JERUSALEM – The Knesset’s Aliyah, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee convened Monday to address the Israeli government’s role in rescuing children from the extremist Lev Tahor cult in Guatemala, and the support being provided to those now arriving in Israel.
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“We are focusing today, for the first time, on the question of the support framework that the cult survivors receive upon their arrival in Israel,” said committee chair MK Gilad Kariv. “We must push the gas pedal to ensure we are properly prepared to absorb the survivors.”
Lev Tahor, founded in the 1980s by Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans, is widely considered a cult due to its extreme religious practices, strict dress codes, rejection of secular education and healthcare, and reports of forced child marriages. The group has relocated multiple times—from Israel to Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and most recently Guatemala—often fleeing legal authorities.
Guatemalan officials rescued several children in December 2024 following allegations of abuse. Israeli officials are now coordinating efforts to aid the survivors and integrate them into society.
Good luck with deprogramming them.!