NEW YORK (VINnews) — After the Lev Tahor cult was dismantled last month in Guatemala and the families were dispersed to the United States, Canada, Israel, and other countries, around ten families of former cult members who had recently relocated to New York secretly regrouped.
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The families had regained custody of their children from Guatemalan child welfare authorities on the condition that they leave the cult. However, they have now fled once again, apparently in an attempt to maintain the cult’s customs in a foreign country.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the escape took place during the Jewish holidays of Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret. The families boarded a flight to a new destination,Honduras, a country where children’s rights are not a top priority.
The order to escape specifically during the holiday, thereby violating religious laws, came from the cult leaders who are currently serving long prison sentences in Brooklyn for serious crimes they committed against children and other members of the cult.
The reason for the timing, it is claimed, was to avoid detection that might thwart the escape.
Another source said:
“Honduras is a corrupt country, very similar to Guatemala. This was all orchestrated through manipulations by the imprisoned leaders, who convinced the families that it’s better to live in a country with no Jewish presence than to stay in America.”
This is not the first time Lev Tahor leaders have violated the Sabbath and instructed cult members to do so.
In October 2021, dozens of Lev Tahor members landed in Moldova on the Sabbath, were denied entry, and deported back to Turkey immediately after the Sabbath ended. Cult members have been expelled from every location they tried to settle in, after authorities were informed they posed a danger.
They also violated the Sabbath in 2018, when two cult children were kidnapped by then-leader Nachman Helbrans (now serving a prison sentence). At the time, Lev Tahor was based in Guatemala.
In July 2019, an indictment was filed against the heads of Lev Tahor for kidnapping the children, an operation that involved traveling by car and plane on the Sabbath, with the children disguised as non-Jews to conceal their identities.
There are several irritants that make this evil cult newsworthy.
One – they are criminally abusive. Convictions have been numerous. But the perps don’t stop, and they continue their terror even from prison.
Two – their claim to Yiddishkeit is fictional. Our Torah has 613 mitzvos. What they did was to trim it to fit their devilish desires. That’s not Torah. And it’s abominable to consider this group anything other than an evil cult. Klal Yisroel should never support them in any way. May the victims be healed. May the perpetrators be removed permanently. Let Hashem determine how He wants that done. Meanwhile, our chiyuv is to be sure these reshoim are incarcerated, and out community protected.
Three – they obviously convinced some people to abandon their heritage and adopt their ways. This is missionary work. That is also called “shmad”. That demands protest from all of Klal Yisroel. We recently read the parsha of “meisis”, where we are specifically instructed to not be merciful towards perpetrators.
While everyone seems to care about these crazies being Mechalel Shabbos is there anyone here who cares about the incest, rapes of boys and girls and cult members being killed by other cult members? Children having babies at 14yrs old? Please let’s not forget about all of this. *** There are articles on this which was investigated and corroborated!!
The children should be taken away from these evil parents. Give them a chance to grow up normal.
Similar to the NK Reshaim who violate the Shabbos so they can march and protest with Hamas Nazi Supporter Democrats who call for genociding Jews in Israel.
Did anybody really think they were actually leaving the Cult?
I used to transport the men to Montreal when they lived in Sainte Agathe Quebec. They are not the same Jews I knew In Montreal.
They were cult like.
Who was behind bringing them back to NY.
It was financed with tzedakah money backed by ….
I would love to hear rabbunim announcing an isur to give them any money. According to an article in one of newspapers that they are bartering with other locals for some stuff for money, they are in the streets collecting money. It needs to stop! Abusers are manipulators until they end off in jail. But I x understand how they give access to Goldman, helbrans from jail to speak with any family members they have abused? It’s usually not allowed.
The men and women being separated would bring an end to future birth of children so the kids are saved. I x care if adults wanna abuse each other, I do care but the most important are kids! In this case we can’t undo the adults brainwashing its the innocent kids that need saving.
this is so sad, to see people going over board on Judaism to the point of disgrace.
Radical Jewish jihads. As dangerous as any other radical religion. They should be eradicated merciless.
It should be amazingly easy to follow the money trail on who leased and paid for the flight
“at jailed leader’s behest”?! he shouldn’t be “behesting” anything. how can the victims ever feel safe, if this criminal is still in contact with the outside? “lock him up”. properly!