Video: Rural Guatemala Village Expels Haredi Cults

When the Lev Tahor haredi cult fled Canada for Guatemala this summer, it joined up with another small haredi cult already established in rural Guatemala – Toiras Chesed. Now the small Guatemalan town where these haredi cults sought refuge from child abuse laws and other government regulations is evicting them. Here's why.

Above: Two Lev Tahor women in Canada (file photo)

When the Lev Tahor haredi cult fled Canada for Guatemala this summer, it joined up with another small haredi cult already established in rural Guatemala – Toiras Chesed. Now the small Guatemalan town where these haredi cults sought refuge from child abuse laws and other government regulations is evicting them.

Why?

Because the haredi cults are foreign, bizarre and have converted people from local indigenous tribes whose ways of life and religious beliefs (in this case, reportedly Catholicism) are protected by Guatemala's constitution.

The cults are viewed as European interlopers disrupting native life.

Guatemala's mainstream Jewish community also let it be known that Lev Tahor and Toiras Chesed are cults that do not represent normative Judaism.

But the bottom line seems to be, if you come to small rural Guatelaman village and wear layers of dark wool clothes that cover you from head to toe like a burka, or dark fur felt hats and dark woolen clothes and peyos, you're going to appear strange.

And if you couple that strangeness with unfriendliness and disrespect for local custom, you're likely going to get kicked out.

It doesn't make the village elders decision to boot out these cults right, though.

Here's a Spanish language news report on the expulsion, which should be completed today:

 

Related Posts:

Guatemalan Town Allegedly Expels Haredi Cult.

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

All Lev Tahor Posts.

All Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans Posts.

Comments

[David]

It's a little reminiscent of the Spanish Inquisition. On the other hand, I guess it's what happens when you have one primitive social group go and live among another primitive social group and they are not friendly with the host group and act weirdly. I don't think it's about antisemitism, I'm sure Jim Jones and his gang would be kicked out as well. Problem is now, where will they go?

[soso]

I am a bit shocked by the newsreport and reasons it gives for the expulsion.

They could have said that they were foreigners without residence permit and that they could stay 3 months or 6 months, but no more.

But they said they wanted to expulse them because someone converted???? Really, really, questionable, and even worse that this seems completely OK to the reporter!!!

[MarkfromShortHills]

Narrow minded people acting against narrow minded people. They deserve each other!

[yoni FFB]

Just another BT that doesn't know his place. Helbrans is a BT who decided that he knows better and can guide others. BT you are a newcomer to our society, even if you've been here 30 years, you joined late. You are a guest here, you belong in the back benches watching us learning from us, sit in the spectators gallery with your eyes open and your mouth shut. Get guidance, don't try and give guidance. Your lack of culture in our society will always be a fact. No shiurim, courses, seminars, books, DVDs, weekends, speeches etc. will give you what we got from our frum upbringing. No I'm not blaming you for being born not frum, yes I do admire your strength of change, but know your place!. If you can comprehend this and internalize it then your children stand a chance. If you don't like this then go home. We have enough issues to deal with from within, we don't need to import more.

[Joe Hill]

This is the first expulsion of Jews anywhere in over a century.

Welcome to the new world of growing acceptance of rabid anti-semitism.

[jancsibacsi]

yoni FFB--You got to curb your inflated ego shoyte that you are

[jancsibacsi]

Joe Hill--"This is the first expulsion of Jews anywhere in over a century.

Welcome to the new world of growing acceptance of rabid anti-semitism."

Nobody wants theese nuts as their neighbors would you want them to be your neighbors,this cult is mentally deranged all the followers are nut cases.

[jancsibacsi]

yoni FFB--You idiot just look at the non bt s the satmerers they are just as crazy if not crazier look at the offshoot the neturei what are you bragging about fool that you are.

[barry]

There is a glaring irony in these Ultraorthodox Jews being expelled by indigenous people exercising group rights recognized by the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.

The Western and Enlightenment ideal of equality before the law and individual rights has an exception in relation to indigenous people (such as the Mayan in Guatamala) who are granted group rights which conflict and override individual rights we in the West take for granted including such seminal texts as the first section of the fourteenth amendment to the US constitution.

Ultraorthodox Jews reject the Western ideal of equality and claim group rights (from their own batei din to Metziza be Peh). Not since the 18th century has any Western national body recognized Jews as having such group rights since they are not recognized as indigenous people in the way that say, the USA recognises the Suquamish as indigenous with their own group rights within their tribal lands.

(One of the group rights Lev Tahor claim is their right to refuse to recognize the State of Israel which makes about as much sense as Shmarya Rosenberg claiming that he has a right to recognize Taipei over the Peoples Republic of China in the same way that the Republic of France can)

It is hypocritical of Ultraorthodox Jews to complain about the Mayan peoples exercising group rights and not acting according to the principle of equality before the law when that is what they claim for themselves!

Whether you believe that it is morally right that the Mayan people can keep to their old ways and protect their culture by suppressing individual rights (including expelling Jews) depends on whether you believe the Indigenous Peoples governing 'council of elders' need concern themselves with Western and Enlightenment ideas.

Similarly should Amazonian Natives on being discovered be left alone notwithstanding that their lives are short nasty and brutish, and that should a non-indigenous child be brought up in that Stone Age manner, that child would be taken away by social services and the parents prosecuted? The vast majority of Jews are happy to give up any 'group rights' for the right to be treated equally and not be forced to live in ghettos under Kahal or Rabbinic halacha. Why should other 'backward' peoples not have that modern privilege?

It might be an idea for the losing Bobov Rebbe to bribe one of the Indian Tribes and let him set up court in a Reservation with proper executive and judicial powers. No-one would then feel safe in ignoring a Hazmano issued by the Beis Din of the Sioux-Bobov Rebbe!

[William G.]

Just out of curiosity, we're the Haredim seeking to convert the local indigenous population? I thought Haredim did not proselytize, as a rule, and tended to be among the branches of Judaism less receptive to conversion. The exception to this of course being Chabad's promotion of the B'nei Noah movement, which has attracted a handful of members, but pales in comparison to the considerable change of life that would accompany conversion to the Jewish faith.

[yoni FFB]

They're not chareidim, they're a bunch of BTs.

[yoni FFB]

jancsibacsi, you clearly didn't comprehend what I wrote. Even if I have an inflated ego that doesn't negate the facts I presented. And yes some satmer and the neturei karteh are crazy and perhaps even resho'im,but that has nothing to with the issue of BTs that don't know their place. Two wrongs don't make a right. Your prob a BT yourself, so open your eyes and close your mouth.

[nachos]

If Israel gets to kick Africans out , ignoring treaties that they signed then why shouldn't Guatemala be able to kick Jews out?

[Put a square into a hole]

Thank You to the Chabad Rabbi in Guatemala Rabbi Pelman for standing his ground and telling the truth about this "CULT".
YEAH scotty boy we all know your position that all Charaidi people are 1 big cult.

[jancsibacsi]

yoni FFB--You dont get it why single out the bts they all have their crazy sides you see the bts as a different nut cases but others see the hassidim similarly,yes the bt s dont or never fully be like someone who was born into hassidism but to just write to demean them doesnt serve any purpose besides to satisfy your own self importance.

[jancsibacsi]

yoni FFB--I am not a bts infact i am more hassidish then you will ever be without a beard i was born near satmer and learned in hassidishe yeshiva in a communist coutry i had a tottaly shorn head aand a little payes went to heider so dont lecture me about hassidism i bet any day i have more tichus then you i can trace my ancesstry back to rema,der heilige remu.

[hiersh y]

Julio Saguel, a lawyer at the Guatemalan attorney general’s department of child and adolescent rights, confirmed it has opened a neglect case against Lev Tahor for its failure to send children to school. Guatemalan officials are in contact with government representatives in Quebec, where some warrants are still active.

[hiersh y]

The Lev Tahor community packed its bags on Friday in San Juan la Laguna around 150 km (93 miles) west of Guatemala City, to board buses bound for the capital after weeks of friction with sections of the local population.

[Mee-Samcha?]

Where to next for these wandering Jews? I hear the old Jonestown property in Guyana is available!

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

Gaza is lovely this time of year, and the frumma would fit right in, as well as be welcomed with open arms by their Palestinian brethren.

[yoni FFB]

jancsibacsi , I singled out here the BTs because helbrand and his cult are BTs.

oy yes I'm sure you have more TICHUS then me, you have your tichus in your kop!

[jancsibacsi]

yoni FFBLooks lijke you cannot resist making fun others when they make a little mistake well i can say di farrikter goilem vus di bist.

[Rodin]

Stop blaming the Guatemalan peasants.
Let's open our own hearts to these poor misguided Jews and buy them a piece of property in the Five Towns. Something not too far Central Avenue and near the pizza store. Let's welcome them into our own neighborhoods and see how WE like them. Let us show some LOVE to these burka clad Meidelach.

[Uncle Joe]

This is good news - now Lev Tahor should be expelled from everywhere.
And illegal immigrants should be expelled from the US.

[Henri]

I'm actually quite stunned by the arrogance and obnoxiousness of yoniFFB.
It's because of arrogant pricks like you, that rebellious kids with questions (as I was) look down on you with pity and despair, and are no longer part of communal life.
Why pick on BTs?
Probably because they are an easy target? After all, you've already subjugated women.
Sure there are plenty of 'eccentric' BTs, but to label them all in the way that you have is outrageous.
You belittle yourself by spouting this crap, as there are plenty BTs that are decent respectable people who would be genuinely hurt by your comments.
I hope that the comments reflect your immaturity, or lack of education, but in truth there's no excuse.

[haLevi]

Yoni- it's "der farikter goilem."

[Devora]

Why condemn a people who have been persecuted, discriminated and are victims of a well documented genocide over the since the Spanish Conquest for simply adhering to their customs, language and religious beliefs? The Kachiquel Maya have every right to insist their customs and language be respected and take measures to ensure the preservation of their culture, even if that means expelling foreigners who refuse to acknowledge or respect their culture.

Oh wait, I forgot, only Jewish suffering matters.

Such chutzpah, wow.

[A. Nuran]

Joe Hill writes:
>This is the first expulsion of Jews
>anywhere in over a century.

Bullshit. Jews all over the Middle East and North Africa were expelled during the 20th century.

[Jacks prostitute mother]

But they said they wanted to expulse them because someone converted???? Really, really, questionable, and even worse that this seems completely OK to the reporter!!!
----------
When you consider Israel is hostile to Christians and messianic Jews that try to convert people, it's really no different.

[yoni FFB]

Henri, get to the beef of what I wrote and try argue with that. I didn't say ANYTHING derogatory about BTs just that they should "know their place" that their lack of upbringing (not their fault in any way) makes them not able to guide. simple common sense.
and that if they cant understand they shouldn't come to join us. simple common sense.

[Suzy Q]

What yoni wants to say is that he assumes y'all are bnei nidda & you'll never be at the level of the heilige ffbs! Might as well close all kiruv organizations...

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

Yoni, why doesn't Chabad and other kiruv groups tell prospective BT's what you are stating?

[gevezener chusid]

yoni ffb - you could learn a hell of a lot more from even the craziest BT than any normal person will ever learn from you, you hateful prick.