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26 Adar 5761 - March 21, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Lev L'Achim Demands Closure of Scientology School; Cancellation of Approval of Scientology Textbooks
by Betzalel Kahn

On 20 Adar (March 15), Lev L'Achim appealed to the High Court to issue an order to prohibit the Education Ministry from granting a license to the Atid school of the Scientology cult. In addition, it has demanded that the Ministry retract its approval of Scientology textbooks recently approved for use.

In a petition presented by Attorney Tomer Moskowitz from the Jerusalem Gal-Ber Sela law office to the High Court, it is stated that the Atid school was established by the "NPO for Progressive Education in Israel" and that it expressly uses the Scientology approach of Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology.

The inter-ministerial Committee for the Examination of Cult Issues has determined that Scientology is a cult, topping the current list of cults. Among other things, the Committee report on Scientology states: "Scientology is a blend of falsehood, deception and fantasy . . . Its practical methods constitute a serious threat: from medical, ethical and social vantage points . . . It is a cause of dissension, suspicion and distrust between family members, as well as financial difficulties."

The petition also states that the Israel government is aware of the dangers of Scientology, and is obliged to safeguard the citizens of the State from damage likely to ensue from cult activities. It is the government itself that decided five years ago, "to initiate suitable guidance and consultation procedures for students and to spur teachers on various levels to implement the plan."

At the beginning of this school year, Lev L'Achim demanded that the Education Ministry close the school. However, nothing happened. Recently the Lev L'Achim activists learned that the school -- in which scores of students from all over the Dan region study -- has received a license for the year of 5761 and has been recognized as an accredited, non- official educational institution. This status enables it to receive State funding.

Since Lev L'Achim's appeal to the Education Ministry has gone unanswered, it had no recourse other than to ask the High Court to demand that the Education Ministry withhold licensing from the school.

The petition also claims that since Scientology defines itself as "a new religion," referring to itself as the "Church of Scientology," the law the provides, "One who converts a minor or takes any other steps leading to the conversion of a minor is punishable by six months in prison," applies to the Atid school, since it teaches its students to believe a faith other than their own.

Activists of Lev L'Achim's Anti-Cult Department have recently discovered a many Scientology cult advertisements addressed to the public at large. These advertisements state that books written by the cult leader, Ron Hubbard, have been certified by the Education Ministry and recognized as textbooks in the Israeli school system.

Under the headline "Good News," the publishing arm of the Scientology cult urges its members to distribute the books in every manner possible. "We never had this before: approval from the Education Ministry to introduce our books into the educational system," says the advertisement.

Lev L'Achim activists were startled to see that Binyamin Levi, responsible for approval of textbooks in the Education Ministry, wrote an official letter to the director of the Scientology cult publishing arm informing him that a review of the books appears in the circular of the director of the Education Ministry in the bibliographical column for teachers.

This week, Lev L'Achim's attorney, Tomer Moskowitz, sent an urgent letter to the Education Ministry, demanding that the Ministry cancel its certification of these books and issue a warning to school principals that these books are Scientological in nature and must not be used.

Copies of the letter were sent to the new Education Minister, Limor Livnat and to Dorit Morag, the Ministry's legal advisor. In the letter, Attorney Moskowitz notes, "All of the government committees that examined cults in Israel have cited the Scientology cult as one of the most dangerous mystical cults in the world."

Rabbi Moshe Lachover of Lev L'Achim's Anti-Cult Department, noted that although the cult is being represented by a well- known publicity firm whose proprietor is himself a cult member and a well known Knesset lobbyist, the cult failed in its attempts to ban the administering of Ritalin to children with behavioral difficulties.

A stormy deliberation was held at a meeting of the Drugs Committee of the Knesset on this issue. At the meeting, attended by Lev L'Achim representatives, worldwide experts in the field as well as Health Ministry experts and doctors from both public and private health services presented their professional opinions. All opposed the Scientology cult demand with respect to Ritalin, which the cult had backed with an expensive publicity campaign.

The Lev L'Achim administration has issued repeated warnings to the public to avoid all contact with workshops "for the improvement of independence of thought" and similar topics without thoroughly clarifying who is behind these courses. This warning is issued in the light of recurrent unfortunate incidents. In order to help the community to check these courses, Lev L'Achim has instituted an information service, which can be reached by dialing the toll free number: 1-800- 366-100.

 

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