop enforcing a certain Derech, just enforce proper behavior and decorum.
So anyone can make a Derech and change Seder in the whole 770 by force?
THE SHVIL IS AGAINST THE GABBOIM!
Because the rabbanim and the gaboim forbade it.
What part of Judaism (i.e. shulchan aruch, kabalos ol, naaseh venishmah) promotes “ones (personal) derech?”
If you say you belief in HaShem, Torah, Judaism, the Rebbe’s way, then unfortunately, once the rabbanim give a decision it’s up to you to follow it, end of story. Regardless of your derech.
Or Mashpia? If it is against Halachah, then why has it been tolerated for so long? Are all the 770 Rabbonim and Gabboim against it?
Because it was originally created with violence till the people stopped fighting about it
without Loshon Hara. It is impossible to believe that any Rov or Mashpia had any violence in mind.
Serving the Rebbe?! We serve Hashem. The Rebbe guides and teaches us how to do so properly. But we don’t serve the Rebbe.
Totally agree
Thank you
Can we have a petition for the Gabboim to hand over 770 to Agu”ch?!?!
To Merkos, the rightful owners of the property the shul is in.
🩷🩷🩷
But what makes you think aguch would have things more under control?
Gabboim are responsible for running 770. They are elected by the Kahal of CH, just as the Vaad HaKahal is .
Aguch may own the building, but they are not responsible for running the shul.
Aguch can nominate their own candidates for Gabboim at election time.
That would show real achdus.
Nothing more to add!
Very sensible approach, we need to ht the reset button and finalize a way forward.
“and, honestly, it’s a problem that they created.”
I think it was the radical students from Israel that created it.
And stop Pretending that this problem is easy to fix if you had the keys.
But I do agree with you that the rabbonim did not do enough over the Years to stamp these things down.
Thank you Yaacov for all your work on behalf of the community!
While you wait to get the keys to 770 can you work on getting alternate side parking back to once a week and moving the citi bikes on to the sidewalk and not taking up precious parking spots?
Totaaly agree, specially with this cruelty of putting bycicles near entire BUILDINGS(!) that DO NOT HAVE parking spots
When the alp was changed to be twice a week? It used to be once a week?
No matter what, please don’t fight Shvil, it will make things way worse. Go only after violence and after destructive self-rule.
While it’s instructive reading thoughtful op-ed’s, the author seems to lay all responsibility at the feet of the Gabboim. I’m forced to point out that he is absolving the hanhala of the yeshiva who brought these hoodlums to 770 without vetting them and allowing them free reign. It will take a major and sustained effort by all parties, Rabbonim,askonim, Gabboim, and Aguch to put this embarrassing episode behind us
Although the arguments you make are very (unfortunately) true, your “solutions” are problematic for the following reasons: 1) Qualified people don’t want the headaches and responsibilities. 2) By nature (Yetzer Hora), we look to blame those who take action. 3) We are not ready or willing to help (Actively) in resolving issues. 4) This is still the Rebbeh’s shul, and everybody has an opinion as to what the Rebbe would want. I would like to make some suggestions (Only item 3 should be considered,) that each one of us can and should consider what “my role” in causing and/or resolving:… Read more »
I agree, it should be locked up this weekend, so the world can feel our pain.
Listen to The Lubavitcher Rebbe “ Expand the Shul of 770” I was there on the 17th of Elul 1988 when The Rebbe lifted the Cornerstone Rock which is now embedded in front of 770,Chabad Houses have had a lot of expansion in 30 years, so why not 770
Closing the shul is something the rebbe doesn’t want, when the construction was done in the early nuns thy went through great lengths not to close the shul.
Would be a horrible mistake!
Love it
770 closed on Yud Shvat would be a terrible idea
Yaakov, kudo a well written, clearheaded article, addressing the issue head on.
Is the call to action to put pressure on the gabboim to act in this?
The solution must include:
Barring from entry and legal trespassing of all people who were involved in destructive acts against the structure of 770, those who were involved in incitement of destruction, incitement of violence, perpetrators of actual violence, verbal harassment, harassment in form of WhatsApp death threats, etc., violence against people standing in the front of the shul during the 5 minutes before and after davening, etc.
Revoke student visas of any Israeli students involved in any of the above.
Rules for future conduct to prevent anything similar from ever happening.
ENFORCEMENT of rules once and for all.
💯 agree
And City bikes!
So you’re saying that the solution is that the gaboyim should give you the keys so that you can shut down the shul until you decide how to solve the problem?
That doesn’t sound like a solution. It sounds like you want them to give you power to do what you want.
In your own words, you’re just ‘banging your head’ with this article.
“The Gabboim have the keys, and they need to fix the problem.”
You didn’t discuss the expansion of 770! When will that happen? How will that happen? That’s what the Rebbe wants!
We need to expand 770 NOW!
Your constant calls for expansion, every person who made these incessant calls for expansion, irresponsibly and against the Rebbe’s way of kabolas ol for those in authority, is what led to the chutzpah of these bochurim, and will only lead to more hefkerus.
But it needs to be lead by a capable leader
Some things that might help:
A. When the two sides respect each other and agree to work together
B. When the two sides unanimously denounce and condemn the extremist movement
C. When Bochurim are put in their place and adults and leaders have the proper authority
So stop using ‘expand 770’ (which is a beautiful cause) as an excuse to allow 770 to continue to be run by gaboim who essentially let it be run by wild bochurim
So let’s say they give you the keys (not gonna happen), now what do you do? What happens if you can’t come up with a solution (which you likely won’t), does it stay closed forever? So we should trust you with the keys until you get some divine inspiration about how to deal with this issue? Sounds like arrogant political pandering and a way to show people that you’re “doing something” without any likeliness of actually resolving any of the issues. If you have a solution, let’s hear it. Suggesting that we should put you in charge so that you… Read more »
What the author seems to forget is that the world revolves around 770. So the moment all of the “minor” issues in 770 are fixed, the major issues in Israel will be fixed as well.
I don’t really understand what is gained by temporarily closing the shul. Can anyone clarify?
It’s so important to have open conversation, we will get somewhere with respect.
In total agreement,
Also need someone to kick out people who raise their hands to boys who are younger than them this past Monday a older man from the community used his hands to hurt someone and no one said or did anything time for someone to take charge of 770 and hold people responsible for their actions
1. When you say give 770 back to Aguch that means every Chabad chossid
we are all part of Aguch.
2. The Rebbe wanted 770 bigger but till today nothing has been done
very embarrassing to Chabad
3. The Shvill There is nothing wrong with it only right
in fact even non Chabad think its the right thing
4. Shy does he want the keys is he a Gabbi from770
In total agreement.
I agree with everything
Israeli bochurim also should be under control and sent home after any issues. We are thousands of miles away and are dealing with the Chillul chabad every day
Is there really anyone in CH who is the right person to control 770 and the yeshiva? Good luck
We have to focus on bringing the geulah- the straightest way is learning inyonei Moshiach and Geulah. The Bais Rabbeinu she b’ Bavel sicha ( referring to 770) is one of the last sichos the Rebbe said about how the shechina is present in 770, and from there moves to Eretz Yisroel with the revelation of Moshiach. This is what people need to read about. Nowadays with such shocking events happening in klipa, people are probably much more open to hearing shtus d’kedusha. This means the truth that the Rebbe is Moshiach, that he is waiting for people to accept… Read more »
The bochurim are realizing that the gabboim are not interested in doing anything about the tzfatim and there terrorism so therefore the bochurim decided to take matters in to there own hands and stop the terror going on in 770 and in the shvil
And we appreciate you stepping forward volunteering, can you do anything about the numerous shelters going up around us?
And much more specifically relevant to his sphere of influence & skills.
…have no police powers. Responsibility lies with the Yeshiva.
Do you really care about 770? How often do you go to 770? Is it something that’s important to you, or do you just like taking pictures with politicians?
You need to do more to demonstrate that you care about the issue and are not just in it for your own political gain, including why you wrote this article.
Do you realize that your behavior caused a huge chillul Hashem at a time when antisemitism is already running wild? All over the internet there are videos about “Jewish tunnels under New York” being used for horrendous crimes. Are you proud of that? Will you still be proud when more Jews are beaten in the streets?
maybe if you would follow the Rebbes instructions and obey the Rebbe WITHOUT having your own personal opinion, then this tunnel situation would have never happened! The churban beis hamikdash was news worldwide till today – what are yidden doing about it over 2,000 years later? NOTHING! Stop blaming others and blame yourself!
It is pure emuna that the Rebbe is here , by the way , rabbi shwei had a lot of respect for the shvil and would stand on the side , also rabbi itche springer
Because the TRUTH is that Yaakov Avinu lo meis- b’gashmius. And everyone needs to know what the Rebbe said about the soul of Moshiach being a general soul, and therefore his body being eternally alive. (A neshama klalis is completely different than regular neshomos.) So the shvil is a manifestation of that belief. Just the bochurim should never have been aggressive and violent over it. Obviously the Rebbe has no tolerance for that. That’s the only thing needing correction- eliminating those people who hurt others, even in the name of the truth. The geulah is unfolding, the Rebbe is leading… Read more »
Just like Shomrim, we should ask for community volunteers (who will wear some sort of identifying uniform) to enforce order in 770
There needs to be a democratic transparent vote for the entire slate of Gabboiim which must take place as soon as possible; this could occur simultaneously with the vote for the 3rd Rov for the CH BD.
Meaningful consultation with the owners of the building, Agudas Chassidei Chabad is vital to progress the sorely needed expansion and upgrade of the entire structure of 770.
The Rebbe bavurned this. The Rebbe instructed that after his passing, the Lubavitch Beis Din is the highest authority of the local community. When we don’t listen to the Rebbe’s final instructions for the future of Lubavitch, the movement devolves into anarchy R”L. The Beis Din of CH has the authority to resolve the issue between Aguch and Congregation Lubavitch. The secular court case must be halted immediately and be brought in front of the beis din. The Beis Din of CH has already disseminated guidance with regard to a shvil. Congregation Lubavitch/Gaboim of 770 must enforce the Beis Din’s… Read more »
This story has undoubtedly endangered Jews in Crown Heights and worldwide.ITS PASHUT SCARRY ,listen to me please770 pick up security -the kosel has medal detectors vi’chulu why does 770 have one guy outside with a cute littel car???
When elections for Vaad HaKahol are held, elections for Gabboyim of 770 are meant to be held simultaneously.
If Aguch is serious about running 770, they should nominate their own candidates for Gabboyim.