BOSNIA (VINnews) — In a chilling new interview, two longtime members of the Lev Tahor cult described their experiences and defended cult leaders, who are known child abusers and kidnappers, a clear sign of the extreme brainwashing they have undergone. One of the women whose husband is currently detained on charges of child abduction in the U.S., vehemently defended his actions and proclaimed his innocence.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
As reported in B’Chadrei Charedim, Esther and Chaya Sarah Weingarten, currently in Sarajevo, Bosnia, were interviewed on local television, discussing the cult’s highly bizarre culture, including how they raise children, and the horrific accusations against their cult
Esther, a lifelong member, says that she does not want to know about any other way of life. She added that the group did well in Canada, until welfare services knocked on the door, concerned about her children.
“They came again and again, trying to get us to send our children to public schools. But we know this is not the way we want to raise them. It is not written that way in our holy book, to learn things such as that man comes from an animal, a monkey. I will not let my children learn such things,” said Esther.
When asked if it was possible to escape the Lev Tahor community, she replied yes, although she concedes that many former members and friends claim that they were not able to leave voluntarily, rather they were forced to flee the evil group, to save their lives. One who has accused the cult of dangerous behavior after he escaped, is a cousin of Esther.
Chaya Sarah is originally Belgian, and joined Lev Tahor at age 24. Her husband, Mordechai Yoel, is currently in America awaiting trial on a child abduction charge. She defended him, saying it “was an internal family conflict, a series of circumstances and misunderstandings.”
She added, “He is still awaiting trial, he has been there for two and a half years, for no justifiable reason, he did not commit any crime, he only helped save the child from his mother and her friends who abused him.”
Now they say, they are persecuted wherever they go. They claim to have had the worst experience in Kurdistan, where cult members were interrogated for days. “We tried to contact the Red Cross, human rights organizations, but they took our phones, left us trapped with very little food, enough to survive, without beds, showers, change of clothes. When they released us, the children already had foot fungus for the first time in their lives.”
“One Shabbos afternoon we were dragged to the airport, our children were taken from our arms, and today the children live in fear, they talk about it, my daughter was injured in the arm because she clung to me,” added Chaya.
They refused to reveal their next planned destination because they are constantly persecuted, in their words, “because they are different.”
Nachman Heilbruns, Meir Rosner, Yaakov, Shmuel, and Yoel Weingarten, were arrested for conspiracy to kidnap children from their parents and abuse them. Several years ago, the gang of kidnappers allegedly walked through Brooklyn planning abductions, before they were caught by authorities.
Holocaust denial is designated as a crime in many jurisdictions, not just a position that others may find offensive. I suggest that any form of support for this evil cult should be seen as criminal, and it should be prosecuted. Why? Because it endorses and supports some of the most hideous crimes. We all know what they are.
Next, it is pure blasphemy for them to call their way of life Judaism. In factr, it has little more than coincidental similarity in a few minor ways to Torah life. Their denial of Torah Sheb’al Peh renders their position as apikorsim. And their efforts to push this agenda on others is missionary work that must be resisted and fought.
I await the besurah tova that these supporters are arrested, and deprogrammed by professionals so that they can return to true Torah living.
Like praising the czar
brain washed. Reminds me of the infamous Manson “family” that went on a killing spree thinking they were the greatest.
HaShem should help them and the innocent children!
With a few notable exceptions, These women, for the most part, are victims much like the children. There is a special place in hell for the Weingarten‘s, the Rosner‘s, and the Helbrand’s of this viscous cult.
Stockholm syndrome.
Pitui Ketana oines hu
Why doesn’t Amudim get involved ?
They say they are always there to help people out and these people sorely need it.
The nature of women is to be beautiful, so being forced to wear those clothing clearly proves that they are being lead against their nature. Secondly if the times have changed and we don’t hit children anymore or marry them at 12 years old then there is a good reason for it and their leaders must conform with that change.
why are you so negative? allow these women to form their own opinions?
I will suggest something outlandish. Maybe the answer is for askanim who they trust to get involved. Say some satmar chasdim. Sponsor a place for them in the country. Tell them yes you can wear your burkas and keep some level of what you percieve as a minhag. But we will Montoir you . Only the more rational leaders can lead . Things like that . I feel it’s safer for them in the USA near frum people vs any where else. With people on top of them they can’t be as fringey
could it be they say the truth
I feel so bad for them. Let them live in their cult in peace.
Do the authorities really think they are helping the children this way?
Anyone can say the same thing about us and for many years they have, so don’t be so fast to judge.