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  |  October 22, 2023

Comeback for Call of the Shofar?

A father and son from Baltimore are opening up a new men's awareness group "based on but not limited to" the outlawed Call of the Shofar. Full Story

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This really IS a problem
November 23, 2014 12:15 pm

#29 The training and background of both people speaks for itself. I’m not talking about the fact of being a psychotherapy patient – that’s nothing but an attempt to obscure the real issue. Breathworks, The Mankind Project and COTS are all as treif as you can get. It’s really that simple. Others have already pointed out the issues with the Mankind Project. It’s worth pointing out that Breathworks in all its forms is based in part on actual Avodah Zarah, and many forms of it still explicitly use these avoda zara techniques. The fact that there are many vulnerable people… Read more »

Don't address cult aspects?!
October 27, 2014 8:56 pm

You gotta be kidding! Trained or untrained a cult is bad. An untrained cult maybe even worse, but who cares. These people are nuts, what they do is nuts, and anybody who goes to it is nuts.

As far as being “quick to judge” goes; this folly has been around since the 70s!!! You’re nuts too!

Rabbi Pinchos Woolstone
October 27, 2014 3:10 pm

I would not address the cult aspects of the seminar, I would question the clinical qualifications of the leaders

it amazes me
October 27, 2014 11:34 am

how ppl are so quick to judge. even the so called “experts”

Our rabbonim were very clear
October 26, 2014 4:51 pm

During the COTS situation our rabbonim were very clear, it is ASSUR for any Lubavitcher to participate in this type of program. A person who feels in need of psychological help should consult a licensed professional, preferably after discussing the matter with his or her mashpia.

asociated with cots
October 26, 2014 2:58 am

Cots is asur!
That’s what our rabonim said!
Anyone, asociated with them is asur too, period.
When something is asur We call it just that and make it clear that that is what it is.

Think about it
October 25, 2014 11:42 pm

1st of all, I wonder if the actual founders themselves are posting are those comments about how they’re Yiras Shamayim emese ppl… doesn’t sound legitemate
2ndly if you are a critical writer/reader you will notice many basic writing errors.
to publicise something like thst to public??
sounds very unproffesional

we really need Moshiach now!
ad Mosai!!!!?????

Coersive Persuasion
October 24, 2014 12:49 pm

I.e., brainwashing. That, and money, is all this is about. The rest is window dressing to bait people.

Sadly, many get sucked into these groups; even good, stable, intelligent people. A conjured and transient feeling of release and empowerment is the best that people get from this stuff. But there often follows a very real and long-term damage to relationships and identities.

Sholom Dovber
October 24, 2014 11:04 am

they are unqualified quacks and are not under the direction of any senior Halachic authority.

To 35 - private email??
October 24, 2014 10:33 am

It would seem that this is not a private email, it is a mass email sent to promote this “new group”, coming from one of the directors of the Call of the Shofar.

To 39
October 24, 2014 8:15 am

They might be decent people (I have my doubts that anyone who does this kind of stuff is playing with a full deck) but the mere fact that they have to cover their donkeys with all these disclaimers tells me they know this is one big scam.

Rabbosai, STAY AWAY!

they are good guys
October 23, 2014 10:55 pm

i personally know Benzoin and Aron and can vouch that they are good guys, Yirei Shomayim and caring people and can hopefully do a better job based on kedusha.

Sholom Dovber
October 23, 2014 10:55 pm

please stay away from the dangerous nonsense

The inconsistency has already begun!
October 23, 2014 10:37 pm

Emai from Aaron Shamberg says, “we are limiting participation to 15 people.” From Galut to Geula says,
“Limited to 10 participants.” The fewer the better – as in
NONE!

why on shabbos???
October 23, 2014 9:32 pm

thats already a no-no for any yid with a bit of yiras shamayim!!!

why no observers, investigators????
the red flags ae so many and so bright.

hope no one, not even meshugoyim fall for this !

hatzlacha rabba to all

and if ANYONE in chinuch gets involved here- fire immediately.
last time was a mistake- this time you gotta be in gantzin meshuga and not fit to be in ANY position of influence on ANYONE.

COLlive is not right
October 23, 2014 7:55 pm

Blatantly posting private email is a violation of Cherem Rabbeinu Gershom! How would u feel if someone did that to you! Basic decency is sorely lacking.

dont go
October 23, 2014 7:34 pm

i know these guys who run the program needs to make parnosa

may G-d bless them and they should have plenty
but not this way . ill write them a ck

The un-anonymous Skaist
October 23, 2014 6:08 pm

You’re comparing a mental patient to the training that licensed therapists undergo and legitinate group therapy to what these people practice, or better put, perpetrate? My, my, my.

Number 29
October 23, 2014 5:55 pm

There is no inyan to dan mishugoyim l’kaf z;chus.

Your self-righteous defense of a cultist and cult-leader wannabe is stunning. A man who leads other men to disrobe, beat on drums, beat chickens with hammers, etc., and then engages in years of blindfolding and brainwashing people is not to be judged for his hashgafa? You equate professional training to being a patient? I don’t know if James is his name, but if it is, what’s “immature” about saying so?

Methinks thou doth protest too much.

cash???
October 23, 2014 5:53 pm

cash?????
no ckecks?
no credit cards?

why?
100$ total?
do you cover all the meals, and hotel stay?
cheaper than staying home!!

lets go to this MABUL!
good Shabbos!!!!

Wow!
October 23, 2014 5:14 pm

Why would anyone sign such a thing!!!
And why would the organization mention any connection to cots if they want people to join?
And WHY is col advertising for it?It should’ve just written the name of the organizaion and why it’s dangerous to attend. The rest is just free advertising.

Hevei Dan?
October 23, 2014 5:12 pm

It feels really weird to be reading this article and all these commons that seem to know with such certainty about how awful and damaging this project is – before it has even begun!!?? “James “Aaron” Schamberg worked as a staffer for the Mankind Project (MKP) for about 6 years; little doubt that he recruited his own son.” Come on!! Calling him “James” is pathetically immature – many of us have english names – some of us have even used them in the past and it in no way has anything to do with anything. And the fact that he… Read more »

STOP JUDGING OTHER JEWS AND START YOUR OWN AVODAH
October 23, 2014 5:04 pm

YOU cry on the outside for Mashiach yet you continue to act in a way that would never allow Mashiach to redeem us all. Stop wasting your time spreading sheker and hatred against other Jews and start calling out to Hashem for Mashiach from the pain that we feel as a COMMUNITY of JEWS. Stop pointing fingers at other Jews and start the real avodah of Ahavas Yisroel and tshuva. It’s very easy to feel false pride in ourselves at how “good” and “kosher” we are and blame these Jews rather than face our own imperfections.Can we make the difficult… Read more »

Sruly C
October 23, 2014 3:18 pm

Stay away from this crap.

If Mashpiyim are not enough see a licensed therapist. These groups are for lunatics.

sham. berg
October 23, 2014 2:50 pm

SHAM
Berg

Dangerous Sheker Mamish
October 23, 2014 2:34 pm

James “Aaron” Schamberg worked as a staffer for the Mankind Project (MKP) for about 6 years; little doubt that he recruited his own son. Look up MKP and you will understand why this is alarming. Schamberg has purportedly been a psychotherapy patient for many years. No crime there. But hardly the qualifications to be counseling others on how to live, think, etc. Naming this LGAT retreat “From Galut to Geula” is a transparent attempt to lure frum yidden to what is clearly a 3-day-brainwashing-for-dollars marathon. The low cost of the retreat is meant to be a kickstarter. If successful, the… Read more »

FYI
October 23, 2014 2:26 pm

The Shambergs are very fine and emesdik people

Geula to Galut
October 23, 2014 2:25 pm

These guys so happy! Look at their faces!
They are close to Hershey park PA
wow!!
Geula to Galut

Be real
October 23, 2014 1:45 pm

There are many people reading these articles and comments who are hurting inside. There was such a big need for ‘group therapy’ as witnessed that so many earnest lubavitchers who were looking to work on themselves went to those workshops before they were suspected to be wrong. We need to start a group al pi torah, to be able to help so many people willing to look into themselves, be real, and make real changes for them and their families. Please stop posting every mishegas just to get publicity… Instead people have to come up with a proper and kosher… Read more »

Attn Collive:
October 23, 2014 1:35 pm

Please be more specific of how these people are dangerous.
Not everybody can always read between the lines..

There is world outside chabad!
October 23, 2014 1:06 pm
crazy
October 23, 2014 12:51 pm

I dont believe this! after almost a full year of peace from COTS now they struck up again and even have the audacity to state clearly “it is based, but not limited to, our experiences with Call of the Shofar. It is not affiliated with the Call of The Shofar organization.” They are trying to get in confused youth and instill within them the terrible concept of Avodah Zara! We had the Call of the Shofar, he have the misichistim (thats a different story), and now a new way to shame our community!! And thank you COL for informing this… Read more »

dovid
October 23, 2014 12:44 pm

This looks like a practical joke. If they ready wanted customers, why would they associate with a name like cots, rather than just start anew, and pretend to be different? At least they would have a chance.

expecting
October 23, 2014 12:39 pm

300 comments…

Jewish school of psychology
October 23, 2014 12:06 pm

anyone seeking an authentic program should look into Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh’s Torat Hanefesh distance learning program.

13 is right....
October 23, 2014 11:09 am

I totally agree. And I believe its because they are counting on it growing as COTS did, being that participants are hooked into convincing all their family members and friends to attend this so called “life changing experience.” Amazing how gullible people can be. I can’t help laughing.
Keep your money, you idiots!
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Geula shel sitra achara
October 23, 2014 11:04 am

They try to deceive the Moshichitm with the name of the group
This is avoda Zara!!
I

a weekend for $100?
October 23, 2014 10:59 am

When something is too good to be true – there’s got to be a hidden agenda. Why are they going to all this effort for a measly $1,500 =15 participants x $100 fee including meals and board = something doesn’t add up properly….

we asked for it
October 23, 2014 10:20 am

​if all members of COTS who are in chinuch specifically Maspiam etc would have been properly dealt with, then no one would have the guts to reopen.

however since all of them still have the jobs and are still speaking at the mike at all functions then we shouldn’t expect any different.

They are dangerous..
October 23, 2014 10:17 am

Stay away. Sneaky and slimy.

Not again
October 23, 2014 10:15 am

What is the reason for this being on COL?
To warn people?
To help advertise?
What?
Explain your position.

You go COL!!
October 23, 2014 10:02 am

You are not just a news-bringer, you are a news-maker. Shifting paradigms, exposing faults, and securing a better future for our children.
Thanks!

where is the true Moshe
October 23, 2014 9:45 am

Moshe Liblich PLEASE give out a true statement against this avoda zara
If not you are machte es harabim.

OY!
October 23, 2014 9:17 am

Klipa has so many faces!

Leah from CH
October 23, 2014 9:17 am

This is worrisome. please keep them away from our community. And especially the shluchim, many of which seemed very susceptible and vulnerable the last time around.

What's In A Name?
October 23, 2014 9:08 am

Pardon the Pun, but this is one big Sham(berg).

obvious here
October 23, 2014 9:04 am

Flakey people running it. Flakey ideas. New Age.

who do they think they are fooling?
October 23, 2014 9:00 am

“a men’s weekend that is based, but not limited to, our experiences with Call of the Shofar. It is not affiliated with the Call of The Shofar organization.”

sounds like the same thing to me…

Here We Go Again
October 23, 2014 8:49 am

Something smells fishy

moshe g
October 23, 2014 8:34 am

thanks for exposing this and hopefully this never gets off the ground

i hope people aren’t fooled by this again

hashem yishmoir

moshe

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