American Children 'Rescued' from Ultra-Orthodox...

By Jesus Mesa

Politics Reporter

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Seventeen minors, including U.S., Canadian, and Guatemalan nationals, were "rescued" from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor in Colombia, according to local authorities. The operation marks the latest international intervention targeting the group, which is under investigation for child abuse and other crimes.

Colombia’s immigration agency, Migración Colombia, confirmed the operation took place on Sunday in Yarumal, Antioquia. The agency said five of the rescued children had active “yellow notices” from Interpol—alerts used globally for missing persons, particularly minors at risk of abduction or trafficking.

Why It Matters

The group, long the subject of international scrutiny, is described by authorities and former members as a cultlike sect that practices extreme interpretations of Jewish law and isolates its followers. Lev Tahor’s practices, which have included advocating for child marriages, forced relocations, and rigid dress codes, have sparked investigations in several countries over the past decade.

What To Know

Colombian officials said the 26 individuals—including 17 minors—found during the operation had entered the country from New York in late October. Authorities referenced active alerts from partner agencies in the U.S. and Guatemala concerning known members of Lev Tahor, including individuals with prior convictions for child sexual exploitation and kidnapping.

“The absolute priority is ensuring the protection of these minors,” Gloria Esperanza Arriero, director of Migración Colombia, said in a statement shared with Newsweek. She emphasized that authorities acted preventively and in coordination with several Colombian agencies. “We ensured an integrated response that safeguarded their rights and well-being,” Arriero said.

Arriero also clarified that this was not a case of abducted children, but part of an ongoing legal process in the United States.

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Founded in the 1980s in Jerusalem by Shlomo Helbrans, Lev Tahor—which translates to “pure heart”—has shifted its base multiple times in response to legal actions and investigations. The sect has previously sought refuge in Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Iran, and even Bosnia. Its male members spend most of their days in prayer and Torah study, while women and girls over the age of three wear full-body black garments, which has prompted the nickname “Jewish Taliban” in media and law enforcement circles.

The sect has faced extensive allegations of child abuse and trafficking.

A December 2024 raid by Guatemalan authorities led to the removal of 160 children from a farm occupied by Lev Tahor. And in the U.S., Nachman Helbrans—son of the sect’s founder—is serving a prison sentence after being convicted of kidnapping two children from New York in an attempt to forcibly return them to the group.

According to estimates by advocacy group Lev Tahor Survivors, the sect consists of several hundred members, many of whom are held under coercion or fear.

The sect has consistently denied all abuse allegations and has claimed it is the target of religious persecution by various governments, including Israel.

What People Are Saying

Gloria Esperanza Arriero, director of Migración Colombia, said in a statement shared with Newsweek: “The international community must understand the severity of these cases.”

Marcos Peckel, director of the Jewish Community of Colombia, said in a post on X: “That sect, Lev Tahor, is contrary to Jewish law and traditions and was expelled from Guatemala for mistreatment and violation of girls, boys, and women, as well as multiple criminal activities. I thank @MigracionCol for the operation, and we hope that that sect of foreigners does not settle in Colombia.”

What Happens Next

Colombian authorities said they will assess the removed children’s immediate needs, verify identities, and determine whether any have been trafficked or abused.

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