On Wednesday night, a car crashed into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters located in New York City, causing damage to several doors of this highly esteemed site within the Hasidic Jewish community. The incident raised concerns despite no injuries being reported.
According to Motti Seligson, a spokesperson for Chabad Lubavitch, the driver of the vehicle was subsequently detained by the police. As Seligson noted, "Those are the facts that we know at this point, and we hope to get clarity very soon," indicating that more information was expected to emerge following the incident.
Video footage shared online illustrates the sequence of events, showing a car with New Jersey license plates moving erratically—advancing and reversing multiple times—on an icy driveway leading to the Chabad headquarters. The vehicle rammed into the basement-level doors of the complex at least four times. In the video, the driver, dressed in shorts, is seen exiting the car, exclaiming to onlookers, "It slipped," while attempting to explain to the police that he was looking to park the vehicle.
The Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters, often referred to as "770" due to the address of its original building, is situated in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. This site attracts thousands of visitors every year and is known for its Gothic Revival architecture, which has made it a recognizable symbol for followers of the Chabad movement. The complex has also inspired numerous replicas around the world, further solidifying its status as a significant landmark in the Jewish community.
At this time, the New York police have not issued any immediate comments or statements regarding the incident or the condition of the driver. The lack of injuries has brought some relief amid the chaos, but the incident remains under investigation as officials seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crash.
As further developments unfold, both the Chabad community and local authorities are likely to provide more information. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety around such significant communal spaces.
