Mendy explained that Shlomo had written all of his own books, and that he wanted everyone to know them by heart, so the kids were required to spend all of their free time studying them - and nothing else. But school was different than you'd expect - there was no science, English or math class. The rest of the day was spent either in shul or in class. Then, they were required to listen to the rabbi's speech, which sometimes lasted six or seven hours.
After attending shul (synagogue), all the boys were forced to go into a freezing cold river that was filled with snakes for a ritual called mikvah.Īfter that, it was back to shul for morning prayer, also called Shacharis - which would last three hours. He died on October 25, 2016.'ĭuring his days at Lev Tahor, Mendy said he woke up at 5:30 in the morning every day. He got sicker and sicker over a week and a half. Mendy said the group, which was started by Shlomo Helbrans in the 1980s, was about 'total control' and that you 'couldn't do anything without permission' (pictured: unnamed members of Lev Tahor in 2014) Something similar happened to his father - who developed an infection in 2016 and needed to go to the hospital. They don't allow doctors in Lev Tahor without the rabbi's permission. 'As she was suffering from the allergic reaction, they didn't let her call an ambulance. Mendy recalled a time when a woman, who was allergic to sesame seeds, was told she had to eat them after to prove 'her faith' to the rabbi. No one is able to go anywhere without the leader's permission.' 'They don't want people to see the outside world. And if they ask you do something, you have to do it,' he recalled to Insider.
'You can't do anything without permission. Mendy said the group, which was founded by Shlomo Helbrans in the 1980s, was about 'total control.' When he was 15 years old, he was told he had to marry his 12 year old cousin, and that was the last straw for him. Mendy Levy, who was born in Canada in 2003, recalled being forced to swim in freezing cold, snake-filled water and eat hot pepper if he told a lie. Published: 16:42 GMT, 11 November 2021 | Updated: 19:01 GMT, 11 November 2021Īn 18-year-old who fled an extremist Jewish cult called Lev Tahor has recounted his horrific upbringing in the group - revealing that his father died after the leaders refused to let him see a doctor. He was eventually adopted and is now an aspiring photographer He was able to flee to Canada and was taken in by child protective services.When he was 15 years old, Mendy was told he had to marry his 12 year old cousin, and he says that was the final straw that made him decide to try and escape.But the rabbi wouldn't allow him to call an ambulance and he tragically passed away In 2016, his dad developed an infection and needed to go to the hospital.The 18-year-old recalled being 'physically and mentally abused,' and said you had to 'kiss the hand of whoever just hit you' when they were done.He spent much of his life living as a member of the group, which is based in Guatemala and was founded by Shlomo Helbrans in the 1980s.Mendy Levy said the group, Lev Tahor, which was started in the 1980s, was about 'total control' and that you 'couldn't do anything without permission'.'They tried to make me marry my 12-year-old cousin': 18-year-old who fled ultra-Orthodox Jewish cult Lev Tahor at 15 reveals the mental and physical abuse - and recalls being made to swallow hot pepper as punishment
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