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By Chabadinfo Reporter

In numerous sichos, the Rebbe describes 770, Beis Chayeinu, as a beis haknesses, beis medrash, and beis maasim tovim, a place from which light spreads to the entire world. In Kuntres Beis Rabbeinu She’b’Bavel, the Rebbe elaborates at length on the unique holiness of this Shul during the final moments of galus, before the coming of the true and complete Geulah.

Tragically, a small group of irresponsible youths has somehow convinced themselves that violent behavior is compatible with a “beis maasim tovim.” They have repeatedly allowed themselves to engage in conduct that would never be tolerated in any shul or yeshivah — specifically in this most sacred place, 770. Sadly, this phenomenon has become well known to all.

Over the past several years, the Gabbaim of the shul, together with local askanim, have attempted to eradicate the disgraceful behavior, but without success. Most recently, the Gabbaim published a public letter titled, in which they wrote:

“One does not administer punishment without prior warning — we will not allow Beis Rabbeinu to become a place of machlokes. For the safety and well-being of the public, we hereby state clearly: anyone who engages in violence, disrupts public order, or maliciously violates the established regulations will be removed immediately from the premises.”

Despite the warnings, these unruly youths continued their disgraceful and violent conduct, repeatedly disturbing the Gabbaim and the Shamash of the shul—and on more than one occasion even resorting to physical assault רח”ל.

As is well known, the Rebbe entrusted the authority over the management of Beis Chayeinu and all decisions pertaining to it to the Rabbonim of Crown Heights and the Gabbaim acting on their behalf. Nevertheless, these individuals brazenly defied not only the Gabbaim but even the Rabbonim themselves, with some refusing outright to appear before a rabbinical hearing.

On Tuesday, after having been explicitly warned, the Gabbaim — with the authorization of the Rabbonim — contacted the police, and two of the leading instigators were arrested. They are now expected to stand trial for their criminal behavior.

It is important to emphasize that involving the police was not a simple step, and was undertaken only after all other options had been exhausted, and every attempt to end the violence through peaceful means had failed. Needless to say, this was done only after consultation with the Rabbonim, members of the Beis Din, and following their clear ruling that under the current circumstances, this is the proper course of action according to halachah.

It is deeply painful that matters have deteriorated to the point where police involvement became necessary. More painful still is the reality that violent youths have instilled fear among those entering this holy place, while refusing to recognize the authority of the Rabbonim, Gabbaim, or yeshivah administration. (It should be noted that they are not students of Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch, and were also expelled from the yeshivah in Eretz Yisroel where they had been enrolled.)

The hope remains that even these few individuals will abandon their destructive path, conduct themselves in accordance with the directives of the Rabbanim and Gabbaim, and prevent the need for any further legal proceedings.

For their part, the Gabbaim — with the full backing of the neighborhood rabbanim — are determined to do everything in their power to fulfill the responsibility entrusted to them by the Rebbe: to ensure that Beis Chayeinu is conducted in accordance with the Rebbe’s holy directives, so that it remains a beis haknesses, beis medrash, and beis maasim tovim, from which light will continue to shine to the entire world, until the coming of the true and complete Geulah.

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