The Global Garden Parents’ Correspondence After Laitman’s Letter

What This Correspondence Is

This is an email chain among parents and participants in the Global Garden environment after a letter sent in the name of Michael Laitman on March 31, 2013. The correspondence includes Laitman’s account and his circle, parents, the kindergarten management, staff, and participants in the internal Bnei Baruch environment. Among the senders is Benyamin Kogan, who is connected in the AMI article to the later police complaint.

The participants discussed serious reports about child safety, supervision, sanitation, food, rough treatment, and possible sexual episodes between children. These reports are presented here as the contents of letters and the positions of participants in the correspondence, not as court-established facts.

The chain shows two lines colliding. Some parents demanded a concrete review: what happened, who knew, what had been reported to parents, and what action had been taken. Others translated the crisis into the language of “spiritual work,” unity, “there is none else besides Him,” and the need to “rise above the situation.”

The correspondence does not prove malicious intent as fact. But it documents an attempt to keep the problem inside the group: to replace outside review with internal meetings, committees, and workshops, and to turn a demand for facts into a question of loyalty, correct spiritual attitude, and willingness to “judge to the side of merit.”

How the Email Chain Is Structured

The chain begins on March 31, 2013 with a letter sent in Laitman’s name and the first parental reactions. In the first day, the discussion quickly moves from shock to scheduling meetings, shifting meeting times, and trying to define the line between pedagogical problems and reports requiring outside review.

On April 1-2, the emails show a dispute over whether facts can be discussed separately from the “spiritual goal.” On April 4, Yael and Rachel Laitman send a clarifying letter about the origin of the initial allegations. After that, Benyamin Kogan and other parents argue about review, responsibility, internal containment, and attempts at reconciliation through workshops. Later messages from April 5 and April 14 translate the crisis into the language of a shared “exercise” and group correction.

Full Text of the Correspondence

March 31, 2013 — Michael Laitman

Subject: Letter from Rav Laitman to the parents of the children in the Global Garden.

Below is the original To: line from the first email. It shows broad distribution to parents and participants; by itself, the recipient line should not be read as proof that every recipient retained the entire later chain.

To: fischzang mina, Or Ohev Ami, Elina Gerdev, Miki Freidman, Alex Freidman, דינה אדס, Anna G, סוניה אישנקו, תכלת, Tamar Akerman, גילת שוחט, מוטי שוחט, לירון לוי, סיון ויצפלד, daniel boaz, Danny Weissfeld, Nirit Feder, Cynthia Kalinscky, Michael sombol, yael sofer, גרשון פרץ, ענת אלינב, Uri Elinav, R S, Nino Melehov, luda tihtman, Sara Israely, Raya David, ניקי סוביק, yael shalev, Asher Bitton, אפרת אשר, יעל גר, shuli kohelet-oren, Natalie Shir, shelly perets, Sara Ershkovich, Ariel Ershkovitz, Lilach Hakim, שולי חכים, Sharon Barzilai, Anna Kogan, אולגה מאירוביץ’, דפנה בר, Yoav Bar, Ester Adam, מורן לב, yafit moyal, Einat Hayman, Yonit Regev, michail arshavsky, Mazi Hecht, Karbaner Keren, Keren Applebaum, Tomer Applebaum, Ushpiz Dvora, michal reym, moran grinberg, כרמית לבשוב, Alona Friman, אילנית יזרסקי, שירה ליבוביץ, Oren Leibovich, rachel laitman, laitman2, Mooshy Sanilevich, The Spiritual Directorate, Yehudith Sabal, Gilad Shadmon, avihu-kbb1

March 31, 2013 — Oren Leibovich

Dear Rav. Do not fear revenge; you are our faithful and beloved teacher. It appears that the kindergarten will close within a short time. For the parents, the kindergarten will be open from Tuesday as usual, but we will probably enter a process of dissolving the business, unless Bnei Baruch decides to take it and lead it under its own umbrella.

Of course, in this letter I am not confirming the things written in the letter, all of which were told to Shira and me last Friday by the women of the Laitman family. At the same time, the very fact that a letter of this kind arrived, and all the thoughts it has already produced and will produce, proves what the Rav said: that there cannot be a private business next to Bnei Baruch.

I ask everyone to be restrained and measured, and for now to concentrate on the exodus from Egypt that is coming upon us for good.

Oren Leibovich

March 31, 2013 — Yael Shalev

I just saw my wife agitated in front of the computer. I came over and read. This is her email, and my wife is a kindergarten teacher on the Global Garden staff, but I am writing as Naomi’s father. She is soon finishing two happy, joyful, and safe years in the kindergarten.

I am glad and grateful to the Creator that after the astonishment and shock before the letter, He brought me to a state of detachment and stabilization of the picture: there is none else besides Him, and He is good and does good. We know and are certain that our teacher acts only from a place where he wants to bring us to greater connection and unity, and to see the Creator’s game with us.

I understand Oren’s pain and sorrow, but it seems to me premature to announce the dissolution of the business before we, the parents, clarify the matters among ourselves.

I demand that the kindergarten team convene all the parents for an urgent meeting among us, as soon as possible, in order to clarify the case from the new degree.

Amit Shalev

March 31, 2013 — Danny Weissfeld

Dear one family.

In an hour we leave Egypt. Let us concentrate our efforts on that.

Tomorrow, when we are in the desert, we will continue the clarification, as Amit suggested.

It is important that we not forget that there is none else besides Him, and that everything comes to us so that we will reach greater connection and serve as an example to the world.

L’chaim to the wicked who are revealed and to the light that corrects them. Through this exercise we will reveal a new degree of connection and love among us.

Danny

March 31, 2013 — Olga Meyerovitch

I join the words of those before me.

Now we concentrate on the correct intention. After all, the kindergarten is corporeality, and we have a spiritual goal in life.

Today we will make a joint effort to rise above all this and strengthen in our thoughts all the friends and women friends in the world kli in general, and especially all those to whom this story is more connected.

March 31, 2013 — Oren Leibovich

Tomorrow there will be a conversation with all the kindergarten parents in the presence of the Rav. A notice about the exact time will be sent later.

Oren

March 31, 2013 — Alex Freidman

Friends,

Let us not get confused: our spiritual goal in life is not connected to this right now, and each person needs to do his own private inner work all the time, now as well. The letter was sent precisely now, from a person who understands a thing or two about that work.

But regardless of that, the things are very serious. I am quoting: “criminal neglect, criminal failures, and terrible problems that occur in the kindergarten on a daily basis.”

We need to receive as quickly as possible an explanation, confirmation, or refutation for each and every one of the serious claims that were made. If our children underwent this or that abuse, we must know about it.

And I personally also want to understand: if these things are true, who already knows about it, and for how long? Could it be that our children are undergoing abuse and people in our community know and remain silent?

Shira, Oren, and the kindergarten staff: of course, you cannot ask us to be satisfied with an announcement that the kindergarten will close soon. And I ask again not to hide behind words about spiritual work when things like this are written. This is not an email raising the importance for the world kli; it is an email to parents of children in the Global Garden, who, according to the letter, sent their children to a place completely different from what they thought.

Precisely because of what and who we are, everything must be investigated and clarified.

Alex Freidman

April 1, 2013 — Michael Sonbolian

Wow, how “there is none else besides Him” spins us around, from the most negative to the most positive, sometimes with the stick and sometimes with the carrot, only so that we will relate to Him more and more.

:-)

Tomorrow we will already meet and talk about everything.

Just do not forget that all this is so that we will rise a level in the relations between us, improve our sensitivity, and improve our amazing kindergarten, which I can praise endlessly. For me personally, the kindergarten made a spiritual revolution at home: it turned my wife, who had opposed the wisdom of Kabbalah, into a neutral supporter; it turned my two-and-a-half-year-old child into a practical revelation of the Creator, whom I envy every day.

Even the grandfather and grandmother, who used to dismiss all the study of mutual guarantee, see the little two-and-a-half-year-old grandson caring for his siblings, constantly sharing things with them and thanking them for taking from him, and many more things that I am sure we all see and feel.

So it is clear and known that this kindergarten is so great and precious that the Creator wants us to raise it to an even greater degree.

Good night and happy holiday.

Here is a quote from the Rav’s words about difficult states, when he described this week the case in which someone broke into Racheli’s apartment.

There is a feeling that someone broke into our kindergarten.

Oren: This is what I wanted to ask: how do you teach us to relate to this? What is the precise order of reaction for a person on our path, from the moment he receives this good influence from the Creator, which is felt inside him in a negative form? What is the correct order of reaction in order to advance spiritually?

Rav: To try to hold oneself in “there is none else besides Him” with all one’s strength, in whatever way possible. Only not to leave that thought - the thought. Sometimes I could not. I would drink half a glass of whiskey, to calm down a little. Perhaps it looks like escape, but the most important thing is not to leave the thought.

Here is the game. It comes from Him. That is all. To this thought, that it comes from Him, like an iron pole that ties you and Him, you can now add: why, from where, and so on; how do I respond, what do I do; all kinds of things. But it is from Him. So that there will be no disconnection.

To such an extent that if you see that it is disconnecting, you need to do something physically: run to the group if you are not in it; call by phone; as I drank whiskey; I do not know, do all kinds of actions, maybe a tranquilizer. Only do not allow yourself to disconnect from the fact that it comes from “there is none else besides Him.” That comes first.

And afterward, on this thought that there is none else besides Him, add, add, add all the discernments, until you reach justification: from the most negative form to the most positive form. So that even if I could now prevent it, I would not prevent it. I already begin to see how much it comes to correct me, and not just to say “atonement” as a phrase, but because we must.

Now, as you say, blessed be God, we do not lack such things. So we need truly to say “blessed be God,” to thank for the bad as for the good. And we will truly feel that only good comes to us. And this is not Hasidism, because this is how you reveal the Creator.

And again I say: there are people, let us say, today we have many guests, who are somewhere out there, in a distant place, where the connection is not there, and that is also not good, and so on. Everything depends on the person. If he grasps his connection with the Creator correctly, and then dresses all the rest of the connection with us on his connection with the Creator, he can advance with wonderful speed. Only to receive all the things that come from “there is none else besides Him.”

April 1, 2013 — Oren Leibovich

A meeting of the staff and kindergarten parents in the presence of the Rav will take place tomorrow, Monday, from 9:45 to 11:00, between the end of the lesson and the beginning of the meal. A notice about the exact location will be given immediately at the end of the lesson; it may take place on the roof of the new building.

April 1, 2013 — Shira Leibovich

Dear parents,

So that it will be more convenient for everyone, the meeting will take place at 4:15 in the old center.

April 1, 2013 — Shira Leibovich

We are checking the possibility of holding it now. We hope everyone will be able to come.

April 1, 2013 — Sivan Weissfeld

We are on the roof in the new building. The conversation is now.

April 1, 2013 — Efrat Asher

What does now mean? They announced that the conversation is at 4:15, no?

April 1, 2013 — Oren Leibovich

The conversation will take place today at 4:00 p.m. in the Global Garden. Sorry for the changes and confusion.

Oren

April 1, 2013 — Keren Krevner

Until 4:00 p.m., I suggest that we all prepare: how do we correct.

I also feel that it is important to lower the pressure level, give one another security, and give room to all opinions.

We are not a court. We need to speak about needs and think together about solutions.

After all, in connection, nothing is lacking: neither skills nor solutions. Everything exists. So let us be open, without “sacred cows.”

Our goal is to make the most correct decisions together.

April 1, 2013 — Michael Sonbolian

I very much agree with Keren, and will add a slightly crazy personal fragment that just happened.

There was a short conversation on the roof with the Rav and his wife, but it was very charged and difficult, with many misunderstandings, crying, anger, and shouting.

The situation is difficult for all of us, but all of us have good intentions, I am sure of that. We meet again at 4:00 p.m. in the kindergarten itself.

The main points, as I understood them, and perhaps I did not understand everything, for those who missed it, briefly and very concisely:

• There are no complaints about the group of the younger boys and girls.
• Everything is only regarding the older group.
• Everyone should feel free to speak as they wish, only please respectfully toward one another and in order.
• It is necessary to separate the kindergarten from the Bnei Baruch organization: the kindergarten is a private kindergarten in every respect.
• Racheli Laitman raised a series of changes that, in her opinion, need to be made in the kindergarten.
• Others also suggested other changes.

Let us gather together at 4:00 p.m. in the kindergarten and think how to correct, improve, and build the future that is so important to all of us.

The care and good will belong to all of us. We only need to learn how to combine them, and we will succeed.

An even crazier fragment happened to me personally. As my wife and I were coming down from the difficult conversation on the roof and hearing about the kindergarten of our young son, when we got downstairs we met Mrs. Vlad, whom we had not seen for maybe half a year. Suddenly, out of nowhere, as if from the sky, she runs to us and says: “Tell me, what is happening in your school? My son is with you in school, in second grade. I am very shocked and want to take him out of the school.”

Completely serious.

:-))

I look at my wife and already do not know what to say. We ran home.

What a crazy Creator we have, wow.

April 1, 2013 — Michael Sonbolian

By the way, does anyone perhaps have an arrangement for children? We are looking for an arrangement for our three children during the hour of the conversation at the kindergarten. Or maybe only my wife will come and I will stay home with them?

Thank you.

April 1, 2013 — Michal Reym

Can one come with children?

April 1, 2013 — Natalie Shir

In my opinion, it is better not to come with children. They do not need to be exposed to this.

I want to add that we need to separate pedagogy, such as dirty toilets and lack of organization and order, from criminal offenses, such as violence, sodomy acts, and so on.

In addition: my Yonatan is in the kindergarten, in Daniel’s group. I have not seen signs of violence or, God forbid, other offenses in my son. I follow very closely and am very strict about checking, asking, and so on.

It happened that he came back from the kindergarten with a bruise, and once with a burn, and no one knew what or why. Yonatan said it was from the oven, and that was very strange and extremely dangerous.

He did tell me that older children put younger children into the storage room, and that this is the “prison” game.

He told me about the “doctor and patient” that took place in the kindergarten.

He told me that sometimes Asher and Daniel take children forcefully and move them to another area. Sometimes this is also legitimate; I worked in a kindergarten, and we also did that in cases of children who were acting wildly.

And he said that they do indeed sit on Asher.

This does not mean that the things were done with bad intent, and it does not mean that Daniel and Asher behaved violently toward them.

In no way did he tell me about signs of violence, slaps, or other extreme situations.

Regarding food, Yonatan says there is always enough food for everyone, that they give as much as one wants.

Regarding Gershon, Yonatan said he never saw Gershon hit. Not even shout. He said he is a good and loving guide.

Beyond that, my Yonatan very much loves coming to the kindergarten and is very happy there.

It also bothered me that people do not talk about the kindergarten with friends and that this is called gossip; the times I approached Shira with problems, she told me not to talk to anyone.

On the other hand, she is right, because we are a small community and rumors get wings within minutes, and sometimes this can cause harm.

And yes, many times I came to the kindergarten and saw that there was a severe shortage of staff. No one could even open the gate for me. Children were wandering around freely.

And from the beginning of the year I too have been warning about the bad food.

In short: on the pedagogical level there is work to do. But it is more important to me to receive concrete and unequivocal answers about what did or did not happen in the kindergarten on the criminal level.

April 1, 2013 — Michael Laitman

With the help of Heaven.

I think I did what I had to do.

There is no further need for me.

I do not belong to the future of the kindergarten.

I also ask that it stop being called “global.”

Good luck.

Laitman

April 1, 2013 — Ruth Kaplan

We think we have lost the only thing that made it possible to revive the kindergarten and give it a healthy foundation for development: the Rav’s advice and supervision over the kindergarten. Now the kindergarten is one of the private kindergartens that do not belong to Bnei Baruch, and there is no special reason to bring a child there if the parents want to give him the correct foundation for the path of life.

None of us understands that only the Rav can give us a path and foundation from his degree, and we are not ready to accept the advice he wanted to give us with all his heart. Very unfortunate.

We have nothing personal against the kindergarten staff and Gershon; Menashe too will be very upset if he does not go to the kindergarten. However, everything being said about the kindergarten requires detailed clarification.

The fact that they did not make sure to call all the parents to the meeting that was on the roof shows insufficient concern for the good of all the children.

Gadi and Ruth Kaplan

April 1, 2013 — Raya David

From the beginning of the year we have been talking about cooperation and one family. So what does “not telling things” mean? Does a family hide things? It is negligence on the part of the staff, and also on the part of the parents, not to talk.

We brought our children with closed eyes and complete confidence, as to a second home.

And why, according to the Rav’s words, was there no cooperation from the kindergarten? After all, from the beginning of the year we were promised by the Rav that he would accompany and be present in the whole process and content, that we would build it together. So why were suggestions for improvement from him and from education professionals not accepted?

We follow the Rav in everything, and in educating our children we will not follow? After all, education is all our dissemination, and these are our children.

One thing is clear: this way it will no longer work. We need to leave everything, rise, and build something new above it.

In light of the fact that most of the problems arose from lack of professionalism, the logical solution is to bring in professionals, pay them money, and give them a course in mutual guarantee, circles, and so on.

After all, our children need to function and work in our world like ordinary people, so we must provide them with basic knowledge, besides spirit, but also an environment.

But certainly not to put our children into the sick external society and then deal with it.

So together.

April 1, 2013 — Shira Leibovich

Reminder: tomorrow the kindergarten will not open.

April 1, 2013 — Natalie Shir

Friends, forgive me for writing again. But my heart gives me no rest. I thought a lot and I am writing to you in tears.

Daniel Boaz gave the children his soul. My Yonatan adores him. Asher gave them warmth and love; Yonatan loves him like an older brother.

Shira cared for everyone with all her heart, with a smile, softness, and warmth. She helped us many times in special cases. She is a wonderful woman. I work with her on the help committee and know what a great soul she has.

Oren is an example to me of a guy who gives everything to the community, the kindergarten, and the society.

Gershon is an amazing guide, and I had more than one or two chances to hear him speak to the children gently and pleasantly.

It is true that there are deficiencies in the kindergarten. It is true that there is a financial problem that causes a variety of other problems, and also management problems.

But my intuition and history say one thing: these people gave their hearts to our children.

It is true that I have criticism of the management, because they simply could not bear all the work. And there is room for improvement. But I want it to remain at the business level.

On the personal level, I believe in you and believe you.

You are beloved friends, and my heart is with you.

Thinking of you, that we will succeed in getting through this together.

April 1, 2013 — Liron Levi

When I put the boys to bed tonight, Michael says to me: “Mom, I miss the guides.”

And my heart tore inside.

I asked, “Who do you miss?”

He says, “Shira, Daniel, and Asher.”

I am setting aside for a moment all the hard things we have dealt with in these two days. No matter where everything rolls from here, it is important for me also to express my appreciation for what you gave the children.

Many times I was amazed by your investment, devotion, and warmth toward the children. Sometimes it even came at the expense of your private lives.

With God’s help, over all of this we will reveal the next degree soon.

April 2, 2013 — Keren Applebaum

I only want to express that I am very worried about the situation. I see justified claims on both sides, and I can say about Naomi, who is in the kindergarten, that I did see problems and somewhat strange things happening. At the same time, she very much loves the teachers and friends in the kindergarten and goes to the kindergarten happily.

I am sorry if this whole story had to reach authorities such as the police and welfare services, because I have some personal experience with welfare services, and these authorities can cause very great and lasting harm to everyone, including the kindergarten staff, the Rav and his family, our organization, and all our dissemination.

I wish we could solve the situation among ourselves, as in a family. We have lawyers and psychologists. We could have made an internal, “family” court, without making it official and with irreversible consequences.

April 2, 2013 — Dina Zisu-Ades

In all these emails there are opinions this way and that, but there is one clear need that comes up again and again: change.

I think that since the Rav is our spiritual guide and surely knows what is good for us in every area of our spiritual advancement, it is desirable that we relate to the changes he asks for.

These changes will bring only good to all of us. There is no need to fear changes. In the enterprise as well, the Rav changes things every time; these physical changes are healthy for a person’s advancement.

I think that as one family we need to embrace everyone and do everything, absolutely everything, so that the Rav will embrace the kindergarten and continue to lead it together with us. This desire must belong to all of us, all the mothers, since the woman’s desire is what determines.

There is a lot of work in the kindergarten. Let us, as one family, help in everything we can to establish this kindergarten anew, so that it will be much safer and more enriching for our little children.

April 2, 2013 — Techelet

I agree with Keren.

We learn anew every day, and I think that during the last holiday it was very tangible: the corrected world depends only on us. In fact, what we do is give the world the opportunity to correct us.

It seems that in one second a huge hole opened between everyone, instead of us embracing one another.

We all need to gather around our family and overcome the situation through the connection of all our points.

It is true that the things being heard are serious; no one doubts that. But only in our power can we change this, not through separating the forces, but through connecting the forces.

We are all responsible for one another, and that must not be forgotten.

I hope things have not yet gone out of control.

This morning my husband said a sentence on the phone that was very strongly engraved in me: before us is the Red Sea, and behind us are the Egyptians.

Only together will we succeed.

Osnat

April 2, 2013 — Keren Applebaum

Today I again found myself worried, with very bad thoughts and feelings toward many people: hatred, intentions to harm, and more. And I understood that something here is not right according to our path.

On one hand, I understood that there is no possibility of justifying and loving these people inside ordinary reason and feeling: everyone looks like liars, egoists, not on the path, and so on.

Then I remembered what we learned at the tish: that we need to rise to a degree of love that covers everything, to love them together with all their corporeality, including the most hated qualities. In this lies all our spiritual ascent.

And it is clear to me that I cannot do this alone. So I ask for the support and partnership of everyone, that we hold one another in love together with all the garbage of each one. And I must admit that if I were in the place of the rabbanit or of Oren Leibovich, I would surely have acted at least like them, or worse.

And when we succeed in holding this state of love, and from there turn to the Creator, perhaps the Creator will give us solutions for all these crazy states.

April 2, 2013 — Michael Sonbolian

Only the common goal for all of us can help us pass through the blows.

Do not forget that we all have the same goal:

http://laitman.co.il/כיצד-להדביק-את-הכלי-השבור/

April 2, 2013 — Sara Israely

So will the meeting take place tomorrow?

April 2, 2013 — Michael Sonbolian

Sara, this was sent yesterday evening, so in my opinion the meeting is tonight in the kindergarten.

Only let us remember to come with a common goal: to build and grow. We all want the same goal, the best for the kindergarten, so that it will become a symbol and a global model.

And if we remember that we all want this, that all of us have the same goal, and all of us have the same love and desire for it, then the meeting will be successful, and from it a kindergarten on a new degree will grow.

http://laitman.co.il/?p=5194

April 2, 2013 — Ruth Kaplan

It was not sent yesterday evening. It was sent today at 1:38 at night. Therefore I too am confused and do not understand what “tomorrow” means. I sent this question in a reply email and have not yet received an answer.

April 2, 2013 — Einat Hayman

The meeting is tonight.

Einat Hayman

Project manager

Internet marketing

“The Mutual Guarantee Movement”

April 2, 2013 — Raya David

The Creator has now brought us to the implementation of the method, in this special state in which all of us participate as one.

May we succeed in holding a real round table, if this concerns corporeal matters, and later perhaps also workshops from the inner states between us.

For the sake of the next generation, and from it to the correction of the whole world, with the intention of giving Him contentment.

There is a spiritual root to what is occurring in corporeality. May we succeed in seeing the positive side of the Creator’s revelation.

April 2, 2013 — Oren Leibovich

Dear parents,

Like you, we too were surprised by the receipt of the letter about what was happening in the kindergarten. It put all of us into shock and a storm of emotions. Needless to say, the letter, which clearly did not come from Rav Laitman, is written in a form that is in no way acceptable, and most of the things written in it were extremely exaggerated or never happened.

Of course, every item in the letter will be clarified in depth, and by the end of this week at the latest, all of us will have an accurate, true, and serious picture of all the claims and items in the letter. From those true conclusions that will be received, precise decisions will be formed regarding the letter and regarding the continuation of the kindergarten.

It is important for me to write in a personal tone about the kindergarten staff, who have gone through and are still going through very difficult days. The only thing that created the Global Garden is not the grass, not the spaces, and not anything else, but only the workers who gave all their strength and love to the children at every moment. I believe with all my heart that the workers of the kindergarten have an importance and concern for the success of the children’s education that has no equal in any educational institution in Israel, and that the children feel it.

After a meeting we held today with the directorate, we are certain that only through a wise and shared clarification by all of us will we be able tonight to decide together on the manner of handling the situation and our shared path. All members of the Bnei Baruch directorate will join tonight’s meeting. We ask everyone to come tonight with an open heart and confidence that only through joint work will we grow from this matter, one way or another.

The meeting will take place today at 8:15 p.m. in the Global Garden.

Oren

April 2, 2013 — Raya David

Please record the meeting for the sake of those who still did not find an arrangement for children. So that all of us will be on one wave.

April 2, 2013 — Shira Leibovich

In order to gather renewed strength, tomorrow the kindergarten will operate happily until 1:30 p.m.

Thank you very much.

April 2, 2013 — Moti Shochat

Hello everyone,

I did not manage to respond at the meeting to a subject that was mentioned several times.

I tried to think about myself after the morning lesson: that now, for several hours, I would have to be with my three children, and whether I would manage to be patient with them and so on. I do not have such a natural approach and love for children, so it seems very difficult to me.

But.

On the other hand, I begin working immediately after the morning lesson, 10-15 hours a day, and often on Fridays as well, at two jobs.

In one job I test and repair electronic circuits that have 10,000 electronic components, most of them smaller than one square millimeter, and I am supposed to find a needle in a haystack among hundreds of pages of diagrams: which component is missing or cracked.

In the second job, medical massage, physically difficult work for several good hours, where high concentration and sensitivity are also required, and of course patience.

In addition, I study at college.

But “a wonder”: I do not get tired, I am focused and patient.

How is that?

Because I love my professions, I have a natural approach to them, and I enjoy them.

And so I understood and felt that this is what this wonderful kindergarten staff does every second with endless devotion.

How?

Because they very, very much love their profession.

And their profession is our children.

April 4, 2013 — Yael Laitman

To the kindergarten parents.

We are writing this letter to share with you the things we know about the kindergarten’s conduct and in order to set the record straight.

We wrote the letter that was sent on the eve of the holiday after we had tried for a long time to bring deficiencies we had found in the kindergarten’s functioning to the management’s attention, and were not answered.

Therefore we approached the Rav and asked to write a letter in his name, detailing the deficiencies that, in our opinion, exist in the kindergarten. We did this because we felt a need and urgency to create a shock, in order to awaken the parents and the kindergarten staff to improve the situation.

Rav Laitman was aware that, in our opinion, the kindergarten that his grandson attends is not being run properly. However, at no stage of the process was he aware of the details, of the deficiencies we discovered, or of some of the cases mentioned in the letter.

We are glad about the clarification process that the letter generated, and hope that it will lead to improvement of the situation in the kindergarten. At the same time, in light of new details that we heard yesterday, we thought to clarify several subjects:

1. “Sodomy act.” The things written in the letter were brought following what one of the mothers in the kindergarten told us. Although the case happened half a year ago, we learned of it from her two weeks ago. Yesterday we learned for the first time that this was not a “sodomy act,” but a single event that happened between two small children and that, according to the kindergarten management, was reported to the parents; after it, a psychologist was invited to the kindergarten. We do not know of additional cases.

2. “Shaking by staff members.” The things written in the letter were brought following what one of the mothers told us. The case happened last year, and we learned of it during Passover. Yesterday it became clear to us that this was an event that, according to the kindergarten management, was handled and reported. We do not know of additional cases.

3. “Violence by staff members.” The things written in the letter were brought following what one of the mothers told us. The case happened last year, and we learned of it during Passover. According to her, one of the guides slapped a child who was not hers. After the letter was sent, we received a message from that same mother, who claims that this was not a slap but wild behavior and shouting toward that child.

We again ask to say that the letter was written out of sincere concern for all our children and a desire to draw attention and improve the kindergarten’s improper conduct. In addition to these cases, there are many deficiencies in the kindergarten, which we hope will be handled within the current clarification process. We are ready to cooperate and provide information about those deficiencies, in the hope of leading to a better kindergarten.

With blessings and thanks,

Yael and Rachel Laitman

April 4, 2013 — Benyamin Kogan

Hello everyone,

Following the letter sent by Yael and Racheli Laitman, I wanted to summarize in a few words my understanding of what happened, and in doing so try to balance the not very calm situation in which we all currently find ourselves.

First of all, below are the facts as they appear to my eyes.

1. All the accusations from the first letter that contain suspicion of a criminal act were previously presented as personal testimonies based also on photographed documentation. On the other hand, in the latest letter, the three cases are described as “rumors” that came from other mothers in the kindergarten, with each case described in an exaggerated and distorted form compared with what later became clear. At the same time, these individual cases were also handled and reported, and in most cases to the full satisfaction of the parents. Conclusion: the rumors received by Yael and Racheli were not checked in depth before they went out in the letter.

2. The first letter was written in Rav Laitman’s name, a very authoritative figure for the overwhelming majority of parents and kindergarten workers. In the latest letter, it becomes clear that the Rav did not stand behind the words that were written at all. Conclusion: there was a case of misrepresenting the name of the sender of the letter, while using Rav Laitman’s status and the true senders’ closeness to him.

3. Yael and Racheli claim that they wrote the letter out of a “feeling of need and urgency to create a shock, in order to awaken the parents and the kindergarten staff to improve the situation.” Afterward they add that they are “glad about the clarification process that the letter generated and hope that it will lead to improvement of the situation in the kindergarten.”

That is, instead of conducting an in-depth clarification and then acting according to its results, Yael and Racheli chose to activate a very cruel mechanism involving the infliction of very intense emotional distress and also financial damage to dozens of families and to the kindergarten staff. This damage even threatens the very existence of the kindergarten, while it is still unclear whether activating such a cruel mechanism was truly justified.

Yes, there are cases in which activating such a mechanism could have been extremely justified, such as if the horrors described in the first letter had actually been discovered. But because the subject was not checked in depth, it turned out that activating the mechanism did not fit the state of the system.

I compare this to a person undergoing a medical examination, when the doctor who is supposed to investigate in depth what his illness is avoids doing so and sends him to chemotherapy only because he heard from someone that the examinee has cancer. It is clear that if, by chance, he was right and identified exactly the type and stage of development of that cancer, he will come out of it honorably. But the chance of success before he made the exact diagnosis is close to zero. It is reasonable to assume that in 99.9 percent of cases, the examinee will not really be sick with that disease, and then instead of healing he will receive side effects from chemotherapy that will change his life from end to end. In addition, he will be forced to pay a great deal of money for treatment he did not need.

I give this example here to illustrate how foolish it is to make decisions, and even to act on them, before an in-depth clarification has been made, and how much harm such stupidity can cause.

This is not an exaggerated comparison at all. We know that human feelings are very delicate, and it is not wise to play with them without knowing that every action you take is truly justified.

In conclusion, no matter what the results will be of the review currently being conducted by the specially established kindergarten committee, what was done is completely improper, and such cases must not happen again.

With blessings,

Beni Kogan

April 4, 2013 — Olga Meyerovitch

By the way, I must note that financial and emotional harm was definitely caused here to parents, even if not severe. This too is a subject that is being whitewashed.

In short, I too have the feeling that an irresponsible act was done here, not with malicious intent, but now all of us are pulling its consequences onto ourselves.

Yesterday we spoke with a friend, and she raised the idea that perhaps joint workshops should be held in order to overcome all the discomfort.

I hope she will understand that I am raising the subject here, because in my opinion it is critical for the continuation of the kindergarten.

April 4, 2013 — Michael Sonbolian

Dear Olga and Beni,

I think the whole conversation about what happened is already past, and all of us are beginning treatment, correction, and common connection among us.

All of us were at the deep and thorough meeting with the members of the directorate, with the kindergarten management, and with all the kindergarten parents. We spoke for hours and began to act. A parents’ committee was established, which together with the directorate is beginning to work on corrections and improvements.

Now we need to speak about mutual strengthening and advancement.

In my opinion and view, there are no guilty people here who acted from bad intent. And there is no purposeful harm here to the kindergarten itself. Or actually, one could say the opposite: all of us here are guilty.

What you wrote, Beni, really shows from your summary how subjective everything still is, and how each person sees differently.

In my summary, I see it completely differently. I see how complex, great, and enormous human nature is. And I see the two sisters in my family, the beloved Rachel and Yael from my father’s house, in a quarrel with my two brothers, Oren and Gershon, who are closer to me than anyone in the community, out of the great desire for perfection. A quarrel that is actually about how to improve the kindergarten of all of us.

I see a situation thanks to which, truly and sincerely, the kindergarten will grow, strengthen, and become a completely different kindergarten.

And in a purely goal-oriented view: if you look from the importance of the goal before our eyes, and do not look at the honor that was hurt for that worker, or the honor that was hurt for that woman, we are not dealing here with money, honor, control, or knowledge. Although it is truly difficult to feel this way, we are dealing with a much higher goal.

Without whitewashing or escaping: when the goal is before our eyes, and our goal and work are emotional development in a laboratory dealing with human nature, we discover that there is nothing dirtier in the world than human nature. And the greater one’s friend, the greater his evil inclination.

And blessed be God, Rachel seems to have a strong, great, and healthy inclination. Rachel wants a perfect kindergarten that will be an educational lighthouse for the whole world. It seems Rachel has more importance for this than I do: I was asleep and woke up from this.

So in such a goal-oriented view, from the standpoint of the kindergarten itself, from the standpoint of our educational method, from the standpoint of our community, there is no doubt, and I say this with full seriousness: this is the greatest and best thing that could have happened to us.

One can always say that perhaps it should have been done differently or acted on differently. But that does not matter at all. What was, was.

From another view, one can also say that this event saved the kindergarten. Because there were parents who claimed there was a supervision problem near the entrance to the kindergarten. If we imagine that, God forbid, somehow a child had gone out unsupervised and, God forbid, had been run over, imagine that in your mind. Then there really would have been danger of the kindergarten closing.

Thus one can see that it saved the kindergarten and brings awakening to all of us. Everything depends on the point of view from which one looks.

In my opinion, this is a birth event. It is a formative event of a scale that very much resembles the historic event of that severe accident, when the Rav was in clinical death about 15 years ago. All the students were in terrible anxiety at the hospital for days and nights, not knowing whether the Rav would survive or, God forbid, everything would end.

If you ask the students who were there then, they will tell you that that event gave birth to the group. Before the accident there was no group, no enterprise, nothing.

That is how I see this event. Until today there was no Global Garden. From today something new will be born here, with a much stronger connection among the parents, the workers, and all of us.

And just another example of strengthening: I looked for many mothers whose children are not in our kindergarten in order to understand more. I met a very internal mother in our community, who also said that she is glad about all this and that it is good that it happened. And that this change makes her want to bring her son back to the kindergarten next year.

Everyone here sees that the kindergarten will only improve, grow, and flourish.

:-)

Wow, wow, I wrote too much.

Without wasting more time and energy in vain, let us concentrate forces on common positive goal-oriented advancement.

The directorate established a parents’ committee in which anyone can physically participate. An email box has also been opened for parents to send any proposal, any comment, any claim.

If all of us together concentrate goal-oriented importance, I see a kindergarten that will truly become a global educational lighthouse, where education ministers from all over the world will come to us for educational training.

When this goal is shared by all of us, we will advance at the speed of light toward the good future that all of us want for our children.

Mutual guarantee.

April 4, 2013 — Keren Krevner

Friends, all of us are thinking about the situation without pause, and I see only one solution: to judge to the side of merit.

That is:

1. To judge the writers of the letter to the side of merit, and therefore to relate to the deficiencies and correct them.
2. To judge the kindergarten staff to the side of merit, and to thank them for their great work without criticism and with full trust.
3. To judge to the side of merit those who chose to leave the kindergarten, because as parents they have the right and responsibility to act for the child’s good as they see it subjectively; in the case of removing a child, the kindergarten bylaws should be considered.
4. To judge to the side of merit everyone who remains in the kindergarten and acts energetically to improve and unite the kindergarten.

Everything is subjective. Each person has his own truth, which comes from his needs, and everything is fine. The foundation on which we can unite is to judge to the side of merit.

So are we leaving Egypt? In a moment, independence.

April 4, 2013 — Sonya Ishenko

I strengthen Keren’s words: to judge to the side of merit.

Together we leave Egypt.

Sonya

April 4, 2013 — Benyamin Kogan

Dear Michael, Keren, Sonya, and many others, with your permission I will answer you.

First, I do not know whether you are aware of this or not, but my family and I do not belong to any framework of the Bnei Baruch group or to the spiritual path of Bnei Baruch. We gave our son to the Global Garden with the intention of surrounding him with good values of love of others and mutual consideration, out of a desire that around him there would be people who love him, protect him, and do not allow him to be exposed to all kinds of bad things shown on television or on the internet.

Second, the Global Garden is a private kindergarten and not a branch of the Bnei Baruch group. Therefore I demand a clear separation between internal matters connected to the spiritual advancement of the Bnei Baruch group and the educational, values-based process taking place in the Global Garden.

Third, from my point of view, it is impossible to have a situation in which some failure in the educational process at the Global Garden is whitewashed by general words about the “greatness of the goal” and a “shared spiritual path.” As I said, since my family is not a partner in the spiritual path of Bnei Baruch, what interests me in the end is that my child be in good hands, safe, receiving proper education toward correct values, and that my wife and I be certain that during kindergarten hours the child receives everything he needs.

Fourth, I want to know whether there were any failures in the educational process or whether there is something that everyone thinks should be improved. This is the purpose of my presence at the meetings, and I have no other purpose in being there. I hope this is clear and that it will be respected.

I am not interested in judging failures “to the side of merit,” as you suggest. That is your internal matter, and I am not obligated to be part of it, because it is a matter of the internal spiritual work of each and every person. And as you know, “there is no coercion in spirituality.” So do not force me to “judge to the side of merit” the failures. First, that will not happen. Second, it is also immoral. Third, it contradicts the principle of freedom of choice of each and every person.

With blessings,

Beni

April 4, 2013 — Michael Sonbolian

Addressed to Benyamin Kogan.

Everyone wants things to be good, and each person chooses for himself.

Good luck.

April 4, 2013 — Dina Zisu-Ades

I think this entire email correspondence should stop. Teams have been established. Everyone is invited to take part in them. They will check the subjects and also give recommendations.

April 4, 2013 — Keren Krevner

Sorry, the intention is not to judge failures to the side of merit. That is not what I suggested.

April 4, 2013 — Natalie Shir

Sorry, Dina, I must add.

Slowly, an impression is being created here that if you deal with “what happened,” you are not goal-oriented enough.

That if you demand justice, you do not believe enough in “there is none else besides Him.”

That if there is a desire to understand exactly what happened, this is dealing with the evil inclination.

Our Rav is the lighthouse of my life. This path is my only path. I will walk it through fire and water. I have great respect for the directorate, and they are a spiritual authority in my eyes.

My face is turned toward peace. I love the kindergarten staff and believe with all my heart that the things were not done.

At the same time, I received a role in this world. I am a mother. And my role is to be 100 percent certain. Not 99.9 percent, but 100 percent, that I am sending my son to a safe place.

This is purely corporeal.

I have a responsibility as a mother to care for the children the Creator gave me. In this case, doubts were put into me and into all of us.

Mothers raised with me the feelings of guilt they feel because they were not alert enough to what was happening in the kindergarten, because they closed their eyes.

This is exactly your place as mothers: not to close your eyes and to make 100 percent sure that you are doing the right thing. For this, every doubt must be removed.

Therefore, dealing with what supposedly happened is no less important.

Together we will succeed. I am sure of that.

April 4, 2013 — Olga Meyerovitch

As someone who sees herself as part of this, I must say that with all the desire to rise above, I see a need not to ignore the social and psychological problems that arose: a crisis of trust, accusations toward all sides, and so on.

But I see the solution in joint work by everyone who had a part in the matter, in circles of conversation where everyone will be partners. This is beyond the checks that must be carried out in corporeality.

To whitewash and say “everything is fine, we will rise above” without relating to it will work only for some of us.

This is not dealing with the past, but helping all of us arrive strengthened.

Maybe I am the only one who feels this way.

A certain injustice was done here to people: to the guides, but also to the writers of the letter. And this can be solved only through the relations among us.

Yesterday I tried to be at the meeting of the committee for improving the kindergarten, because it is indeed necessary to clarify everything that needs clarifying and correct what needs correcting.

Truly, only together.

April 4, 2013 — Liron Levi

I am not coming to complain and get angry, because I truly have no energy left for that.

I only want you to know that personally I feel very hurt.

I have been in Bnei Baruch for more than a decade. My life is here and my future is here. I have no other place and will have no other Rav.

But what happened here during this holiday cut me inside.

And it is clear that it is all the Creator.

And it is clear that the Rav wanted to take us through some process so that we would advance.

But that still does not mean that everything can be erased and we can move on. This was done in a cruel and unfair way.

What about all those people about whom people in our society are gossiping? Why do they need to be ashamed?

This has long since stopped being only the kindergarten’s matter. It has reached everyone, including the whole world kli.

An explanatory letter must be written and sent to everyone.

Also, everyone feels that the entire kindergarten staff must receive an apology letter for the emotional distress caused to them.

And I do think that we must deal with the relations among us, otherwise resentment will remain, and that would be a pity.

Maybe, as Ola suggested, all of us should sit and talk, also with Racheli, Yaeli, and Olga. Perhaps then we will truly be able to move to the next degree of all of us.

April 4, 2013 — Olga Meyerovitch

By the way, I am against an apology letter as something set as a condition. In my opinion, that would harm the efforts to rise above the situation. I am in favor of a guided connection workshop whose form is agreed upon by everyone.

April 4, 2013 — Efrat Asher

Personally, I too am very hurt and disappointed. This is the fifth day I am walking around with a feeling of suffocation and great sadness. The knowledge that the subject of the kindergarten has become global makes it even harder.

It is hard for me to see how we continue from here without an apology letter and a clarification meeting with everyone.

A meeting that will be conducted in a good spirit in order to straighten things out, or even to hold a workshop about this case on Sunday in the kindergarten instead of presenting the subjects needing improvement. Those too are important, but they can be delayed by a few days.

The problems that arose are not only social or psychological.

The harm caused by sending such a serious letter without any basis causes, and will cause, harm also within the family unit.

Mothers whose husbands are not on the path simply fought and are fighting for the right for their child to be educated in the Global Garden, and that is not at all self-evident.

Without refutation of the things that were written or said, it will be very difficult to continue as though nothing happened.

Only together.

“There is none else besides Him.”

April 4, 2013 — Sonya Ishenko

I support an internal clarification process in the form of workshops for everyone, including everyone, in parallel with the operational and administrative clarification process.

April 4, 2013 — Ilanit Yezersky

I support the idea. We are all one family. And if we relate to the Rav’s words today, it seemed to me that the entire lesson was about us and the whole Global Garden. So this test is from the Creator, and we must adhere to the society and pass through it together. The Rav spoke today about the inner work, also about turning one’s enemy into one’s beloved.

So perhaps a meeting where Racheli and Yael will also be present. And the apology we already received in the letter they sent. I do not feel that more is needed.

And I also thought about Daniel. I warmly recommend bringing him back to us in the kindergarten. He surely misses the friends.

And of course to continue the new order that the women friends awakened us to do, even if in a difficult form.

Together to the next degree. Because this one, it seems to me, we are really succeeding in passing through.

April 4, 2013 — Sara Israely

Thanks to friends we will turn love of myself into love of others.

What an exercise we went through and are going through.

I mentioned a parable of Baal HaSulam:

A parable about a king whose servant found favor in his eyes, until he wanted to raise him and elevate him above all the ministers, because he recognized in his heart a faithful love that would not move.

But it is not among the customs of the kingdom to raise a person to the highest levels all at once and without an apparent reason.

Rather, the customs of the kingdom are to reveal his reason to the eyes of all with deep wisdom.

And he told one minister to disguise himself and present himself as a rebel against the kingdom…

April 4, 2013 — Nino Melehov

Hello everyone,

Yesterday evening I already sent the proposal to organize a joint workshop to the parents’ committee email.

By the way, it was my first email since the injury.

I have not yet received any response.

I am convinced that dealing with the problem needs to happen on two planes in parallel: corporeal, through the committee and a meticulous check; and spiritual, through a workshop, joint clarification, and connection.

Hugging all of you,

Nino

April 5, 2013 — Raya David

This is how it had to be, and not otherwise. Only such a shock could awaken all of us to correction.

Only great revolutions and crises bring real change. Only the inability to bear the current state can lead to a breakthrough and birth to a new degree.

So apparently we have been granted and are ready to be in a more corrected, better, closer state. Because only such a shock could gather us so strongly into a state of all of us, and not individual cases.

And if we are so connected now and do not leave and do not run away from the situation in order “not to suffer,” we will accept each and every one. Every feeling and every clarification has a place, as in one system, one body.

And only through accepting each and every opinion will we reach a shared agreement. This is only through connection, workshops, clarifications, and greater connection.

April 5, 2013 — Oren Leibovich

Hello everyone.

After almost a week of nonstop states: fear, pressure, gratitude, hatred, the desire to harm, shame, and more and more; and the states do not stop surprising each time anew. I estimate that for most of you too, the same ugly picture formed in your mind, in which the Rav’s daughter uses her power to realize her hatred through the person dearest to us of all, the Rav, without taking into account how many people would be hurt very badly by her actions.

In me too, this movie and worse ones ran and are running in my head without pause. In rare moments when I was granted to see reality above the black picture that the ego paints for me, I remembered the past, I remembered the true figures called Yael and Racheli Laitman. It is important for me to tell you about them.

About two years ago, when my dear wife Shira was pregnant, there was a genetic problem that forced us to make a fateful decision about whether to continue the pregnancy. Then I first came to know Yael Laitman, who works as a geneticist in a research laboratory. When she heard about our problem, she left everything and gave herself completely to help us. Her concern covered us with confidence. She went out, harmed her work and livelihood, and all she did was a deep investigation full of attention in order to give us professional recommendations and full confidence regarding the continuation of the pregnancy. I felt with all my heart how much she cared and wanted to help.

Since then and until today, for two years Yael has related to the kindergarten and the staff in a very warm and caring way, and always showed how much the kindergarten is truly an important place to her and how important it is to her that all the children develop in the best possible way.

I have known Racheli for more years. We worked together in dissemination, the “Children’s Game” program and more. It is quite clear that Racheli is a strong woman, a woman with opinions. But among all the terrible pictures that formed in me following the letter she sent, in short moments of sobering up I remembered that in the end she dedicates her whole life to one single thing: realizing the Rav’s words and the aspiration for the correction of the world. From knowing her and being close to her, I say with a full mouth: this is what she does, and she does it with all her heart. Every action of hers is aimed at putting the Rav’s words into practice.

I spoke with Racheli many times, and before the letter we corresponded by email about the kindergarten. I say to all of you with a whole heart: the kindergarten is very, very important to Racheli, the children are very important to her, and she truly wants with all her heart for the kindergarten to become the best place in the world.

It is true that the good will came out in the most distorted form. It is true that they exaggerated extremely in the letter. It is true that very many people were deeply hurt. But I cannot erase and forget all the good these women have done and do.

Perhaps some of you will not be able to forgive, and that is understandable. But now, after a whole week, I feel obligated to write my truth to everyone.

Oren

April 5, 2013 — Natalie Shir

Oren, your email proves to me personally even more that I made the right choice when I chose you to educate my son.

And that the Creator did not simply give you this role: to educate the next generation and establish the first Global Garden.

Dear and beloved people.

Together we will succeed.

April 14, 2013 — Sara Israely

I must write about this: about the exercise in mutual guarantee that we went through.

I am in admiration of our men: both the men on the side of the kindergarten parents and the men from the kindergarten staff who stood at the front of the blow.

And I admired your self-annulment before the group. In that you are great.

I am in admiration that despite everything, despite reason, feeling, and much more that is thrown at you, you find the strength to turn and fall into the hands of the group.

And how the group takes each and every one into its hands.

Men, we see your efforts.

And only for this moment, for this point - annulment - I want to say thank you.

That I saw it, that I felt your seriousness in relation to the path.

We rely on you and are confident in you. Otherwise we would not be standing here.

Thank you.

How to Read This Correspondence Alongside the AMI Article

This correspondence is documentary background to the article about the closed complaint surrounding the Global Garden. It shows the internal conversation among parents and participants in the environment after the letter sent in Laitman’s name, but it does not replace a legal review and does not establish criminal facts.

The related account of how this email chain connects to Benyamin Kogan’s complaint to the Petah Tikva police and the later isolation of the family appears in “Closed Case: how the Bnei Baruch kindergarten story reached the police and was stopped”.