By Raphael Aron
I am presenting this document as a professional report on the US-based organization Call of the Shofar.
I am writing this report in my capacity as Director of Cult Consulting Australia situated in Melbourne, Australia. Cult Consulting Australia offers assistance to families who have been affected by cults and missionary groups. The organization also conducts research into issues of thought reform and mind control and acts as an advisor to government authorities and the media.
I am the author of “Cults: Too Good to Be True” (Harper Collins, 1999) and “Cults, Terror and Mind Control (Bayside Publishing 2009.) I am also the author of “Spirituality and Intimacy” (Devora Publications, October 2008,) “Believe – From Addiction to Redemption” (Fontaine Press, February 2009) and “Diaries of Addiction (American Publishing company 2010).
Since 1975, I have worked intensely with over 500 families whose lives have been impacted by the involvement of a loved one in what is commonly referred to as the ‘cult phenomena’.
I have lectured extensively on the issue of mind control and thought reform in Australia, the United States, Canada, Israel and China.
I have assisted clients and provided expert evidence to the court and correctional system (the Magistrates and County Courts, The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Crimes Compensation Tribunal, the Department of Human Services and The Department of Community Services) in relation to criminal and family matters primarily in Australia but also overseas.
The expert evidence has been provided to assist the courts determine whether a particular organization or establishment is involved in practices of mind control or thought reform.
I have provided expert testimony to the Australian government in relation to the activities of suspect organizations and am the first point of contact for most media outlets in Australia. Details regarding these initiatives appear on Cult Consulting Australia’s website.
This report has been prepared with the understanding that I am qualified and experienced to be able to respond to the issues listed in the Terms of Reference included in this document. The information on this report is based has been sourced from a range of communications. They include:
* Letters from observant women whose husbands have participated in Call of the Shofar weekend retreats and are concerned about the effect of these programs on issues such as standards of Torah observance and Sholom Bayis.
* Letters from Rabbonim and other community leaders concerned about the participation of their staff in Call of the Shofar.
* The responses of educators and Mashpi’im (spiritual mentors) at Oholei Torah whom I addressed at meetings in Crown Height in December 2013.
* Over one hundred emails from people who had participated in Call of the Shofar weekends; some emails expressed concern while others spoke of the benefits of the program.
* Emails from Call of Shofar staff members who were seeking clarification of a range of issues in relation to Call of the Shofar and their roles in the organization.
* Personal interaction with participants of Call of the Shofar and their families regarding their views and any concerns.
DOWNLOAD:
+ Call of the Shofar Professional Report – March 2014.
I had a quick read through the report, and my suggestion to people of all ages, is that if someone makes you do something you don’t feel comfortable with, leave and go and discuss it with someone you trust.
There is a letter from the Rebbe in the 3-volume “Healthy in Body Mind and Spirit” from SIE that discusses hypnotherapy. I’ll try to find it today and post.
You say our community needs to figure out healthier ways……. We have it ALL at our fingertips – all we need to do is open our eyes and look in the right places. It reminds me of the wife who had an adoring husband but all she cared about was hearing ‘false’ praise from her acquaintances –until one day when it was nearly too late – she realized that the compliments were self serving and her husband’s was from the heart and all he wanted in return was acknowledgement and some reciprocation. The couple worked it out eventually; there was… Read more »
Maybe this has done more healing than anything else could
Very well written and clear. Can you please publish the letter from 1979 where the Rebbe discourages hypnotherapy. When I lived on Baltimore the community seemed to have no problem with a certain hypnotherapist in the community. Can someone please clarify this for me and all who read on COL
Thx.
Our community needs to figure out healthier ways to bring people joy and meaning in their lives. Otheriwise peopke will continue looking in all the wrong places.
A good place to start might be a strong work ethic, kovia itim and less glorifying of the gashmious of the world.
COTS was nothing more than the realization of a disturbed individual’s “dream” of “healing” the world from HIS sickness. A man filled with contradictions and hypocritically posing as a ben Torah in order to create disciples and make money in so doing. A “rabbi” who was not one, “education” that was not therapy! The list goes on. Besides the psychological and hashgafa dangers of this man’s philosophy and practices highlighted, one of the most revealing aspects of this report is the founder’s refusal to discuss his religious beliefs and practices. How many would have attended his workshops had they known… Read more »
Clears that up…
This finally clarifies the issues. I re-read all the posts on the subject before reading here. Thanks to Rabbi Shea Hecht, Rabbi YItzchok Shochet who flagged up the concerns at the beginning bringing all this to light. Thanks to the Rabbonim who partook in the big asifa for enlightening everyone as well and bringing focus back to the table. And thanks to COL for exposing this and helping us all through it. Most of all thanks to Rapahel Aron for putting the many necessary nails into the coffin in burying this matter once and for all.
Kol HaKavod!! May it help people heal.
While I personally was divided till now, his break down of the key issues has shed a lot of light. Besides for all that, it all means less to me than the honor of being the first to comment! Well done me!