The Chabad Lubavitch Chassidic world has been in turmoil with the discovery of a hidden tunnel connecting Lubavitcher headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn to a side building. The tunnel was secretly built by followers of the Meshichisten, or Messianist movement–Chassidic Jews who believe that the last Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (who died in 1994) is actually the Messiah. This group is considered fringe by most Lubavitchers, but they still maintain a presence in the basement of 770, though they are not allowed upstairs. When Chabad representatives brought in a construction crew to seal the tunnel, a number of Meshichisten rioted, leading to police involvement and nine arrests. Engineers and construction crews are now trying to close up the tunnel and secure the buildings that may be structurally compromised. It’s not clear why the Meshichisten built the tunnel, though one theory is that it was to aid in the expansion of the building, which, according to one of the Meshichisten, “The Rebbe, the words of the rabbi, says they need to expand it.” But another Chabad follower said that the tunnel builders were simply bored rabbinical students, noting “If you have a lot of time on your hands, you’re not doing drugs, you’re not messing with girls. You go snooping around and all of a sudden a bunch of guys are like, ‘Lets do something.’” Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson referred to those who built the tunnel as “young agitators” and “extremist students.” In the basement synagogue where the Meshichisten pray, there is a banner on the wall with their credo. What does the banner read?

770Lubavitch  is in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons

A. רֶבִּי מֶלֶךְ יְשׂרָאֵל חַי חַי וְקַיָם Rebbe, Melech Yisrael, Chai Chai v’Kayam. (Rebbe, King of Israel, lives and endures.)

B. מִי זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד הַרֶבִּי עִזּוּז וְגִבּוֹר Mi Zeh Melech Hakavod? HaRebbe Izuz V’gibor. (Who is the sovereign who is exalted? The Rebbe, mighty and triumphant.)

C. יְחִי אֲדוֹנֵנוּ מוֹרֵנוּ וְרַבֵּינוּ מֶלֶךְ הַמָשִׁיחַ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu v’Rabbeinu Melech Hamoshiach L’olam Vaed! (Long live our master, our teacher and our rabbi king moshiach forever and ever.)

D. וְהוּא הָיָה וְהוּא הֹוֶה וְהוּא יִהְיֶה בְּתִפְאָרָה V’hu Haya, V’hu hoveh, V’hu Yih’yeh B’tifara. (He was, He is, and He shall be in glory.)

E. מְנַחֵם מֶנְדְל שְׁנִיאוּרסוֹן הַעֵז Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Ha-Ez. (Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the GOAT.) [Editor’s note: Greatest Of All Torah-scholars.]

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