San Juan La Laguna – Jewish Community, Lev Tahor Members ‘Forced Out’ Of Guatemalan Village (video)

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    Members of the Orthodox Jewish community attend a meeting with leaders of San Juan La Laguna community at the headquarters of the Human Rights Office in Guatemala City on August 27,2014. Representatives of the Orthodox Jewish community in an indigenous municipality in the West of Guatemala, asked villagers Wednesday for a reasonable time to move, after Mayan leaders expelled them for alleged acts of discrimination. AFP PHOTO / Johan ORDONEZ   San Juan La Laguna – A community of 230 Orthodox Jews from several countries Thursday began leaving the Guatemalan Indian village where they have lived for six years after claims and counterclaims of discrimination and threats.

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    Their exit from San Juan La Laguna, on the banks of Lake Atitlan and 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the capital Guatemala City, follows a meeting Wednesday in which Jewish and indigenous representatives failed to reach an agreement.

    “We are a people of peace and in order to avoid an incident we’ve already begun to leave the village,” Misael Santos, a representative from the Jewish community, told AFP.

    They had received threats, Santos said.

    “We have a right to be there, but they threatened us with lynching if we don’t leave the village,” he added.

    Most members of the small Jewish community are from the United States, Israel, Britain and Russia, and around 40 are Guatemalan. Approximately half are children.

    Since October, the local indigenous population has accused the Orthodox Jews of discriminating against them and of violating Mayan customs.

    The Council of Indigenous Elders said the Jewish community “wanted to impose their religion” and was undermining the Catholic faith that is predominant in the village.

    “We act in self-defense and to respect our rights as indigenous people. The (Guatemalan) constitution protects us because we need to conserve and preserve our culture,” council spokesman Miguel Vasquez told AFP.

    Pedro Vasquez, leader of San Juan La Laguna community, speaks during a meeting with members of the Orthodox Jewish community at the headquarters of the Humang Rights Office in Guatemala City on August 27,2014. Representatives of the Orthodox Jewish community in an indigenous municipality in the West of Guatemala, asked villagers Wednesday for a reasonable time to move, after Mayan leaders expelled them for alleged acts of discrimination.  AFP PHOTO / Johan ORDONEZ


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    9 Comments
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    9 years ago

    They should track down and chase out these deviates wherever they go on the face of the earth. The way the abuse their children alone is sufficient reason to hope they just disappear.

    9 years ago

    So where will these crackpots go next? I hope not anywhere near me.

    9 years ago

    It doesn’t make sense. Lev tahor hasnt lived there for six years. And 230 people? If they were talking about Lev Tahor it would be more than half children. Its probably a larger community than just Lev Tahor

    TexasJew
    TexasJew
    9 years ago

    Send their leaders to Gaza.

    lazerx
    lazerx
    9 years ago

    The Jews don’t want them, the goyim don’t want them.

    A bunch of sick wackos who think they are frummer than thou.

    Let raise money to send them to Gaza…

    DavidCohen
    DavidCohen
    9 years ago

    West Africa would be a great destination, at least for their “leaders”.

    9 years ago

    It probably should read six months not years.

    harryivan
    harryivan
    9 years ago

    reply to #8 Please understand the situation, this is not Misnagdim, they are not a Sect of Chasidim either, they are a CULT, its not Minhagim, Shmiras Eyenayim, Tzeniyus, Baal Shems Chasiddus, or Minhogei Hagrou, or Minhag Sfardim, its a CULT, Mentch you dont know what a CULT means, its really outrageous, scary, one day the Leader will say we all have to commit S= = = = = = =E they will listen to their Leader, its a real Kiddush Shem Shomayim, RL.. its a CULT RL, they have to be Untangled, Broken Up, You have No Idea how many TEARS the Parents of this CULT have Shed and Begged their Children, to go in their Footsteps, of the Parents , and Forefathers, its One Person who wants to be the Lord, and everyone should BOW to him, i am not calling Names, this is not what Hashem wants from US, NO CULTS< if this Wing is the Right way, WHY? are all Gadolim & Manhigim againts this SECT this CULT, ( LEV 2MEI ),,,WHY? let these people Mend into KLAL YISROEL, have ACHDUS and this will Bring us Moshiach Tzidkainu, & Binyan Bais Hamikdush, with a KESIVA VACHSIME TOVA, Omen Vomen