A Mother Experiences the KLC
(The Kabbalah Learning Centre)
This article is to encourage people to speak out
about their experiences "Rav" Berg's Kabbalah Learning
Center (KLC) Berg's given name is Feivel Gruberger, an experienced
insurance salesman.
It is essential to keep in mind that the actions of the KLC have
little in common with traditional or even responsible Jewish renewal
Kabbalah teachers.
When I first realized how self-destructively deep my child was
involved in this group, I was paralyzed with horror. This gave
way to fury, anger, frustration and pain beyond words. It made
my blood freeze to realize how subtle and efficient this organization
works.
A Mother experiences the KLC
I went to the center because I wanted to improve my life. To
improve how I felt about myself, my marriage, my career. There
was plenty of room for improvement.
"Kabbalah has the answer for it all", I was assured
by the "rabbi" who was in charge of the center.
That felt great. Finally someone who spoke straight out, full
of confidence. He gave me the impression that now, having come
to them, everything would easily fall into place.
I had to tell what was bothering me, of course. My marital problems
were solved within less than three minutes. "No use fighting
for this relationship. We will find you someone better."
When I answered that this was not exactly what I had in mind and
that there also were some business links that concerned our marriage,
the solution was as simple: I just had to stay on until the business
matters were sorted out and then make up my mind. Maybe I could
even bring my spouse along. "Kabbalah" would bring light
into everyone's world and there might be hope. Could we afford
classes for both of us?
I signed up and attended the Introduction Class.
We were told to write down what exactly we would like to improve
during these weeks and were promised that we would experience
a miraculous change upon completion of the course.
I learned that "restriction was necessary to produce light",
that to "control yourself" was a very important key
to improve your life and that "you have to inject consciousness"
into every single action of your daily life, because we had to
understand that spontaneity was not a good thing, like some psychologists
taught. Everyone had found out, our teacher told us, that psychology
and religion have not helped anyone so far, quite the contrary.
We learned "don't trust your five senses", that the
world as we used to perceive it is nothing but an illusion. The
"material world" is only 1%. The "Real world",
however, is invisible but consists of the 99% that is mathematically
left over in this equation. This is the realm that counts where
the work has to be done.
In due course of the class we were introduced to the "principles
of reincarnation" and "Satan" and learned why the
time to improve ourselves was running out. We did not have many
reincarnations left, if we wanted to be among those who were to
be saved in 240 years, which is Judgement Day.
Gradually we were introduced to the tools that would ensure our
personal improvement - "reconstructing our nature" the
goal of which is "to become godlike" - and that of our
lives: different kinds of meditation, volunteering at the center,
and tithing.
Questions were encouraged, as long as they did not directly concern
the teachings. For example you could ask HOW to do your meditations.
When I asked, "WHY I should accept certain teachings in the
first place?" I was told that "it will all become clear
to you later on". After all, Kabbalah had been a secret science
for centuries and could only revealed to you in little bits and
"whenever you are ready". When I wanted to know why
Kabbalah had not been introduced to the world before, if it abolished
any kind of pain and even would stop wars, the answer was simple.
"The time is right now."
Patience and obedience to the rules were important, if you wanted
results. Questions about the content of the teachings were ignored
or - at best - ridiculed. Were not our lives the ones who needed
improvement? Were not the people at the center happy? They were
the ones that experienced miracles in their lives all the time.
Could we say the same about our lives? If we had indeed experienced
similar "miracles," these were just coincidences, whereas
when you did Kabbalah, the results were "proactively"
produced and were not just arbitrary. There were men and women
who testified how wonderful their lives had become. They spoke
convincingly about how they led better marriages, how their businesses
has prospered, how they had won the battle over cancer and illnesses.
We were invited to Sabbath meetings and dinners. They were lovely.
Everyone was so nice and friendly. We were introduced to certain
rituals; all questions about the "why?" were answered
with "energy". The KLC teachers "know" about
any energy that is out there and to use it for improvement. And
all of them are still learning from "Rabbi Berg" who
knows all the secrets, I was told.
If you want to know why it takes so long to improve the world
with this perfect knowledge at hand, can't you imagine the answer
your "teacher" will give you? The KLC is very liberal,
everyone has the right to chose for themselves, no one is forced
to become a member… Unfortunately as long as the rest of
the world does not "chose" to participate and is too
blind to see the truth, the task for the members is harder and
chaos and Satan will continue to create evil …
At the end of the class, many of us did not experience the promised
miracle. We were told that this was our fault, because we really
didn't try hard enough. Had we done our exercises diligently?
Had we volunteered enough? Was there not a little more that we
could do to contribute to the center? Also, it must not be forgotten
that there was so much more to learn. There were so many more
classes to take. Patience.
I did not have this patience and also did not want to come to
the Sabbath meetings anymore.
"No problem, this was fine," I was told. "Everyone
has his/her own way to follow, but something terrible would happen
to one of my family members and then we would be there for us,
because we are forgiving."
Even though I did not believe their teachings this prophecy about
disaster happening to a person I love terrified me for a long
time - until I learned about "phobia indoctrination"
when I read Steve Hassan's book. The book opened my eyes to the
whole issue of mind control and cults. In the last months I talked
to many people who had once been connected with the KLC and there
are many people who are still afraid. I mused about how psychology
does work after all…
Intellectually, I thought the rhetoric was quite obvious. However,
my brilliant, but naïve child didn't see it as I did. She
attended more classes, one-to-one-consultations, even long weekends.
There was an enormous personality change.
My child now claims she is free of any worldly desires, except
that there always has to be enough money to pay for classes and
activities that concern the center. College is not important anymore;
all spare time is consumed by working ("volunteering")
at the center and to earn money, so that tithing can be done.
Contact to parents and siblings is below minimum level. Conversations
are a distant memory from the past. Discussions are not even remotely
possible. Criticism of the KLC was met with different levels of
arrogance, aggressiveness or flight. In the end our child avoided
us altogether.
We have watched the physical deterioration, the loss of his longtime
friends, the destruction of a promising career. She cannot communicate
normally-everything is in KLC jargon. When she has come home to
visit from a weekend or a seminar, my husband and I feel like
we are watching someone walking on air, utterly euphoric. What
little time that she still spends with the family she is in a
moody, uncommunicative and remote, eyes glazed over. It is a terrifying
experience. Having worked with problem kids, I can compare this
kind of behavior pattern only to drug addicts.
Why did she change like this? How can something like this happen
to a gifted child? Why is it so difficult to penetrate this strange
behavior?
Recruiting and controlling Strategies
(Please, I hope others will also contribute what information they
know that might be useful for others).
When my despair abated I started to educate myself, I read everything
I could find about mind control, meditation, trances - and secret
notes taken from members at classes. I learned it was mind control
indoctrination.
In each class, especially "Personal Growth Workshops",
questionnaires are to be filled out. It is imperative that you
"open up". Also you will soon have "friends"
in who you are encouraged to confide in, who are supposed "to
help you" - especially to "overcome doubts, as doubts
are from Satan".
Some meditations transfer the trusting member to "the ancient
temple in Jerusalem"; in the course of some of these meditations
positive images from your life are substituted with KLC images.
Other meditations are about "The Rav", his greatness
etc.
It is indicated that you are really safe only while at a center
or in its close vicinity. If you travel to somewhere in the world
that has not yet a center it is your "free choice" to
expose yourself to such dangers…
Members are trained in blocking out any attempts of criticism
of the KLC. I am prepared to take a guess that everyone who has
a family member or friend deeply involved in the KLC has experienced
the glazing over of the member's eyes, the rocking forward and
backward, the silent reciting of KLC terminology when confronted
with unpleasant discoveries about the group.
"The Rav" claims to have the power to change the chemical
structure of water and thereby improve its quality to such an
extent that its benefits for the one who drinks it are worth the
price you have to pay for it. (It is sold at every center. Water
provided for meals on weekends is ordinary water). Berg can supposedly
do miracles, has knowledge of teleportation. Again, these techniques
are sold to interested members, regardless of the potential harm
these practices might do to the unsuspecting follower.
"Services" include vehement shaking of fists (induces
hyperventilation, which can make your subconscious more susceptible).
"Alcohol carries light", therefore -especially in the
retreats in LA - consumption of alcohol is encouraged to "get
close to the light" as part of rituals, also to minors.
Members are videotaped.
Members are encouraged to change their first names according
to suggestions of their teacher, because each name "carries
energy" and, of course, your teacher knows best what is best
for you.
You are encouraged "to let go of your family"- unless
you can recruit them, of course.
You are kept busy; there is always something to do. It will never
have an effect "on your tikkun" if you help anyone outside
the center, because "the center is a holy place", chosen
by superior knowledge. (Which is true, because most locations
are where the money is. For example, there is no KLC in Central
Africa, Bosnia or India or even in Central Kentucky…) This
is why you are encouraged to do well financially, because then
"you are able to help the cause better".
If you are a failure in the material world, though, you don't
have much choice but to become a "chevre". You work
at the center fulltime, for a mattress and enough food to keep
you going and thus "bring light to the world" too.
The KLC states that it is "not a religion", but files
taxes as a religion. Members seem to be thrilled that can fool
the IRS, since the organization is "above the 1% world".
In the introduction class you are tempted jokingly, "Isn't
it better to be rich and healthy that to be poor and sick?"
If you don't get these results, it is your fault, but most long
term members have forgotten this alluring recruitment promise.
In spite of long hours of work, often experiencing the same if
not more obstacles than before in their lives they still claim
"It works!"
Why? In the Introduction Course you are taught already that "the
more restriction, the more light", explained by the lightbulb
principle. This translates to "the more pain the more gain".
Doubts about this "are from Satan" - we heard this before…
- and so the circle closes.
Why should we be concerned if our loved ones claim to be happy?
You need not be concerned if you are sure that the member's decision
was made fully informed about everything that entails being a
member BEFORE starting out.
You need not be concerned if the member has had a complete "time-out"
for several weeks /months to be able to inform her/himself thoroughly,
discussed the topic with her/his OWN words and had time to really
think. This is common practice when you decide to join a monastery
the Catholic Church recommends about one year to reflect upon
your decision.
Members of this group, however, are told that, "this is
the absolute and only truth", refusing vehemently to listen
or discuss the topic. Should you be lucky enough to get them to
talk, the best you can expect in most cases is parroted phrases
they learned at the classes and sessions. If you are familiar
with the teachings you will find that most answers you'll get
are literal quotations.
Members are kept by deception and - most appalling - by fear.
I told about the frightening prophecy that I was given. Everyone
I have talked to had similar experiences. Threats of accidents
that you might encounter when you leave, business and or financial
losses (if you are rather materialistically inclined), harm that
might befall someone you love are common practice.
As the member is discouraged from checking out testimonies from
others that have left, these fears stay in place and not only
keep the member in the group, but come in also quite useful to
exert further pressure.
This does not ensure a free choice.
Why should we tell our story?
Every one of us who has been through this experience knows the
changes that occur in our loved one's personality. Caught in the
trap of so-called "self-improvement" lectures, vulnerable,
gentle-minded and idealistically inclined students are gradually,
but ruthlessly, inevitably, submitted to mind control strategies
that are so subtle and efficient that in the end the person exposed
to them is alienated from everyone who really cares about them,
from career goals, things they liked to enjoy, from every human
life experience itself. They are told the goal is "to become
Godlike", to "restructure your psychological DNA"
and although the members are far from the former - and have to
be forever striving that they can be exploited further, the latter
often becomes a horrific reality. In the last few months I have
spoken with many distressed families as well as former members,
and they have all confirmed my own experience: Your son/daughter,
spouse, mother/father, friend changes from a loving caring family
member into a cold, emotionless, detached, arrogant and sometimes
even violent stranger.
I have to point out, though, that recently (2001) - because of
a lot of negative press - communication with family is more encouraged,
and living conditions at the centers have somewhat improved. After
all, just have one more volunteer work in the kitchen and prepare
at least decent food for the hevres is not such a considerable
financial loss. Still, the core problem remains. The mind control
system still is working. It takes some time of subtle but relentless
manipulation to get a new recruit to the point where occasional
little "rewards" like playing ball or going for a swim
support the reward/ punishment system that keep members at bay.
In the end, only one hour of this kind of leisure per week is
sufficient to enforce the conviction of a trained, devoted member
that the KLC is kind and caring.
Enough.
This site is for us to speak out.
Each of us needs all the support we can get. Sharing experiences
is one step. It will show us that we are not alone, that our loved
one is not a silly psycho; it will help us to maintain the love,
the strength and the faith we all need until our loved one is
finally free to choose again.
Each of us alone might never have the clout, legally, financially
or politically to have this group investigated. Together we will.
Pooling information, even though it is done anonymously if you
wish (through Steve Hassan), is the first step to fight for the
freedom of mind and for our families. Media, politicians and law
enforcement cannot in the long run ignore groups that undermine
the very foundations of our society: Family values, freedom and
integrity.
Each of us probably tortures himself/ herself of having failed
our loved one at times. We might have. So what?! If we did, we
still the right to change and work at what we did wrong, and even
if our loved ones do not come back home to us they deserve the
right to come back to themselves. They deserve the right to choose.
The more stories you will hear the more it becomes obvious that
this right does not exist, no matter what you hear. In notes taken
at "advanced" classes I found the imperative that "all
doubts (concerning the KLC's teachings) are from Satan" and
must be fought accordingly.
In the meantime do educate yourself. At the end of the page there
are links to organizations and specialists who have a long and
extensive experience with the situation we are in. The more you
know, the better you can handle the situation- maybe even find
ways to encourage them to think for themselves again, and you
can understand the enormous pain every member goes through. Hopefully
it will also arouse your moral courage not to let an organization
showing unscrupulous greed get away with wringing every possible
cent out of its members with no apparent regard for humanity.
Safety
Most of all: Don't be afraid. If you are an ex-member read up
on the subject of "phobia indoctrination". This is a
very efficient means to keep members staying in the group and
even terrify people enough to keep silent after they left. In
my own story, I gave you an example of how they worked it on me,
and I am ashamed to admit that it worked to a certain extent.
After all, we all are vulnerable somewhere. Joining a group like
the KLC means that these vulnerable spots will be the first ones
that you will be asked to expose "for your own spiritual
growth". This shows exactly the Achilles' heel where they
will hit you. It is a very effective tool, but keep in mind that
it has nothing to do with supernatural powers, just plain psychology.
If you decide to publish your story, but fear that this might
cause retaliation from the group or estrange your loved one even
further, this is what we recommend and intend:
