32 ICSA TODAY
than 800 groups receive that kind of funding. The law is
very open regarding the kinds of religious or non-religious
groups that can receive that money. However, there are
some lines in the sand: ‘If a religious or philosophical
community, or individuals acting on behalf of the
community, commits violence or coercion, makes threats,
violates children’s rights, violates statutory discrimination
prohibitions or in other ways seriously violates the rights
and freedoms of others, society may be denied grants or
grants may be suspended. Grants may also be refused
or reduced if society encourages or provides support for
violations mentioned in this section.’” (OnlySky, 04/03/22)
Leader of polygamous Jerusalem Cult found dead in
prison cell
“A polygamous cult leader was found dead in his cell at
the Ayalon Prison in Ramle on Friday morning, the Israel
Prisons Service said. Paramedics that were rushed to the
scene declared Daniel Ambash dead after resuscitation
efforts had failed. The prison service says Ambash’s family
was informed of his death and that the circumstances
would be examined. In 2013, Ambash was sentenced to 26
years in prison on 18 charges ranging from sexual offenses,
abuse of minors, incarceration and sadistic violence in
what has been described as one of the most shocking
abuse cases in the country’s history. He was slated to be
freed in 2037. According to Channel 12 news, the parole
board had been due to convene next week to deliberate
Ambash’s request for an early release. A Bratslav ultra-
Orthodox Jew, Ambash headed what came to be known
as the ‘Jerusalem Cult.’ He was married to six wives and
had 14 children, who were all kept by Ambash and his
assistants in slavery conditions, forcibly confined and
routinely punished with rape, electric shocks and beatings.”
(The Times of Israel, 06/10/22)
La Luz del Mundo church leader pleads guilty to sex
abuse charges
“Just days before his long-awaited trial was set to start,
La Luz del Mundo leader Naason Joaquin Garcia
pleaded guilty Friday to sexually abusing girls from his
congregation, a stunning reversal for a man who followers
believe is an ‘apostle’ appointed by God. Originally facing
36 charges, Garcia at the last minute took a plea deal that
called for him to admit to three counts, the state attorney
general’s office announced Friday: two counts of forcible
oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd
act upon a child who was 15 years old. ‘Today’s conviction
sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never
acceptable in California. We will hold you accountable if
you break the law,’ Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said in a news
release issued late Friday afternoon. Garcia, he said,
abused his authority to ‘take advantage of children,’ while
relying on his underlings ‘to groom congregants for the
purposes of sexual assault.’ ‘Today’s conviction can never
undo the harm,’ Bonta declared, ‘but it will help protect
future generations.’ Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained
his innocence for years. His unexpected plea change
came during an unannounced hearing Friday, which was
only disclosed after the fact in a news release.” (LA Times,
06/05/22)
Larry Ray victim details torture, sex abuse inflicted by
Sarah Lawrence ‘cult leader’
“The woman who Larry Ray allegedly forced into
prostitution told jurors at his Manhattan federal court
trial Friday that she turned over to the accused sex cult
leader some $2.5 million paid by johns—and detailed the
physical and mental abuse he allegedly subjected her to
for years. Claudia Drury, who testified under her real name,
briefly addressed the four years she worked as a prostitute
at the direction of Ray while being questioned by
prosecutor Danielle Sassoon. The former Sarah Lawrence
College student said she worked seven days a week,
meeting up to five johns a day at New York City hotels
while she worked as a prostitute for Ray and his alleged
cohort, Isabella Pollok. Drury also detailed the physical
abuse Ray subjected to her [sic]. ‘He slapped me in the face
so hard I fell over. Pulled my hair. Strangled me. Suffocated
me. Hit me,’ she said. Ray also repeatedly threatened her,
she testified, at one time suggesting he could have her
kidnapped and sent to the Middle East. ‘He threatened to
put me in jail numerous times. He threatened to kill me
on a memorable occasion. He threatened to cut my face.
He threatened to have me abducted and dropped in the
Middle East. He threatened to blackmail people I knew,’
Drury said.”(NY Post, 03/18/22)
Lev Tahor cult leaders Nachman Helbrans and Mayer
Rosner sentenced to 12 years
“A federal judge has sentenced Lev Tahor cult leaders
Nachman Helbrans and Mayer Rosner to 144 months
(12 years) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised
released for the 2018 Shabbos kidnapping of two
children who escaped the cult. Back in November of 2021,
Helbrans and Rosner were found guilty on all six charges
they faced, including conspiracy to travel with intent to
engage in illicit sexual conduct, and conspiracy to commit
international parental kidnapping. Several other Lev Tahor
cultists have been arrested in connection with the case,
including brothers Yoel, Yaakov, and Shmiel Weingarten,
who were picked up by Guatemala authorities earlier this
year. They are expected to be extradited to the United
States to face charges and a trial. Three others in the
United States are reportedly cooperating with authorities.”
(The Yeshiva World, 04/02/22)
than 800 groups receive that kind of funding. The law is
very open regarding the kinds of religious or non-religious
groups that can receive that money. However, there are
some lines in the sand: ‘If a religious or philosophical
community, or individuals acting on behalf of the
community, commits violence or coercion, makes threats,
violates children’s rights, violates statutory discrimination
prohibitions or in other ways seriously violates the rights
and freedoms of others, society may be denied grants or
grants may be suspended. Grants may also be refused
or reduced if society encourages or provides support for
violations mentioned in this section.’” (OnlySky, 04/03/22)
Leader of polygamous Jerusalem Cult found dead in
prison cell
“A polygamous cult leader was found dead in his cell at
the Ayalon Prison in Ramle on Friday morning, the Israel
Prisons Service said. Paramedics that were rushed to the
scene declared Daniel Ambash dead after resuscitation
efforts had failed. The prison service says Ambash’s family
was informed of his death and that the circumstances
would be examined. In 2013, Ambash was sentenced to 26
years in prison on 18 charges ranging from sexual offenses,
abuse of minors, incarceration and sadistic violence in
what has been described as one of the most shocking
abuse cases in the country’s history. He was slated to be
freed in 2037. According to Channel 12 news, the parole
board had been due to convene next week to deliberate
Ambash’s request for an early release. A Bratslav ultra-
Orthodox Jew, Ambash headed what came to be known
as the ‘Jerusalem Cult.’ He was married to six wives and
had 14 children, who were all kept by Ambash and his
assistants in slavery conditions, forcibly confined and
routinely punished with rape, electric shocks and beatings.”
(The Times of Israel, 06/10/22)
La Luz del Mundo church leader pleads guilty to sex
abuse charges
“Just days before his long-awaited trial was set to start,
La Luz del Mundo leader Naason Joaquin Garcia
pleaded guilty Friday to sexually abusing girls from his
congregation, a stunning reversal for a man who followers
believe is an ‘apostle’ appointed by God. Originally facing
36 charges, Garcia at the last minute took a plea deal that
called for him to admit to three counts, the state attorney
general’s office announced Friday: two counts of forcible
oral copulation involving minors and one count of a lewd
act upon a child who was 15 years old. ‘Today’s conviction
sends a clear message that sexual exploitation is never
acceptable in California. We will hold you accountable if
you break the law,’ Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said in a news
release issued late Friday afternoon. Garcia, he said,
abused his authority to ‘take advantage of children,’ while
relying on his underlings ‘to groom congregants for the
purposes of sexual assault.’ ‘Today’s conviction can never
undo the harm,’ Bonta declared, ‘but it will help protect
future generations.’ Garcia, 53, had publicly maintained
his innocence for years. His unexpected plea change
came during an unannounced hearing Friday, which was
only disclosed after the fact in a news release.” (LA Times,
06/05/22)
Larry Ray victim details torture, sex abuse inflicted by
Sarah Lawrence ‘cult leader’
“The woman who Larry Ray allegedly forced into
prostitution told jurors at his Manhattan federal court
trial Friday that she turned over to the accused sex cult
leader some $2.5 million paid by johns—and detailed the
physical and mental abuse he allegedly subjected her to
for years. Claudia Drury, who testified under her real name,
briefly addressed the four years she worked as a prostitute
at the direction of Ray while being questioned by
prosecutor Danielle Sassoon. The former Sarah Lawrence
College student said she worked seven days a week,
meeting up to five johns a day at New York City hotels
while she worked as a prostitute for Ray and his alleged
cohort, Isabella Pollok. Drury also detailed the physical
abuse Ray subjected to her [sic]. ‘He slapped me in the face
so hard I fell over. Pulled my hair. Strangled me. Suffocated
me. Hit me,’ she said. Ray also repeatedly threatened her,
she testified, at one time suggesting he could have her
kidnapped and sent to the Middle East. ‘He threatened to
put me in jail numerous times. He threatened to kill me
on a memorable occasion. He threatened to cut my face.
He threatened to have me abducted and dropped in the
Middle East. He threatened to blackmail people I knew,’
Drury said.”(NY Post, 03/18/22)
Lev Tahor cult leaders Nachman Helbrans and Mayer
Rosner sentenced to 12 years
“A federal judge has sentenced Lev Tahor cult leaders
Nachman Helbrans and Mayer Rosner to 144 months
(12 years) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised
released for the 2018 Shabbos kidnapping of two
children who escaped the cult. Back in November of 2021,
Helbrans and Rosner were found guilty on all six charges
they faced, including conspiracy to travel with intent to
engage in illicit sexual conduct, and conspiracy to commit
international parental kidnapping. Several other Lev Tahor
cultists have been arrested in connection with the case,
including brothers Yoel, Yaakov, and Shmiel Weingarten,
who were picked up by Guatemala authorities earlier this
year. They are expected to be extradited to the United
States to face charges and a trial. Three others in the
United States are reportedly cooperating with authorities.”
(The Yeshiva World, 04/02/22)
