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Guatemala

Illustrative: Members of the Lev Tahor Jewish sect attend a protest outside the Alida Espana de Arana special education school where their children were taken by authorities in Guatemala City on January 15, 2025. (Johan ORDONEZ / AFP)
November 24, 2025, 2:15 am
Colombia says 17 minors rescued from Jewish cult Lev Tahor amid abuse allegations
Five of those rescued were subjects of Interpol missing person alerts; leader of extremist sect, dubbed ‘Jewish Taliban,’ in prison for kidnapping child whose mother left the group
By AFP and ToI Staff
Illustrative: Members of the Lev Tahor Jewish community remain outside the Alida Espana de Arana special education school where where rescued children were being housed in Guatemala City on December 22, 2024. (Johan ORDÓÑEZ / AFP)
June 21, 2025, 3:32 pm
El Salvador extradites members of Jewish cult Lev Tahor accused of child sex abuse
Eliezer Rumpler extradited to Israel for allegedly disrobing, beating students, while Jonathan Cardona sent to Guatemala to stand trial for rape, child abuse and human trafficking
By AFP and Luke Tress
Members of Lev Tahor prepare to depart their compound in eastern Sarajevo, on February 3, 2022. (Courtesy/Davorin Sekulic/Klix.ba)
February 27, 2025, 10:05 am
Belize to return Lev Tahor Jewish sect leader, 2 others to Guatemala
Canadian Avraham Dinkel and US citizen Chaim Malka were stopped at border, charged with attempting to help Moshe Yhida Alter, also US citizen, enter country with false document
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Eliezer Rompler, of the Lev Tahor cult, arrives at the Jerusalem District Court for a court hearing on May 26, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 15, 2025, 12:26 am
Lev Tahor leader arrested in El Salvador amid major crackdown on cult
El Salvador’s AG says extradition request expected soon for Eliezer Rompler, who is indicted in Israel for child abuse
By ToI Staff and Agencies
A member of the Lev Tahor Jewish cult protests as Guatemalan police members surround a minibus transferring rescued children to the Alida Espana de Arana special education school in Guatemala City on December 22, 2024 (Johan ORDÓÑEZ / AFP)
December 23, 2024, 10:16 am
Lev Tahor members bust into Guatemala shelter to recapture kids rescued in raid
Relatives of children from extreme ultra-Orthodox group that’s accused of abuse break into Guatemala City shelter, grabbing kids; authorities manage to recover some minors
By AFP
This handout picture released by the Guatemalan Attorney General of the Nation's Office (PGN) shows members of the PGN taking part in a child rescue operation at a Lev Tahor farm in the municipality of Oratorio, Guatemala, on December 20, 2024. (Guatemalan Attorney General of the Nation's Office / AFP)
December 21, 2024, 12:54 pm
Guatemala takes 160 minors from Lev Tahor cult into protective custody amid abuse claims
40 women also removed from group’s farm; suspected bones of child found; prosecutors say group raided over suspicions of ‘forced pregnancy, mistreatment of minors and rape’
By Agencies
Members of the Lev Tahor sect prepare to depart from La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City on a journey to Iraqi Kurdistan in October 2021. (Courtesy)
August 29, 2024, 6:53 pm
Guatemala probes child abuse claims against extremist Jewish cult Lev Tahor
Members of secretive ultra-Orthodox group prevent officials from entering their compound in Oratorio as investigators look into claims of forced marriages, underage pregnancy
By Agencies
Presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo and running mate Karin Herrera wave at supporters from a balcony after preliminary results showed him the victor in a presidential run-off election, in Guatemala City, August 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
August 22, 2023, 8:10 pm
5 Jewish facts about Guatemala’s new Hebrew-speaking president
Bernardo Arévalo studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and spent four years as a senior official in his country’s embassy in the Jewish state
By Jacob Kessler
Presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo and running mate Karin Herrera wave at supporters from a balcony after preliminary results showed him the victor in a presidential run-off election, in Guatemala City, August 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
August 21, 2023, 8:55 am
Guatemala elects progressive Arévalo, who studied in Israel, as president
Son of former president wins 58% of the vote, dispatching rival Sandra Torres, but efforts afoot to keep him from taking office
By AP and ToI Staff
Israel Amir interviewed by Channel 12's Uvda in a report that aired on December 30, 2021. (Screenshot/Channel 12)
January 1, 2022, 10:00 pm
Man who escaped anti-Zionist Jewish cult returned to Guatemala in search of his son
As Lev Tahor leadership sought to transport group to Iran, Israel Amir and team of ex-Shin Bet agents traveled across globe to search for 2-year-old boy
By ToI Staff
Screen capture from video purportedly showing members of the extreme ultra-Orthodox cult Lev Tahor on a bus that was stopped by Guatemalan authorities, October 17, 2021. (B'Hadrei Haredim)
October 18, 2021, 11:11 am
Guatemala blocks extremist ultra-Orthodox sect heading to Iran through Mexico
Two busloads of Lev Tahor members prevented from crossing border with the intention of flying to Kurdistan
By ToI Staff
Lev Tahor spokesman Uriel Goldman on February 28, 2018. (Screen capture/YouTube)
October 14, 2021, 5:49 am
Praise of Israel may dent Iran asylum hopes for anti-Zionist Haredi cult
Clip shows Lev Tahor spokesman lauding IDF efforts to minimize civilian casualties, months before group, which includes Israelis, began heading from Guatemala toward Tehran
By Jacob Magid
Illustrative -- Lev Tahor women and girls in Canada (Screen grab/YouTube)
October 13, 2021, 9:30 am
Haredi cult tries to go to Iran, sparks fears it may be used as bargaining chip
Relatives ask Israel, US to intervene as extremist Lev Tahor members seek to leave Guatemala for Iraq, apparently en route to Islamic Republic
By ToI Staff
The Bolton family (left to right): Carol, Matilde, John, Judy, and Harold, circa 1966. (courtesy, Judy Bolton-Fasman)
October 10, 2021, 2:02 am
Author boldly goes against her dead father’s wishes to uncover his true identity
In her new memoir, Judy Bolton-Fasman investigates lifelong questions on the strange union between her assimilated American dad and her much-younger mom, a volatile Cuban refugee
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Illustrative: Members of the Lev Tahor sect leave Guatemalan city San Juan La Laguna after being forced out in August 2014. (Screenshot/YouTube)
July 7, 2021, 3:27 pm
Two leaders of extremist Lev Tahor ultra-Orthodox cult arrested in Guatemala
Local and US police raid community to nab brothers Shmiel and Yoel Weingarten, wanted in NY for child kidnapping, exploitation; unconfirmed reports of gunfire during operation
By ToI Staff
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