Rose Feldman, a former member of a group known to outsiders as the “Taliban cult,” was recently named an outstanding national-civil-service volunteer at the President’s Residence. After escaping a life of nomadic wandering and strict psychological control, Feldman now volunteers at the Or Shalom boarding home, supporting children who have been removed from their families.
What was life like inside the “Taliban cult”?
Feldman’s upbringing was defined by constant movement to evade authorities. According to Feldman, her family moved between Jerusalem, Tiberias, and Bnei Brak, often traveling at night and sometimes sleeping in cemeteries. She joined the cult at age 8, at which point she stopped all formal studying.
The group, which Feldman describes as having a sophisticated system of control through frequently changing authority figures, focused on preparing women for motherhood. Feldman recalls that the cult taught her that being a mother was a woman’s sole purpose in the world. She also noted that members practiced strict customs, including many food prohibitions and a total avoidance of eye contact with men.
How did Rose Feldman escape the cult?
Feldman’s departure began with a failed marriage arrangement. At age 14, she was told she was engaged to a man she had never met. However, moments before the planned wedding ceremony in Jerusalem, police raided the site and arrested those present. Following the raid, Feldman was taken to a police station and an emergency center, eventually being removed from her home by court order to a boarding school.
The transition was not immediate. Feldman spent years in various boarding schools, often intending to return to the cult once she turned 18. Nechami Cnaan, an Or Shalom staff member who managed boarding homes in the Ashkelon area, described Feldman’s hesitation as she approached adulthood, stating it felt like “watching a train heading into the abyss.”
A turning point occurred following a meeting at the Israeli Center for Cult Victims in Tel Aviv. Feldman recalls a social worker asking if she wanted her future children to experience the same life she had. This interaction led to a decisive moment during a phone call with a cult “handler.” When the handler attempted to arrange a nighttime pickup, Feldman refused, stating, “Moses told Pharaoh we are not thieves, and therefore we will not leave at night.” This act of setting a boundary marked her formal break from the group.
How did she rebuild her life?
After deciding to stay away from the cult, Feldman spent a year at an Or Shalom boarding school learning basic life skills. She noted that she had to learn “the most basic things” that children typically learn much earlier, such as how to take a bus or go to a grocery store.
The process of reclaiming her identity included several stages:
- Clothing: Feldman gradually moved away from the “shawl” and head coverings, eventually transitioning to modest clothing similar to that of ordinary Haredi girls.
- Diet: She began breaking cult food prohibitions, such as the ban on eating eggs.
- Decision-making: Cnaan stated that a major challenge was teaching Feldman how to make decisions, as she had been conditioned to have every aspect of her life controlled.
- Interests: Music became a significant source of comfort for Feldman, leading her to connect with the musical duo Guy and Yahel.
Why is her current volunteer work significant?
Feldman currently serves as a volunteer at the Or Shalom family home, a facility similar to the one where she lived as a resident. According to a prize citation from the President’s Residence, Feldman uses her life story as a source of strength for others and serves as a role model for children. Hodiya Hassan, a national service coordinator for the organization Bat Ami, noted that Feldman showed extraordinary commitment by staying at the boarding school for two weeks during recent fighting.
For Feldman, the service is a way to provide “safe ground” for children, much like the environment that allowed her to choose a different life path.
What may happen next for Feldman?
Given her recent recognition as an outstanding volunteer, Feldman may continue to expand her role as a mentor within the national service program. Her experience and “extraordinary sensitivity” could potentially lead to further involvement in supporting children transitioning out of high-control environments. Additionally, her journey may serve as a documented case study for the effectiveness of the gradual support methods used by Or Shalom and the Welfare Ministry.
