Yoel Levi, 23, who escaped the extremist Lev Tahor cult in Guatemala seven years ago, has successfully led an eight-month mission that resulted in the dismantling of the cult and the rescue of his family, who have now safely arrived in Israel.
The ultra-insular community, headed by Nachman Helbrans—currently serving a prison sentence in the U.S.—has long faced allegations of child abuse and medical neglect. Yoel, along with his brother Mendy, fled the group at the ages of 16 and 15 and have since dedicated themselves to exposing the mistreatment they witnessed.
Their father, Yehoshua Levi, died in Guatemala over seven years ago after being denied essential medical treatment on the orders of community leaders.
Following a raid on the community compound by Guatemalan authorities eight months ago, during which children were removed and placed in protective facilities, Yoel launched efforts to free his mother, stepfather, and their nine children, including a newborn. Traveling to Guatemala, he worked closely with local officials, pleading for assistance in extracting his family.
According to a report by B’Hadrei Haredim, Yoel managed to obtain covert video footage showing children inside the compound beaten, injured, and dressed in rags. He handed the material over to welfare authorities and assisted them in interviewing the rescued children.
Authorities soon uncovered disturbing evidence: the children had never received dental care or vaccinations and were suffering from severe medical neglect. Testimonies from a married underage couple revealed that at least nine infants had died over a five-year period due to malnutrition and lack of medical care. The teenage parents, only 14 years old, were unable to meet the basic needs of their newborns.
Subsequent searches using tracking dogs uncovered recently dug infant graves at the compound. In response, some adult members of the community made multiple attempts to break into the welfare facility and abduct the children, allegedly in a bid to flee to neighboring countries.
Authorities offered the parents a deal—leave the country with their children in exchange for disbanding the community. Over time, families began relocating to the U.S., Canada, and Israel. The Israeli Ministry of Welfare and the Jewish Agency played key roles in assisting those who chose to immigrate to Israel.
Yoel was aided in the operation by Aryeh Spiner, a fellow former member who left the community at age 14 and has lived in Israel for the past two decades. Spiner, Yoel’s step-nephew, has been active in raising awareness about the group’s abuse and previously testified in a 2016 Israeli court case against Lev Tahor.
Seven months ago, after the Guatemalan raid, Spiner’s brother—Yoel’s stepfather—reconnected with him after 13 years of estrangement. Together, they coordinated the rescue, culminating in the family’s safe arrival in Israel about a week ago.
Today, Lev Tahor’s top leaders are serving lengthy prison sentences in the U.S. for child abuse and abduction. Five remaining members are under house arrest in Guatemala as the final steps are taken to dismantle the sect completely.