Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1989, Page 41
Although the issue of the new groups has psychological, educational, and other aspects, the
Committee believes that this is primarily a social problem. Therefore, the Committee
proposes that the Ministry of Labor and Welfare should be the ministry primarily charged
with the handling of this problem.
The principal recommendations of the Committee deal with four main areas:
*The gathering, concentration, and distribution of information initiation of research
*Education
*Assistance to injured parties.
*Law
The Committee tried not to recommend the setting up of new bodies, but rather reliance on
existing ones.
Gathering, Concentration and Distribution of Information Initiation of Research
a. The Committee proposed the systematic gathering of comprehensive, varied, and
up-to-date information on all the new groups active in Israel (whether they were
included in the Committee‟s examination or not), and about new groups that are
prominently active abroad and have bearing on Israeli citizens. The Ministry of Labor
and Welfare will be the body in charge of collecting and processing the information.
b. The information (existing literature on the subject, press clips and various
publications in this country and abroad) should be concentrated in a library which will
be open to the public at large.
c. Distribution of information: publication of articles in Hebrew one-time publications
concerning organizations and certain phenomena as well as a pamphlet with current
information which will appear periodically. The material should be distributed to
government ministries, various relevant bodies, and to any interested party.
d. Initiation of research: there is a need for impartial research which will concentrate
on the phenomenon in general and on specific aspects of it. Research on the subject
from the viewpoint of different disciplines (sociology, anthropology, communications,
psychology, medicine, law, economics and taxation) should be encouraged, with
emphasis being placed on interdisciplinary studies. The need for a relatively quick
study exists, one which would develop therapeutic and legal tools to cope with the
existing problems.
Education
Basic assumptions. The examination carried out reveals that, as a rule, the organizations
openly approach only the adult population, but at times do not refrain from acting among
minors of school age. In general, it seems that there is no strong inclination on the part of
school-age youngsters to join the activities of these organizations (except for a number of
cases in which minors brought along by their parents participated in these activities).
The source of the phenomenon in general is to be found in general social conditions and
factors in our culture and our society, which aren‟t usually a part of specific activity in the
educational system.
The involvement of the educational system in areas of social morality can, however,
strengthen the mental and spiritual fibre of the students and help them to handle pressures
and influences in society at large and beyond the boundaries of school.
It is possible that at least some of those attracted to the new groups do so because of a lack
of proper training of thinking or critical faculties, as well as a lack of emotional support
Although the issue of the new groups has psychological, educational, and other aspects, the
Committee believes that this is primarily a social problem. Therefore, the Committee
proposes that the Ministry of Labor and Welfare should be the ministry primarily charged
with the handling of this problem.
The principal recommendations of the Committee deal with four main areas:
*The gathering, concentration, and distribution of information initiation of research
*Education
*Assistance to injured parties.
*Law
The Committee tried not to recommend the setting up of new bodies, but rather reliance on
existing ones.
Gathering, Concentration and Distribution of Information Initiation of Research
a. The Committee proposed the systematic gathering of comprehensive, varied, and
up-to-date information on all the new groups active in Israel (whether they were
included in the Committee‟s examination or not), and about new groups that are
prominently active abroad and have bearing on Israeli citizens. The Ministry of Labor
and Welfare will be the body in charge of collecting and processing the information.
b. The information (existing literature on the subject, press clips and various
publications in this country and abroad) should be concentrated in a library which will
be open to the public at large.
c. Distribution of information: publication of articles in Hebrew one-time publications
concerning organizations and certain phenomena as well as a pamphlet with current
information which will appear periodically. The material should be distributed to
government ministries, various relevant bodies, and to any interested party.
d. Initiation of research: there is a need for impartial research which will concentrate
on the phenomenon in general and on specific aspects of it. Research on the subject
from the viewpoint of different disciplines (sociology, anthropology, communications,
psychology, medicine, law, economics and taxation) should be encouraged, with
emphasis being placed on interdisciplinary studies. The need for a relatively quick
study exists, one which would develop therapeutic and legal tools to cope with the
existing problems.
Education
Basic assumptions. The examination carried out reveals that, as a rule, the organizations
openly approach only the adult population, but at times do not refrain from acting among
minors of school age. In general, it seems that there is no strong inclination on the part of
school-age youngsters to join the activities of these organizations (except for a number of
cases in which minors brought along by their parents participated in these activities).
The source of the phenomenon in general is to be found in general social conditions and
factors in our culture and our society, which aren‟t usually a part of specific activity in the
educational system.
The involvement of the educational system in areas of social morality can, however,
strengthen the mental and spiritual fibre of the students and help them to handle pressures
and influences in society at large and beyond the boundaries of school.
It is possible that at least some of those attracted to the new groups do so because of a lack
of proper training of thinking or critical faculties, as well as a lack of emotional support
