Except For 6 Families, Haredi Lev Tahor Cult Relocated To Rural Guatemala

Of the nearly 200 members of the sect, a half-dozen families remain in Chatham, Ont., where the group has been based since November 2013. The members left in Canada include some of those who have been involved in a custody dispute with the region's children's services.

Above: File photo of Lev Tahor two women wearing Lev Tahor's equivalent of a burka

The CBC reports:

Most of the members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor have moved from Canada to Guatemala amid allegations of child abuse.

Of the nearly 200 members of the sect, a half-dozen families remain in Chatham, Ont., where the group has been based since November 2013. The members left in Canada include some of those who have been involved in a custody dispute with the region's children's services authorities for several months.

Radio-Canada's sources said the bulk of the families began leaving Canada one by one starting in June to join some of the members involved in the custody battle who had left for Guatemala in March.

The sect picked up and moved to Chatham from Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., last November after Quebec's youth protective services (known by its French acronym, the DPJ) initiated steps to remove 14 of the children. One of the children was a mother to a young child herself.

Case workers at the DPJ's department in nearby St-Jérôme, Que., alleged that some of the children experienced physical punishment, had poor hygiene and were not being educated according to the province's curriculum.

At Quebec's urging, Chatham-Kent Children's Services picked up where the DPJ left off.

Families left Canada in March

In February, an Ontario judge upheld a Quebec ruling that ordered the 13 children who were part of the original group involved in the dispute with DPJ but did not include the young mother to be surrendered to child welfare authorities.

The sect appealed the decision.

In March, 12 of the children involved in the custody dispute and six adults left Canada on two separate flights: one group of nine flying through Mexico City, and the other group of nine travelling through Trinidad and Tobago.

The group travelling through Trinidad and Tobago were intercepted by immigration authorities and returned to Canada. The group travelling through Mexico City arrived safely in Guatemala, where they remain.

The young mother and her child were stopped at the Calgary airport and returned to Ontario, as well.

In April, Lev Tahor members won their appeal of the February ruling ordering the return of the children to Quebec.

Representatives of Lev Tahor have always vigorously denied all allegations of child abuse.

The CBC doesn't make this clear, but all of most of those six families still in Canada can't leave due to court orders.

Related:

All Lev Tahor Posts.

All Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans/Elbarnes Posts.

Comments

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

Rural Guatemala is the perfect place for all frumma to relocate.

[nachos]

Lev tahor is the future for the frumma. I fully expect within my lifetime to hear about a Jewish suicide bomber.

[S M L]

WSC: Not far enough. The butt end of Paraguay would be better, out among the scrub in the Chaco, truly the back of beyond.

[jancsibacsi]

Let those pesky insects bit them until they give up their stupid behaviour and come back to their senses if thats possible,i hope those insects will bits then good.

[jancsibacsi]

MEANT TO WRITE BITE

[JACK]

Jancsi,you should know a lot about insect bites,because little poodles have flees and ticks,did you get your bone yet today?

[rachel]

About three years an Israeli girl went to Lev Tahor. She told all of her sins to Helbrans. Helbrans told her that her rectification is to first have sex with his gabbai and then with him.

[jancsibacsi]

JACKass--seyog lehochme shtica, you are better of if you keep youre mouth shut or finger stuck in youre toches you imbacile.

[Rodin]

I'm really curious as to what it is in Guatemala that attracted them. I think rural Guyana would have been a much better choice.

[jancsibacsi]

Like jim jones i am afraid that after guatemala it will be mass suicide its their last place.