Case of Rabbi Yehuda Berg

Case of Rabbi Yehuda Berg

Kabbalah Center - Los Angeles, CA

Accused of sexually assaulting a woman and then threatening to kill her.  The alleged attack occurred in October, 2012.  A civil suit has been filed against him.

Yehuda Berg is the son of Philip Berg, who is the founder of the Kabbalah Center.  He is also the author of the book "The Power of Kabbalah".    In 2007, Berg was named as one of Newsweek's Top 50 Rabbis in America.

Over the years the Kabbalah Center has been accused of cult like practices by various rabbonim and mind control experts.  

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Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves whether the resources meet their own personal needs.

Table of Contents:

2012

1. Alleged assault of Kabbalah Center student occurred (10/2012)

2014

1. Rabbi to the Stars: Kabbalah Leader Threatened to 'F**King Kill' me (01/18/2014)
2. Top Rabbi at celebrity Kabbalah center 'molested student then threatened to kill her' (01/18/2014)
3. Kabbalah Center Rabbi - Yehuda Berg Accused of Sexual Assault (01/19/2014)
4. Rabbi Yehuda Berg - Facebook (01/19/2014)
5. Woman Says 'Rabbi to the Stars' Drugged & Threatened To Kill Her (01/21/2014)

Also See:

1. Policies For inclusion on The Awareness Center's Sex Offender's Registry
2. Listing Alleged and Convicted Sex Offenders

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Rabbi to the Stars: Kabbalah Leader Threatened to 'F**King Kill' me

TMZ - January 18, 2014

A Kabbalah leader -- who hobnobs with the likes of Madonna and Ashton Kutcher -- sexually attacked a woman and then threatened to "f**king kill" her if she told anyone ... according to the woman, who's just filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

(NAME REMOVED) is suing Yehuda Berg -- co-director of L.A.'s famed Kabbalah Centre -- claiming he was her spiritual advisor and Kabbalah teacher when he groped her and threatened her in October 2012.

According to the lawsuit ... Berg -- a married father of five -- invited (NAME REMOVED) to dinner at his mother's apartment, claiming he could help heal her kidney stones. 

(NAME REMOVED) claims Berg complained to her about his life at the Kabbalah Center and began trashing other teachers at the Centre... even describing his sister-in-law as a "c**t" and a "star-f**ker."

In her lawsuit, (NAME REMOVED) claims Berg then plied her with Vicodin and alcohol and started hugging her and touching her legs. She says he asked if her genital region "...was Brazilian or shaved" ... and made the move to seal the deal.

The woman claims in the lawsuit she resisted his advances and Berg got angry, saying he would "f**king beat the whole right side of [her] until [she was] blue" and that he would "f**king kill you."

(NAME REMOVED) now wants justice with a dollar sign -- she's suing for $15 mil ... plus another $40 mil in punitive damages.

We've reached out to Berg and the Kabbalah Centre ... so far no word back.

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Top Rabbi at celebrity Kabbalah center 'molested student then threatened to kill her'

Co-director Yehuda Berg sued by former student over alleged 2012 assault 

Daily Reporter - January 18, 2014

A Rabbi at the famed Los Angeles Kabbalah Center, attended by stars including Madonna and Ashton Kutcher, has been accused of sexually assaulting and threatening a woman. 

Yehuda Berg, the co-director of the center, is being sued by (NAME REMOVED), who claimed that her former spiritual adviser had groped her in October 2012.

(NAME REMOVED) alleged that when she rejected his advances, Berg became angry and said he would 'f***ing kill' her.

Berg, a father-of-five, allegedly attempted to assault (NAME REMOVED) after inviting her to dinner at his mother's apartment where he claimed he would be able to heal her kidney stones,TMZ reported. 

When she arrived, (NAME REMOVED) claimed she was given Vicodin and alcohol by Berg, who was complaining about his life and other teachers at the Kabbalah Center. 

Berg allegedly started to ask inappropriate questions, asking (NAME REMOVED) if she had a Brazillian wax or if she was shaved. He then started to hug her and touch her legs, she claims. 

(NAME REMOVED) is suing for $1.5 million as well as $40 million in punitive damages. 

Berg and the Kabbalah Center have not yet responded to a Mail Online request for comment.

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Kabbalah Center Rabbi - Yehuda Berg Accused of Sexual Assault

By Vicki Polin

Examiner - January 19, 2014

Rabbi Yehuda Berg is being sued for $15 million, plus another $40 million for punitive damages after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman back in October, 2012.

Yehuda Berg is the son of rabbi Philip Berg, who is the founder of the Kabbalah Center. Yehuda is also the author of the book "The Power of Kabbalah". In 2007, Berg was named as one of Newsweek's Top 50 Rabbis in America.

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Rabbi Yehuda Berg - Facebook 
January 19, 2014

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Woman Says 'Rabbi to the Stars' Drugged & Threatened To Kill Her
By Matt Reynolds
Courthouse News - January 21, 2014

  LOS ANGELES (CN) - Kabbalah Centre International Rabbi Yehuda Berg plied a student with Vicodin and alcohol, then felt her up and tried to have sex with her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone, the woman claims in a $40 million lawsuit.

Berg, a teacher at the Kabbalah Centre International, is a bestselling author of books, including "The Power of Kabbalah" and "The 72 Names of God."
     

Berg's mother Karen Berg, father Rav Berg and brother Michael Berg also teach at the center, where Madonna, Ashton Kutcher and other celebrities have studied.
     

In her Superior Court complaint against Yehuda Berg and the center, Berg's former student (NAME REMOVED) claims that after molesting her the father of five warned that he would "fucking beat the whole right side of you until you are blue" and "'fucking kill'" her if she told anyone what had happened.

(NAME REMOVED) says in the lawsuit that Berg invited her to his mother's house on Oct. 25, 2012 to "heal" her of kidney stones.

After arriving at the house, (NAME REMOVED) says that Berg badmouthed two other teachers, called his sister-in-law a "'cunt'" and "'starfucker,'" and vented his concerns about a IRS investigation of the Kabbalah Centre.

Berg told (NAME REMOVED) to take two Vicodin, ostensibly to help ease her pain, and "plied her with alcohol," according to the lawsuit.
     

"Yehuda sat close to (NAME REMOVED) and started hugging her and touching her legs," the complaint states. "As Yehuda engaged in this wholly inappropriate and criminal behavior he proceeded to place his hands on (NAME REMOVED) legs and stated to her that they could engage in sexual activity with the promise that she would not get pregnant. (NAME REMOVED) was deeply offended and tried to get up, Yehuda persisted in touching (NAME REMOVED) without her consent including hugging her while telling her that she 'was very weak and not strong.'"
     

(NAME REMOVED) says that the rabbi, "larger than her-by at least 100 pounds," took her cellphone, found an image of her, "zoomed in on her crotch area and showed her this magnified image while asking her if her genital region '... was Brazilian or shaved.'"
     

"Yehuda, seeing (NAME REMOVED) reaction to his disgusting and outrageous behavior threatened (NAME REMOVED) by telling her that, should she tell anyone about what occurred between them this evening or what he told her, that he would 'fucking beat the whole right side of you until you are blue' and 'fucking kill you,'" the lawsuit states. "Yehuda handed (NAME REMOVED) two additional Vicodin and demanded that she take them. (NAME REMOVED) pretended to do so as Yehuda took some himself and she left the apartment."
     

(NAME REMOVED) claims that other women have been victims of Berg's "unwanted touching of a sexual nature."

When (NAME REMOVED) omplained to another teacher about the incident he told her that "'Yehuda has a problem'" and that he would "confront" the rabbi, according to the lawsuit.
     

(NAME REMOVED) seeks at least $40 million in damages for each count of battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of fiduciary duty.

She is represented by Alain Bonavida of Beverly Hills.

Kabbalah Centre International did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Two donors sued the Kabbalah Centre in December 2013, claiming in separate lawsuits that it had defrauded them of $904,000 for projects that never happened.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  --Margaret Mead

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Mini Conference: Freedom Of Mind - Empowering Individuals To Think For Themselves

When:  November 17, 2013

             2:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Where:  Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center  - Auditorium

              255 Lafayette Ave. (Route 59) 

              Suffern, NY 10901

Registration Fee / Suggested Donation):  

Early Bird Rate Per Person: $10.00 (before November 15, 2013) using a credit card

At the door:  $15.00 Per Person (cash or check made out to The Awareness Center, Inc.) 

For more information contact:  

             The Awareness Center, Inc.

             Call:  224-534-9155 or  Email: VickiPolin@aol.com

Internationally Renown mind control expert - Steve Hassan, M.Ed, LMHC, NCC and Vicki Polin, MA, LCPC will be providing an educational workshop on mind control.    

The goals of this workshop will help participants learn to recognize what mind control is, how to recognize and avoid being influenced by destructive and controlling practices which can occur within families, in relationships, at schools, yeshivas and within various other religious and professional organization. 

This workshop is dedicated to the memory of Deb Tambor, a woman who grew up in the chassidic world and found the need to walk away.  Abe Weiss, who was Deb's boyfriend will speak briefly about her life and his own experience of going Off The Derech (OTD).  

For more information contact:  

The Awareness Center, Inc.

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SPEAKERS BIO:

Steve Hassan has dedicated his life to helping loved ones leave controlling people, cults and beliefs.   Steve is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Massachusetts and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). He has been educating the public about controlling groups and individuals for nearly forty  years.  Steve is a member of The Awareness Center’s international advisory board and is also the founder and director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center.  In the past Steve’s appeared on 60 Minutes, Nightline, Dateline, Larry King Live, and The O’Reilly Factor. 

Steve is also created the "BITE Model of Cult Mind Control", and the author of "Combatting Cult Mind Control: Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults"; "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves" and “Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs.”

Vicki Polin, MA, LCPC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Illinois who has been helping survivors of sex crimes heal for just under thirty years.  Throughout Vicki’s career she has counseled both adults and children of sex crimes, she has also worked with survivors of political torture, domestic violence, individuals with addiction issues, along with survivors who were involved in cults.

In the past Vicki has qualified as an expert witness and provided testimony in juvenile court on cases related to childhood sexual abuse and neglect. She has presented educational and experiential seminars to community groups, universities, and at professional conferences internationally –– including at Jewish Women International (JWI) Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA), National Organization for Women (NOW), and the United Nations Conference on the Status of Women.  Vicki has also provided testimony at legislative hearings across the United States.  

Vicki is the founder and director of The Awareness Center, which is the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA).  Vicki is also the author of “The 1997 Chicagoland Area Sexual Abuse Resource Guide for Care Providers and Survivors”.


Directions:
Good Samaritan Hospital
255 Lafayette Ave.  Suffern, NY
Click here for directions

For information on Public Transportation from either Brooklyn or NYC
(NOTE: you will have to either take a cab or walk a distance once you arrive to get to the hospital):

MTA New York City Transit:  718-330-1234 

NJ TRANSIT RAIL 

Monsey Trails - Bus from and to Brooklyn

CONFERENCE SPONSORS:

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Deb Tambor and the Quasi-Chasidic Town of New Square

Deb Tambor and the Quasi-Chasidic Town of New Square

By Vicki Polin

Rabbi David Twersky (Skvere Rebbe) and Deb Tambor Z"L

When you deal with a quasi-chasidic community that appears to be mimicking a cult, innocent people end up dying -- in the case of Deb Tambor I call this murder by suicide. 

Judaism is about each individuals relationship with G-d, and not the power and control various rabbonim seem to be implementing over their congregants and or community members. From the experiences shared with me from various individuals (OTD survivors) who walked away from communities like New Square, they left in hopes of being able to experience "Free Will". 

I've never seen so many young people feeling trapped within a system in which they felt they had no alternative but to end their lives. With the number of suicides coming out of New Square along with a few other quasi-chasidic communities, I fear the number of deaths will surpass the number of those who died in Jonestown. I pray to G-d all the time that the federal goverment will start investigating the "alleged" corruption that is going on in this town –– in hopes of preventing one more person ends up committing suicide. 

I want to remind everyone who is feeling hopeless or trapped that there is help available to you. You can always call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255.


Also see:  

• Cults, Mind Control, Sex Crimes and the Jewish Community
• History of the Jonestown Massacre
• Ex-Chassidic Woman Speaks Out: Perl Prery on Dr. Phil
• In death of Ex-Hasid estranged from her religious children, a mirror for trauma of many 
• In Memory of Deb Tambor
• The quasi-orthodox Jewish world compared to the "BITE" Model of Cult Mind Control 

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Background History of the cultic practices of New Square, NY

1. Welcome to New Square  (03/22/2010)  
2. New Square appoints Vaad to deal with sexual abuse (04/22/2010) 
3. New York Man Badly Burned in Religious Dispute in New Square (05/22/2011)
4. Wedding in New Square, NY (08/17/2011)
5. Hasidic Jewish teenager admits setting neighbor on fire after disobeying a prayer order  (02/08/2012)
6. Rockland County District Attorney enables sex offender from cultish town (09/012013)
7. Ex-Hasidic woman's apparent suicide sparks funeral strife (10/01/2013)
8. In death of Ex-Hasid estranged from her religious children, a mirror for trauma of many  (10/02/2013)
9. Case of Shmuel Dym
10. Case of Kal Holczer
11. Case of Rabbi Yucher Kohn
12. Case of Rabbi Herschel Taubenfeld

Going "Off The Derech" Hurts!

Going "Off The Derech" Hurts!

By Vicki Polin

Examiner - September 5, 2013

Walking away from a religious community is very similar to pain experienced when someone in your family dies or that of a close friend. It’s also not uncommon for OTD survivors to feel like they have been used or betrayed.

Jewish survivors of child abuse and/or neglect often have no other choice but to leave the families and communities they grew up in. This is especially true for those who grew up in an ultra-orthodox, insulated community. Many of these survivors have shared that they believed they had no other option -- or else they would have end up using drugs or giving up on life.

For Jewish survivors who grew up in secluded, insulated environments going “Off The Derech" (OTD) is like moving to another universe. Many of these survivors often do not know how to read or write in English, have very little education in secular studies, have never watched TV, gone to the movies, let alone used the internet. So even though this select group of people grew up in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Israel or any other country considered to be a part of western civilization –– they have no idea how to live in the secular world. Most have also never had friends from outside of their own communities.

Considering all of these facts, survivors who are OTD face many challenges. Leaving everything you know and love can feel devastatingly painful, especially because many have never learned how to identify, process or cope with their thoughts and feelings.

GOING OFF THE DERECH CAN FEEL: 


EXTREMELY PAINFUL, especially when a survivor realize’s that their own thought processes are different then those who live within their communities they were born.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when a survivor starts to believe what they were taught was the truth –– begins to have cracks and they no longer can believe what they see as being falsehoods and or lies.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when a survivors who has gone OTD, realizes their beliefs in God (higher power) are different then their parents, other family members or that of their communities. The same is true for the OTD survivor who realizes they no longer believe in God.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when an OTD survivor realizes that the community leaders and or family members they loved and trusted implicitly –– who taught them never to question authority –– were actually manipulating the survivor along with other community members.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when an OTD survivor believes they have been deceived –– that what they were taught was true Judaism was not, instead the begin to realize the dogma they were taught was nothing more then cult like propaganda.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when a survivor going OTD realizes individuals who grew up in other communities are not "bad, evil, liars, cheaters or deceivers". The OTD survivors starts to realize that individuals who come from other movements within Judaism or who are not even Jewish are people just like themselves.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND CONFUSING when a survivor realizes their faith in God hasn't changed - only their trust in their rebbe, family and or their community has.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND CONFUSING when a survivors starts to ask questions or verbalize their thoughts and feelings about how the community is ran. Once a survivor reaches this point they are often accused by family members, friends and or other community members of being problematic, a trouble maker, psychologically disturbed or even dangerous.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when OTD survivors starts to be shamed, blamed, isolated and by lifelong friends, family members and or other community members –– because the survivor can no longer “play the game”.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL to a survivor who is in the process of going OTD –– when they realize that the love and acceptance provided by family members and community leaders was conditional –– “as long as they did what they were told to do when they were told to do it”.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL for the OTD survivor when they reach the point that it is nearly impossible to cope with this extremely deep infectious wound -- bubbling up inside them –– when trying to suppress it all doesn’t work anymore. Let alone the survivors attempts at trying to forget hat happened to them doesn’t work.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL for the OTD survivor when they realize they have to leave the only home and or community they have ever known. How does walk away from family members, your children, your friends, etc.?

IT’S EXTREMELY PAINFUL to see the looks of hatred coming from the faces of those you –– to hear the deafening silence when you try and talk to those you love –– when they no longer return phone calls. It’s extremely painful when you try and give a close relative a hug and push you away or stand like a statue, pretending you aren't there. It’s incredibly painful when those you love looks at you as if you were the most evil person on the planet and they teach your siblings children, nieces and nephews and cousins to hate you.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND CONFUSING to know that the survivor has no other choice but to start their lives all over again. Often survivors feel they have betrayed, disillusioned, and then become very suspicious of everyone including family, friends and other community members who might be trying to offer them support.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when a OTD survivor find themselves feeling guilty or ashamed of where they grew up, the beliefs they were taught –– and/or the fact they have no other option but to walk away. Survivors in these types of situations often feel depressed, confused, lonely and isolated. It makes perfect sense that they might find it difficult to make decisions -- especially for those who never had to do this before -- because everything was decided for them by their rebbe or other community leaders.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when a OTD survivor first walks away and has so much time on their hands. Prior to leaving their communities their lives were consumed with family responsibilities, learning, Jewish rituals and prayer. Now survivors have to find other things to do with themselves, which can leave them feeling guilty –– for not doing what they were taught to –– or even guilty for discovering new hobbies, which were thought to be sinful in their previous life.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL for OTD survivors on shabbos or yom tovim. These are times in which family and friends gather. Survivors may find themselves alone with no where to go or friends to be with.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL at times when an OTD survivor feels as if they lost touch with reality or their feelings go numb. Often survivors go through periods of time where they feel as if they are just "floating" –– and at times consider going back to the security they felt living within a cultish community or cult involved family.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL when a survivor feels all alone and isolated. They don’t believe that anyone in the outside world can understand what they are experiencing. It’s also extremely scary when an OTD survivor feel that their sense of self confidence and self worth are almost non-existent.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL for the OTD survivor who grew up outside the frum world, when they realize that they gave up everything for a cultish lifestyle –– giving up on such as your continuing their education, career, finances, friends, families, etc.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL after leaving the cultish community, when an OTD survivor has to explain voided time in their work history when job seeking. They may also find they have no other choice but to go back to school to further their education after time away from their studies.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL for a person who grew up outside of the religious world who walked away, to explain all those missing years to your friends and family. It’s also difficult to hear from those who love you “I told you so”.

EXTREMELY PAINFUL for the OTD survivor who grew up secular to realize that they had been deceived, that they alone were responsible for being taken in. These survivors may feel stupid, used and feel ashamed that they wasted so much of their time, energies and money living within the quasi-frum world.

IT’S EXTREMELY PAINFUL TO LEAVE THE FRUM WORLD

Many individuals who loose not only their families and communities, but a lifestyle go through a huge grieving process –– just as one would grieving a death.

There are no instant cures for the sense of loss, inability to trust, feelings of guilt, confusion, emotional pain, anger , and or disillusionment. It takes time to heal, and often the OTD survivors will need to find a licensed mental health professional who not only understand the issues of working with survivors of child abuse, yet also someone who has experience working with ex-cult members.

The truth is that with time many of the negative feelings will disappear and will be replaced with happiness, joy, a sense of peace, being able to trust again –– along with the ability to think for ones self independently.

YES at times the pain may feel unbearable, yet with time, patience and as an OTD survivor learns how trust again, develops healthy friendships and builds a new support system –– the feelings will lesson and the survivor will be able to live life outside of the quasi-frum world.

Also See:

1. The quasi-orthodox Jewish world compared to the "BITE" Model of Cult Mind Control (11/06/2013)

Case of Munib Farhat

Case of Munib Farhat

Galilee, Israel

Alleged Muslim cult leader, Munib Farhat has been accused of imposing strict disciplinary code on 11 adults, 25 children.  According to reports he allegedly forced parents to beat their children, withhold food and smear them with fecal matter.  

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Table of Contents

2013

1. Police detain man suspected of running abusive sect (05/21/2013)
2. Cult member: I was locked in storeroom with mice (05/21/2013)
3. Alleged Galilee cult leader suspected of abusing children for decade (05/22/2013)

Also see: 

1. Policies For inclusion on The Awareness Center's Sex Offender's Registry
2. Listing Alleged and Convicted Sex Offenders

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Police detain man suspected of running abusive sect 

By Ahiya Raved

YNET News - May 21, 2013

56-year-old resident of Majd al-Krum allegedly subjugated 6 families to his will, forced parents to treat children violently

A resident of northern Israel is suspected of having instilled a regime of terror within a sect of his own making, and subjecting minors and adults to endless acts of torture, humiliation and sexual abuse.

Six families, including 11 parents and 25 children, were allegedly victims to the violent whims of the dictatorial figure, who, among other things, ordered parents to lock their children in bathrooms for hours and smear their faces with feces.

The suspect, a 56-year-old Arab resident of Majd al-Krum, was set for remand Tuesday. He is suspected of physical and mental abuse of minors, as well as attempted physical and psychological abuse of minors and sodomy.

Police heard the suspect was running the lives of the families that he subjected to his will, including their economic affairs, and forced the adults to behave violently towards their children for the purposes of instilling "proper education." The investigation began last month after one of the women, 46, left the sect and filed a complaint with the police. 

According to police investigators, the families "developed total dependence of and blind faith in their despot and deposited their money in his hands for fear of making any mistakes." They added that "women worked for him and did cleaning work. When he wasn't happy with their work he used to imprison them for several days as punishment." The police said that the suspect allegedly committed offenses of a sexual nature against some of the women.

The suspect forced the parents to behave violently towards their children, including beating them with belts and shoes, in a way that "does not leave marks on the body of the children," according to the plaintiff. He also demanded that the parents provide him with detailed accounts on their sex lives in order to "provide solutions to their problems."

he suspect referred to himself as "Khalifa," a Muslim religious title, but the sect he created had no religious characteristics. After his arrest, the children were assigned social workers "in order to soothe, contain, and find out the needs of families that are perceived as victims of an abusive cult with all that entails," read the statement by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services.

Police added that only after all the adults and the children involved are investigated will they decide whether to press charges against any of the other adults as well.

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Cult member: I was locked in storeroom with mice

By Hassan Shaalan

YNET News - May 21, 2013

Woman who left cult in Galilee community of Majd al-Krum says leader sexually assaulted members, smeared feces on kids. 'When I screamed he threatened to murder me,' she tells Ynet

"He attacked the women and children, kept women locked in the shower for hours and took our paychecks," said a woman who was a member of a violent cult allegedly led by 56-year-old Munib Farhat in the Galilee community of Majd al-Krum.

Farhat was arrested on Tuesday by Northern District Police after a month-long investigation following a complaint by a 46 year-old member of the cult who managed to escape. He was remanded for eight days.

Police suspect the leader had ordered his followers to act violently toward their children, in the name of "proper" education. The violent cult consisted of 11 adults and 25 children.

The man is also accused of sexually assaulting several of the women in the group and abusing both the women and children. Among other things, the cult leader allegedly locked the children in the bathroom, smeared feces on their mouths and rationed their food. Farhat has denied the allegations.

"Farhat told us he was a religious man and could solve any financial, social and family-related problem," the woman who filed the complaint told Ynet. "He also convinced us to turn over our paychecks at the end of each month and said if we wanted to purchase anything we should ask him (for money)."

According to the woman, the cult leader opened a small store in his home "and he forced us to shop only there. Sometimes we would ask him for money to buy food for the house, and he would give us 50 shekels ($14) and tell us that was enough. He also never agreed to give the children any money. He stole our all of our funds."

The complainant's brother said she told him the abuse, assault and sexual exploitation went on for years.

The woman further told Ynet that "at first we believed (Farhat) and thought he wanted to help us, but everything changed over the past few years. He attacked women and children; forced them to clean the house and cultivate the land without any compensation. Any woman who objected was attacked and locked in the shower or stockroom for more than seven hours.

"He brutally attacked me several times – stepped on my neck, hit me all over by body and locked me up in the stockroom with the mice. When I screamed he threatened to murder me. I did not seek medical care because I was afraid he would hurt me if he found out," she recalled.

The woman said that as soon as she left the cult and complained against Farhat, he turned her family against her. "My husband and three children are no longer in touch with me and believe that the cult leader's way is the right one. I hope we will live together again – far away from this horrific story," the woman said.

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Alleged Galilee cult leader suspected of abusing children for decade

By Daniel Siryoti

Israel Hayom - May 22, 2013

Munib Farhat, 56, suspected of imposing strict disciplinary code on 11 adults, 25 children • Cult leader allegedly forced parents to beat their children, withhold food and smear them with fecal matter • Affair exposed after woman files police complaint.

The details of a shocking child abuse scandal began to emerge on Tuesday in the Galilee town of Majd al-Krum when a Nazareth court lifted the gag order on the affair, which apparently has been going on for ten years.

Munib Farhat, a 56-year-old resident of Majd al-Krum, is suspected of heading a cult and enforcing his will on six families in his community, including dozens of children. The police suspect Farhat of forcing the members of his cult to beat their children, humiliate them, withhold food, lock them in bathrooms and smear them with fecal matter. The cult leader is also suspected of abusing the women in the cult, committing sexual assault and sodomizing them.

The affair was exposed when a woman who belonged to the cult filed a police complaint several weeks ago. A team of investigators consequently launched an undercover probe into the woman's allegations, in cooperation with Welfare Ministry social workers and Interior Ministry officials. The investigation, which was accompanied by the Haifa District Prosecutor's Office, revealed that Farhat, who refers to himself as a caliph, allegedly imposed a very strict disciplinary code on 11 adults and 25 children.

In his remand hearing, Farhat denied the allegations and argued that the complainant was seeking revenge against him for being kicked out of the compound.

The chief investigator, Superintendent Eyal Harari, said that the cult did not share a house, but instead lived in houses scattered across the town. "His method was to cozy up to weak, poor families and strike a relationship based on support and fear, to the point of complete dependence and a real fear of leaving the cult," Harari explained.

The police said further that the suspect habitually locked women up when he was not satisfied with their cleaning duties.

Harari called on anyone who had previously been in the cult and had left to come in and testify. "When the suspect was apprehended, many people applauded us and said that it was about time that someone put a stop to what was happening within this group."

The Welfare Ministry reported that "with the suspect's arrest, the children have been transferred to the care of investigators who specialize in children, and each family has been assigned an intervention and support team, which includes social workers. This was done to calm fears and to determine the families' specific needs."

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