By Chaim Cohen
The events of Monday, 28 Teves in 770 shocked the international Chabad community. Horrifying images of a group of bochurim destroying the walls of 770 and brawling with police spread like wildfire, bringing shame on the entire community.
The vandalism and violence reached a crescendo on that Monday evening, the terrible situation in 770 wasn’t news to most Lubavitchers. In the aftermath of the shocking events, many expressed cautious hope that this painful event would be a watershed moment that would serve as a catalyst for real change.
On Friday it was announced that 770 would be reopened. The Gabbaim who have been administering the shul for decades published a notice with a list of rules stating that only people that abide by these guidelines will be allowed to enter 770. These rules included (paraphrased from the original):
- No violence
- No threats or intimidation
- All must obey directions of the Gabbaim and Rabbonim
- The shul will be closed at specified hours every night
- Individuals involved in vandalism are barred from entry
The clear statement of rules and consequences raised hopes in the community that long-awaited change had finally come. A heavy police presence and a private security team inspired confidence.
Unfortunately, reality quickly hit hard, with the rules repeatedly and brazenly broken. As soon as Friday night a 14 year old boy was beaten and bloodied in 770 (Rule 1). A group of bochurim wished to clear a “shvil” as a grotesque imitation of the path that would open in the crowd when the Rebbe would enter and leave the tefillos, and this boy was in their way. The practice of the shvil has long been condemned by the Rabbonim and Gabboim.
Individuals standing in the way of the shvil have continued to be violently assaulted at almost every tefillah held in 770 since its reopening, and a number of them also received explicit death threats, orally and in writing (Rule 2). The weekday instances of this violence have been captured on video. Despite the clear evidence of violence and threats, no action has yet been taken against any of the perpetrators (Rule 3).
The Gabbaim’s announcement that individuals involved in the vandalism are barred from entry was accompanied with a list of 9 names. These were the individuals arrested by the police on Monday, whose names were published in the media. Many more individuals were clearly seen and recorded breaking the walls and brawling with police, but none of their names appeared on the do-not-enter list and they continue to frequent 770 as usual (Rule 5).
On Friday night the main shul was indeed closed in accordance with the Gabbaim’s rules, but the Ezras Nashim remained open. Among those spotted in the Ezras Nashim were some of the 9 bochurim ostensibly barred entry. On Motzei Shabbos the shul remained open, and groups of bochurim held a wild party to celebrate (Rule 4).
Following the repeated violations of the rules and the violence centered around the shvil, the Gabbaim released another notice on Sunday night. This notice was addressed to the administrations of the Yeshivos, and it reiterates that the shvil practice is banned in 770, and instructs the Yeshivos to each appoint two representatives to supervise their students to ensure that none of them participate in the shvil. The notice concludes that the students’ entry to 770 is contingent on the compliance with these rules.
Yet, 770 mispalelim have once again been left infuriated by the gulf between the Gabbaim’s tough words and reality. Over the course of all three tefillos on Monday the shvil charade continued to be held. Only one difference was discernible: the shul’s hired private security company stood guard at the beginning of the shvil—not to enforce the ban on the shvil, but rather to prevent anyone from attempting to obstruct it! No representatives of any Yeshivah were seen supervising their students, and no Gabbaim were spotted on the scene either.
The open violation of all rules leaves the community asking:
Where are the Rabbonim who should be setting the rules?
Where are the Gabbaim who are supposed to be enforcing the rules?
Why are donors continuing to support the current inept administration?
Do we have any askanim who are capable of providing true leadership?
The events described above are only some examples of the campaign of terror unleashed over the past week. If the powers that be are incapable of enforcing any rules, perhaps the time has come to take the difficult step of closing 770 until true leadership can be found who will restore the Rebbe’s shul to its glory.
Building code violations forced 770 to be closed until they were remedied. The underlying issues of chronic lawlessness seem sufficiently serious to warrant such a drastic step as well.
It’s time for change. And the time is now!
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VIDEO:
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