Former supporters of the Kabbalah Centre have sued the Los
Angeles-based spiritual organization for fraud, alleging the misuse of more
than $1 million they contributed to a building fund and charitable causes.
"Kabbalah Centre has engaged in a pattern and practice
of raising funds … for the purpose of enriching itself and others associated with
Kabbalah Centre," according to a complaint filed in Los Angeles County
Superior Court by Carolyn Cohen, a San Diego County real estate broker and
president of the Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Cohen's complaint alleges that she and one of her companies,
Here We Grow Inc., lost about $810,000 in contributions and interest on loans
she secured to cover her giving. A similar complaint filed by Randi and Charles
Wax, who own a San Diego sanitary supply business, alleges losses of more than
$326,000.
Both lawsuits were filed Nov. 27 and claim that Kabbalah
Centre employees pressured the plaintiffs "to give money until it
hurts" in order to receive "the light" Karen Berg and her adult sons Yehuda and Michael.
and win favor with the
center's leaders,
Neither the Bergs nor their lawyers responded to a request
for comment made through a spokesman.
The donations by Cohen and the Waxes were earmarked for
construction of a new Kabbalah Centre building in San Diego and for a
children's charity, the complaint states.
But the center was not built and the
charity abruptly ceased operation, according to the lawsuit, which alleges the
nonprofit organization has a history of raising money for projects it never
carries out.
"My clients have, bravely, decided to not allow themselves
to become another of Kabbalah Centre's many silent victims and look forward to
resolving this matter at trial wherein they will not only seek compensation for
their financial losses but also look forward to exposing the Kabbalah Centre's
true nature," said Alain Bonavida, the plaintiffs' lawyer.
The lawsuits seek damages totaling more than $40 million
from Kabbalah Centre, the Bergs and a couple who worked for the center as
teachers and spiritual advisers to Cohen and the Waxes.
Karen Berg's husband and the sons' father, Philip Berg, died
in September, nine years after suffering a debilitating stroke.
The Kabbalah Centre, founded by Philip Berg, known as the
Rav, drew famous followers with its lucrative, New Age take on Jewish
mysticism. His rendition of the ancient wisdom of the Torah was embraced by
many gentiles and celebrities, including his most famous student, Madonna, but
his approach was derided by mainstream Judaism as superficial and inauthentic.
After a boom in popularity driven by its association with
celebrities including Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Britney Spears, the center
in recent years has been dogged by controversy.
The Times has previously reported that the organization made
millions through merchandise sales and cash donations it aggressively sought
from adherents. The Bergs enjoyed a lifestyle of private jets, designer clothes
and gambling trips, including one to Las Vegas when Philip suffered a stroke
that left him unable to speak clearly or walk.
In 2010, amid questions about the center's assets and
spending, the Internal Revenue Service and federal prosecutors in New York
opened a tax-evasion investigation. The government has declined to discuss its
case and the current status of the probe is not known.
Kabbalah Centre officials said previously they were
cooperating with authorities.
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