Kabbalah Centre Said to Be Subject of Grand Jury Investigation
EXCLUSIVE: Madonna‘s “religion” and the main object of her charity giving, the Kabbalah Centre, is being investigated by the IRS. Sources tell me that a federal grand jury has been convened to ask questions about the organization. I’ve personally spoken to two people who were served subpoenas from the grand jury, being held at the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.
The targets of the investigation, sources tell me, are the Kabbalah Centre, Raising Malawi, and the Berg family–mother Karen and sons Yehuda and Michael, who own the company. Madonna, they say, is aware of the grand jury. The pop star has given millions–not “loaned” as some reports say–to the Kabbalah Centre and its offshoots SFK and Raising Malawi. In 2008-2009, she donated $2.5 million to them.
This may be yet another reason that she hired top gun pr specialist Mark Fabiani through the Kabbalah Centre. As I told you this weekend, the Kabbalah Centre is being sued in Los Angeles for $20 million by Courtenay Geddes, a wealthy donor who claims now that she was swindled by the Centre and the Bergs. Madonna is being sued in Malawi by the board of directors of her cancelled school project for Raising Malawi, her charitable effort there with the Kabbalah Centre.
One of the things the grand jury might be asking about is who actually does the bookkeeping for the Kabbalah Centre, Raising Malawi, and SFK. The two women who’ve handled the business in house are said to be the daughters of Karen Berg, the leader of all the organizations and wife of Philip Berg, known as the “Rav.”
Carly Sullivan of the US Attorney’s office in Manhattan said the office could neither confirm or deny anything about grand jury proceedings.
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Shirley
I have taken classes at the Kabbalah Center in Florida and the students are of all faiths, races and backgrounds. The teachings are so very positive with the awareness that we are each resposible for everything that happens in our life, that everything that happens, happens for us, not to us, obstacle in our life are to make us stronger and wiser.The understanding that we are all soul and united and we all share the light of the creator. We are in this life to evolve, to love and to share! Nothing negative!
Amish
Another masonic front, yes?
The los angel’s club.
misanthropicus
In case anyone still had confidence in Madonna’s intelligence and discernment, now you got the proof – a grandstanding, pompous fool of liberal gesticulation ensnared by some Los Angeles crooks. And this affair nicely defines all Madonna’s pastlefty @ liberal pronouncements and political posturings. This is Michael Moore, and this is Madonna – some idiots – let the Bergs go free!
stesse
Madonna will do anything for publicity
richard
Kabbalah and Scientology are interchangable, Let someone who speaks tongue translate the meaning of life for you..Love to everyone, Have you eaten your daily requirement of vegtables. How about fibre. .
jharper
I get a kick how these bleeding heart celebrities get all wrapped up in a”feel good” LIE. They don’t properly investigate their causes, yet they think they can save the world! Remember Bono and his fund raising for Aids in Africa and he was strong arming governments to give more. He started a foundation of his own raising millions and about 10 cents made it to Africa. Remember Oprah’s school for girls in Africa and the scandals? But what sums it up best is Sean Penn in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina bailing our his leaking boat with a red Dixie cup as he goes to save the day. Now he’s in Haiti saving it. Why did he abandon New Orleans??? I applaud their good intentions, but they aren’t very smart people.You always have to understand who you’re dealing with. I bet they sure do a great job of knowing who they are dealing with when they are in contract negotiations for their next big multi-million dollar deal! But what is really good about this whole thing, is when the celebrities get involved in do good “scams”, it blow up in a big fashion when it blows. It makes the head lines and the lies are exposed once and for all because big names are involved….but sadly, not big brains. Again, I know that many times it goes beyond a photo op and headlines for them when they get involved in these efforts, and I’m sure on the most part they are really TRYING to change the world. So thank you Madonna for loaning you name to expose the scam. I know that this wasn’t a long term covert goal of yours, but the spot light followed you….right into the sewer… of what you thought was a wonderful cause.
satch
Humm,the word “cult”,comes to mind here.
Biff Baxter
Masonic front. Useful idiot. Hollyweird is doomed.
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Jedi
Kabbalah Centre teachings are pretty much general metaphysics with a bit of Jewish mysticism thrown in to flavor it… just like many other organizations that seek to expand around the world and have more clients they seek big money donors and well-heeled students to pay for services, workshops, consultations, etc. The pressure or temptation of the business aspect often leads to corruption in religious organizations regardless of the value or validity of the teachings. For anyone looking to learn about metaphysics without emptying their wallet you can read/download for free the first several chapters of my book Consciousness, Creation, And Existence: A Guide to The Grand Adventure at http://www.phinsights.com/book.html
RRM
Ridiculous! Kabbalah is not a religion. It’s Jewish mysticism, and is supposed to be studied only after you’ve fully learned all of the Torah and Talmud and other teachings. Without the foundation, Kabbalah is a bunch of feel-good hooey. And these Hollywood people totally eat it up! I’m going to create my own feel-good religion and wait for the millions to pour in. Anyone want to volunteer to be my accountant?
Todd
Who cares? Madonna has not been relevent since “Borderline” where she sang about all the illegals crossing the border and ending up in East L.A.!!!
I’m so funny. Seriously.
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private investigator n.y.
I admit I have no idea what Kabbalah is, how old it is, or their background story, but I do hate that religion has the tax-exempt status. EVERY single religion today is a BUSINESS. They must be taxed. Obviously, they’d take advantage of the laws that do not require them to pay taxes, but why would they need so much money, when each and every religion on earth promotes living a simple life, void of any physical riches. I 100% approve these investigations into religion. I bet they’re as crooked as politicians!
Billy
Moses Chaim Luzzatto was called evil, a heretic and was officially excommunicated, Moses De Leon was called a fraud, a charlatan and an illegal profiteer, Isaac Luria, slandered, the Baal Shem Tov despised and declared an outlaw and thus banned by the religious authority, Rav Yehuda Brandwein was scorned and banned from the bus transportation system in Israel, Rav Yehuda Ashlag was beaten on the steps of his synagogue. Today they are all revered as giants of Torah and spirituality. Such is the life of a true Kabbalist. Out of the millions whose lives have been enriched and transformed by the Centre, a handful who refused to give up the ego, as Kabbalah instructs, spews out negativity. The Zohar says its exactly what happened at Sinai and the Golden Calf. Will the Jews ever learn to stop the lies and slandering and simply give up the ego for the sake of the rest of the world?
Htebazile
You are sad, bitter people, hopefully you can stop wasting your lives being hateful and judgmental.
AAT
i can only imagine that neither “Billy” nor “Moshe” actually know anything about learning or Judaism. The people cited by Billy were not all accepted as leaders in the Jewish world. not only that, but the zohar and other books of mysticism are not meant to be revealed to random people on the street. there are rules as to who can teach it, whom they can teach it to, how to teach it, when to teach it. by simply opening up the doors to every tom dick and harry who walk in off the streets the centre has made itself into something to be shunned. nobody will pay back big time for anything, those are just the words of a cult follower who is seeing his master go down. and that’s what this place is, a cult, no different than all the others, they just want your money. there is no source in Judaism for “kabbala water” or pink tfillin as madonno was reported to have bought. all they want is money, to advertise for their cult and keep the cycle going.
Keith
I have taken classes at the Kabbalah Centre for a few years now. It has been great for me. The positivity of the teachings and the diversity of the participants is truly inspirational.
Soul
To all Kabbalah students. Don’t mix up the issues. Kabbalah is great! The Zohar is great!
The issue is about Karen Berg steeling charity money. It is the disgrace she brings upon the Center and about the members of the community. It is about accountability, transparency and about democracy. You’ll have to carry the mark of shame and disgrace as long as you stay silent and allow tyranny to rule your community. What about the rules of a free society as it was in the Torah and as it is the foundation of justice in our world today.
The scandals will continue till the demise of the Center or till you revolt and save your community and your vision.
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Caleb
Thanks, Billy.
Paul G
Spilling The Beans – the REAL truth about what goes on inside Kabbalah:
http://kabbalahstudentsspeak.com/2011/04/18/an-essay-on-the-underlying-root-of-it-all/
Carol Urtiaga Leahy
Nothing in any religious doctrine could have taught me what I have learned at the Kabbalah Centers. I am a Christian, and have come closer to Christ. Because the precious Book that contains His heart, has a Soul, and it’s called the Zohar.
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