Testimony from a Counter-Cult Activist
Last Thursday, I had the zechus of appearing at a hearing before two esteemed non-Lubavitch Rabbonim, Rabbi Dovid Cohen and Rabbi Avraham Twerski, to present testimony about the dangers of the group Call of the Shofar. I would like to share some of the events leading up to that appearance, a description of the hearing, as well as excerpts from my testimony.
I want to preface my remarks by saying to those who may feel pained about having attended COTS, please understand that you were targeted, deceived, and manipulated. I empathize with what you are going through. Know that destructive groups go after the best and the brightest; they want members who give them credibility and will work hard for the organization.
You may know me as a filmmaker, creator of A Light for Greytowers and The Heart that Sings, or as Artistic Director of Kol Neshama, the summer performing arts program for frum girls. Many of you know me for the innovative work I’ve done in Chinnuch, bringing Chassidus literally to life through drama. I have dedicated myself to introducing people to their hidden or undeveloped creative gifts, and giving artistic form to the treasure trove of content in our holy heritage.
I also have a background in destructive cults. Throughout the 90’s, I directed for the television show, America’s Most Wanted, which involved filmed reenactments of real crimes that occurred where the fugitives were on the run. During that time, I was assigned to cover the counter-cult movement in this country. I have worked closely with world renowned cult expert Steven Hassan, who runs the Freedom of Mind Center in Boston, and has authored two best-selling books on the subject. I was trained by Steve and participated with him in a series of interventions.
Call of the Shofar first came to my attention through Berry Schwartz’s December 12th interview with the group’s leader, Steven Frischling, followed by Rabbi Shea Hecht’s article, “Call of the Shofar is a Cult.” I proceeded to read through the hundreds of posts and discovered more discussion threads on Facebook. I immediately recognized several causes for concern, and posted the following:
“I have chosen to put my name on my posts because I have experience in combating cult mind control. There are many ways in which manipulative people/groups exert influence. I am bothered by this group’s recruitment techniques. I am bothered by the euphoria participants are reporting. I am bothered by the loved ones who are concerned about personality changes. I am concerned about the Eastern influence and similarities to EST and the Forum. Of course participants want to connect in a real way, and I am concerned that their vulnerability is being exploited. Groups that practice deceptive persuasion use the bait of truth as well as love-bombing to recruit members. Everyone needs to get educated on the subtle and insidious practices of mind control. Their leader, Mr. Frischling, needs to be thoroughly vetted by experts.”
Several people began reaching out to me privately with disturbing stories, clearly demonstrating that there is far more to this COTS issue than meets the eye.
Here is one example:
“One of my friends became a member of Call of the Shofar. He gave me a really strange book that they “encourage” all of their members to read. He spends a lot of money going to their retreats. Somehow, they convinced him to recruit other people by him paying for them to go to the retreat. He took 3 or 4 friends with him. I think he paid $400 per guest. One of the guys he took with him is a good friend of mine and I tried to gently discourage him from going. Apparently, I had nothing to worry about with that friend being recruited because once they found out he was between jobs and out of money they had zero interest in trying to get him to join. I think that they just want to take advantage of young men who are at a confusing point in their lives, as long as they have disposable income. While I was relieved that my friend didn’t get sucked into it, I’m still worried about my other friend. I don’t want to say anything publicly because I’m trying to keep an eye on him and keep the lines of communication open. Very weird situation. Their methods are very cult-like.”
Upon realizing that COTS had a sophisticated organization in place, I began networking with several prominent Rabbonim, all courageous community leaders, who felt similarly alarmed by the group’s operation, and expressed serious concern about the foreign sources on which the program seemed to be based. I also heard troubling accounts from family members, distraught over the detrimental effects the COTS experience was having on their loved ones.
I entered into heated debates with group members on Facebook. I then uncovered some deeply disturbing information about one of the group’s principal organizers in Crown Heights, and his extensive, well-documented criminal history. Employment on this person’s Facebook page read: Creative Director at Call of the Shofar. After my initial expose on the matter, his titled was reduced to: Enrollment at Call of the Shofar. After last week’s hearing, his title was removed altogether. However, many people are well aware of this person’s high COTS profile, as well as his aggressive recruitment efforts on behalf of the group. Unfortunately, many of the younger people who were recruited by him were completely unaware of his criminal past.
By incredible Hashgacha Pratis, another world-renowned cult and mind control expert, author of several books, and senior authority for Australia, Raphael Aron, happened to be visiting Crown Heights for his grandson’s upsherin at exactly the moment when the COTS story broke. Makdim Refuah L’Makah. Raphael Aron became embroiled in the situation, taking the helm amidst the confusion and problems emerging throughout the community. Flooded with emails and phone calls, he spent his two week visit primarily focused on the complex issues that had besieged the schools. Ironically, just as Raphael Aron returned home to Australia to commence work on an expert report about COTS, Frischling left Australia and landed in Brooklyn, unannounced, demanding meetings with Rabbonim about the Psak against his group. He did not even have the courtesy to phone ahead, and respectfully request an appointment.
In an effort to get an endorsement from Rabbi Avraham Twerski and get the Psak Din of Rabbi Yosef Braun overturned, Frischling was told that Rabbi Twerski needed to hear both sides. A hearing was arranged before renowned Posek Rabbi Dovid Cohen, with Rabbi Twerski in attendance, on Wednesday, January 16. Rabbi Hecht, under the impression that meeting was to be between himself and Frischling, alone in front of the Rav, was surprised to find Frischling with a team of witnesses. Fortunately, Rabbi Cohen scheduled a second meeting one week later, when more evidence could be presented, and the matter would be further explored. Raphael Aron was just beginning to organize the voluminous amount of material he had received. There was no way a comprehensive, professional report could be ready in less than a week. When efforts to postpone the hearing failed, I flew in from Los Angeles to provide testimony, and make the case that no action should be taken hurriedly, before the completion of Raphael Aron’s report.
On Wednesday morning, I arrived at Rabbi Hecht’s office to find that the meeting had been postponed a day due to weather. My testimony was now scheduled to be heard on Chof Beis Shevat.
At the head of the table sat Rabbi Cohen with Rabbi Twerski by his side. Steven Frischling came with two of his senior “facilitators.” Also in attendance were Rabbi Shlomo Segal, member of the Beis Din of Crown Heights; Rabbi Dr. Chaim David Kagan, Rabbi of a congregation in Monsey and Principal of a Lubavitch High School; and Rabbi Hecht.
The meeting began with Rabbi Cohen questioning Frischling about some of his core beliefs. Frischling, by his own admission, acknowledged believing that Moshiach is a state of consciousness rather than a person. He also attested to the fact that he doesn’t daven regularly, nor does he even fulfill the mitzvah of saying Shema, and that he lacked Kabbalos Ol. Consequently, Rabbi Cohen deemed him unfit to be a Mashpia. The two COTS facilitators asked if they could lead the workshops instead. Rabbi Cohen explained that since they were trained by Frischling, their leadership would be problematic.
During Rabbi Cohen’s questioning, conducted with utmost kindness and consideration, Frischling started to become visibly unhinged. He kept interrupting the Rav, lacked composure, and exhibited bizarre behaviors.
Rabbi Segal presented next, reading the Psak Din of Rabbi Zushe Winner, a Rosh Yeshiva in Chabad and pulpit Rabbi in Chabad of Greater Brighton Beach area, outlining six problematic issues with COTS.
Rabbi Hecht explained that several sources for the program’s components have a basis in Avoda Zara. Rabbi Kagan, who had researched Frischling’s teachers and sources, backed up Rabbi Hecht’s claims with evidence.
Frischling then began moaning about being accused of mind control and leading a cult. It seemed my turn to speak had arrived.
“It is an honor to be here, Rabbi Cohen, with such a dignitary and Torah giant, as well as extraordinary Hashgacha Pratis to be appearing on this auspicious day, the Yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. I am certain that the Rebbetzin is empowering me today as a protector of her precious kinderlach, who, I believe, have been targeted by a destructive group, utilizing deceptive persuasion, irresponsibly practicing dangerous psychological techniques, all under the sole supervision of an unlicensed and virtually unknown practitioner.”
At this point, Frischling and his cohorts disrupted and tried to heckle me. Despite the fact that I was the only female in the room, and they were several times my size, I proceeded with even greater intensity.
Here are some highlights of my presentation:
“Cults typically have a pyramid type authoritarian structure with the leader at the top, and an inner circle of devotees who are the most influenced by his mind control. At the bottom of the pyramid are the potential recruits who are being targeted. Above them are the newest members, and so on. People who have attended one retreat are not nearly as impacted by the undue influence of thought reform as those in the leader’s inner circle. This might explain why so many people who have attended a single retreat reject the notion that they have been “brainwashed.”
Renowned cult authority, Margaret Singer, writes in her classic text, Cults in our Midst, “The original point of recruitment may vary (between groups), but one constant factor is that rampant deceptions are involved.” Leaders who use mind control have a belief system that the ends justify the means. For example: Because this is such a great, transformational experience, it is okay to use deception in order to get people to attend.
Numerous reports describe the recruitment tactics COTS members employ. The euphoric friend entices, “You have to go! It’s so amazing! I can’t tell you what goes on there, because it would only diminish the experience.” Or another ploy I heard from several people, “You’ll never guess who’s there! I mean, you wouldn’t believe who goes. I can’t tell you who because we’re sworn to secrecy. But come and have your mind blown.” In cult terminology, this is called deceptive persuasion.
Now that attendees have been lured to the weekend, what happens when they get there? From the start, efforts to separate the participant from his pre-Shofar identity begin. The men are blindfolded, non-Jewish music is blasted, and they are told to dance. Oftentimes, participants feel uncomfortable, this is alien, not for them, they didn’t know what they were getting into. They want to leave, but it’s too late, they’re stuck– it’s almost Shabbos.”
At this point in my presentation, Frischling and his facilitators were incensed. I ended with a summary of the seven areas that will be addressed in Raphael Aron’s expert report.
Honestly, I could make a movie about this entire story. Robin Williams could play Shea Hecht.
The points that I did not have time to make included:
According to reports, Shabbos meals are eaten in silence. Though this practice of “mindfulness” during meals is common to monks in monasteries, it is certainly antithetical and foreign to our normal Shabbos Tisch. Attendees are told the silence is about developing listening skills, and who is the person they practice listening to? Steven Frischling. Davening happens quickly, during which Frischling has been seen meditating, according to testimonials. When asked when he davens, his answer, “That’s private.”
Another workshop involves men locking legs and staring deeply into each others’ eyes for a prolonged period of time. The group is known to target vulnerable young men, some of whom have experienced abuse or trauma. Having already had their personal boundaries violated, this exercise is particularly dangerous for them. I brought a letter from an acclaimed psychiatrist that elaborated further on these points of risk and negligence.
According to Frischling, respect for privacy at Shofar is paramount. How then does he support and encourage a process whereby, during the radical “Carpet Work,” participants reveal to the group their deepest, darkest personal issues, stories that they may never have shared with their spouses or closest friends? Is not “Carpet Work” potentially, the biggest breach of privacy? Some interviewees – especially those who have left Call of the Shofar – experience painful regret about what they disclosed publicly. Rabbi Kagan was prepared to enumerate on the serious halachic problems this practice poses as well.
One of the more disturbing stories, that seems to have been reported from a number of sources, occurred during a workshop where the men were instructed to place their right hand on the shoulder of someone they like and their left hand on the shoulder of someone they didn’t like. In one particular session, all the men placed their left hand on the shoulder of the same man. Devastated, this humiliated man leapt to his feet, fled the Morristown estate, and bolted toward the train station. The entire program stopped. It was clear that something out of control and potentially fatal was about to occur, and everyone ran after him. Fortunately, they were able to catch the poor man before something truly tragic occurred. I am told this exercise is no longer practiced.
This horrific story, involving a vulnerable person, points to the complete lack of accountability within COTS, and lack of professional input into the establishment of the program. There is nothing that insures safety while engaging in these dangerous psychological exercises. Frischling is not a licensed professional, nor are any of his staff. For if they were licensed, guess what, they would then have to be held ACCOUNTABLE to a supervising board or peer review, where there would be an avenue to report complaints. The complete absence of professional supervision demonstrates gross levels of irresponsibility. Furthermore, avoidance of accountability, by having no licensed professionals, further exposes the group’s sinister methodology in which they become the law unto themselves.
As a result of the hearing, Rabbi Cohen paskened that Steven Frischling has the status of Poreik Ol and is not a Yorei Shemayim. Furthermore, he said that he would tell anyone who asks his advice about the COTS program not to go.
In the days to come, Raphael Aron’s in depth report, elucidating the many complex issues involved, will be presented to the public.
Destructive groups violate personal boundaries in the name of giving attendees a transformational experience. Recovery involves restoring healthy and correct boundaries, essential to happiness and well-being.
I would like to conclude by mentioning that in the large cast of heroes in this story, there are several Rabbonim who displayed outstanding courage in the face of intimidation, ridicule, and sometimes hostile resistance: Firstly, Rabbi Yosef Braun and Rabbi Aharon Yaakov Schwei of the Crown Heights Beis Din, who swiftly issued a Psak Din; Secondly, Rabbi Joseph Rosenfeld, Oholei Torah’s Executive Director, and the Board of Oholei Torah, who took a strong and decisive stance; Thirdly, Rabbi Shea Hecht, who places himself in the line of fire, tirelessly dedicated to eradicating this dangerous problem from our community, often at great personal risk.
May we have healing and move forward to greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu… in person!
