Appeal In Ontario Court Seeks To Enforce Quebec Foster Care Order Against Alleged Jewish Religious Cult

As previously reported, last month the insular Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor fled the Canadian province of Quebec and moved to Chatham-Kent, Ontario to avoid Quebec child welfare officials.  Some charge that Lev Tahor is a religious cult under control of its leader Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans. Now the Toronto Star reports that on Dec. 4, Chatham-Kent Children’s Services asked a Justice of the Peace for a warrant that would let them carry out a Quebec court order to place 14 Lev Tahor children in foster care under the guidance of Quebec child-welfare authorities. Quebec claims neglect, psychological abuse, poor nutrition, health problems and home schooling that fails to meet provincial standards.  The Ontario Justice of the Peace rejected the application for the warrant on Dec. 7, and Ontario authorities have filed an appeal.  A brief hearing on the appeal was held Wednesday, with a full hearing scheduled for Dec. 23. Meanwhile Lev Tahor will appeal the Quebec court ruling that first ordered the children into foster care even though they had been moved to Ontario.