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Lev Tahor
An illustrative photo of young ultra orthodox girls wearing clothing similar to girls in the Lev Tahor cult, walking in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood. (Photo credit: Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)
July 7, 2018, 2:20 pm
A year since leader’s death, ultra-Orthodox ‘cult’ hibernates in Central America
As elusive as they are radically devout, Lev Tahor, which fled from North to Central America following accusations of child abuse, lays low after chief rabbi drowns in river
By Maya Kroth
Lev Tahor girls walking in Chatham, Ontario, in December 2013 (screen capture: YouTube)
July 9, 2017, 4:20 am
Leader of Lev Tahor cult drowns in Mexico — report
Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans, 55, said found dead in river after ritual immersion
By TOI staff
A child member of the ultra-Orthodox 'Lev Tahor' Jewish sect, looks on at the building where the group was staying in Guatemala City on September 2, 2014. (photo credit: AFP/Johan ORDONEZ)
April 25, 2017, 7:03 pm
Israeli court rules Central American ultra-Orthodox sect is a ‘dangerous cult’
Verdict calls on state to take action in order to return children held illegally by Lev Tahor group
By Jacob Magid
Members of an Orthodox Jewish community put a label from the 'International Rescue Committee for Jewish Families of the Lev Tahor Settlement' on the window of a bus in Guatemala city on September 25, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / JOHAN ORDONEZ)
April 5, 2017, 2:15 am
Former Guatemala mayor jailed for expelling Jewish group
Rodolfo Perez claimed Lev Tahor members disrespected local traditions, particularly concerning the dead
By AFP
Members of an Orthodox Jewish community put a label from the 'International Rescue Committee for Jewish Families of the Lev Tahor Settlement' on the window of a bus in Guatemala city on September 25, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / JOHAN ORDONEZ)
September 25, 2016, 11:23 pm
Lev Tahor sect in Guatemala resettles, claiming harassment
500-strong group moving to a village in east of country after raids linked to child abuse allegations
By AFP
Members of the Lev Tahor sect leave Guatemalan city San Juan La Laguna after being forced out in August 2014. (Screenshot/YouTube)
September 14, 2016, 11:35 am
Guatemalan authorities raid secretive compound of Jewish cult
Lev Tahor members in small tourist town suspected of child abuse; Israeli Foreign Ministry following developments closely
By Sue Surkes
Members of the Lev Tahor sect leave Guatemalan city San Juan La Laguna after being forced out in August 2014. (Screenshot/YouTube)
June 20, 2016, 1:41 am
Guatemalan ex-mayor charged in expulsion of Jewish sect
Official indicted for abuse of authority, discrimination after 230 members of Lev Tahor forced out of village in 2014
By JTA
Goel Ratzon, a polygamist cult leader, seen at the district court room in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2014. (Motti Kimchi/POOL)
February 22, 2016, 5:09 pm
MKs bid to tackle ‘harmful cults’ that ensnare 20,000 Israelis. But it’s not so simple
From polygamous sexual predators to the 'Jewish Taliban,' sects draw in large numbers of susceptible adherents. Will new legislation break the spell? Or does it go too far, threatening religious freedom?
By Marissa Newman
Lev Tahor girls walking in Chatham, Ontario, in December 2013 (screen capture: YouTube)
July 11, 2015, 6:10 am
Quebec mishandled child abuse at fringe Jewish sect — report
Province's Human Rights Commission says child protection system failed to properly address Lev Tahor community case
By JTA
French soccer star Nicolas Anelka performing the quenelle, a gesture widely seen as anti-Semitic, after scoring a goal at a match in London, Dec. 28, 2013. (Christopher Lee/Getty Images/JTA)
September 23, 2014, 5:46 pm
From quenelle to terror tunnel, a glossary for 5774
How the events of this year changed the way we talk
By Julie Wiener
Lev Tahor girls walking in Chatham, Ontario, in December 2013 (screen capture: YouTube)
September 12, 2014, 9:30 am
Lev Tahor sect said to have trafficked in human cargo
Members of radical ultra-Orthodox group accused of committing sexual assault, using psychotropic drugs and arranging forced marriages
By JTA
Lev Tahor children study in a hotel room in Ontario (screen capture: YouTube)
September 7, 2014, 10:34 am
Extremist Jewish sect seeks new home in Guatemala
Chased from a local village amid allegations of anti-Semitism, members of the Lev Tahor group still want to remain in the country
By AFP and TOI staff
Members of the Orthodox Jewish community attend a meeting with leaders of San Juan La Laguna community at the headquarters of the Human Rights Office in Guatemala City on August 27,2014. (Photo credit: AFP / Johan ORDONEZ)
August 29, 2014, 10:08 pm
After tensions with residents, Lev Tahor leave Guatemalan village
Local leaders threaten to cut services to ultra-Orthodox sect after members refused to greet, physically contact outsiders
By JTA
Lev Tahor girls walking in Chatham, Ontario, in December 2013 (screen capture: YouTube)
August 26, 2014, 10:43 am
Lev Tahor community has fled Canada to Guatemala
Amid allegations of child abuse, extremist Jewish religious sect has slowly moved to South America
By JTA
Lev Tahor girls walking in Chatham, Ontario, in December 2013 (screen capture: YouTube)
April 6, 2014, 10:09 pm
Lev Tahor members ordered deported to Israel
Three men affiliated with the ultra-Orthodox sect, currently held in Canada, to be sent back to their native country
By JTA
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