CONFESSION: REMORSEFUL DETRACTOR COMES CLEAN

Below is a courageous letter that I personally believe sheds a profound light on the opposition to the Kabbalah Centre. The letter is from a gentleman by the name of Stephen Glass, former volunteer, student and administrator of the Kabbalah Centre in Toronto:

I have read with great interest the recent attacks on the Kabbalah Centre by disgruntled former students of Kabbalah and their tax situation. How do I know that the attacks were incited originally by disgruntled former students?Well, I know, because I was once one myself, and I’m ashamed of the lies and distortions I created to try to retaliate against the Kabbalah Centre. I will forever be grateful that the authorities rejected the anti-Centre information that I tried to peddle to them, and I am very confident that,when all is said and done, the current attacks against Centre and the Berg family by disgruntled former students will also be rejected. Here’s my story:

In 1988, a kabbalist / rabbi by the name of Rabbi Philip Berg came to Toronto to speak; some 300 attendees came to hear the kabbalist. After so much searching for G-d through Eastern religions and philosophy, I was overjoyed to hear Rabbi Berg’s dissertation on the kabbalah and spirituality. In short order I became a student of The Kabbalah Centre in Toronto; it was remarkable what subjects were comprehensively covered by the Kabbalah Centre . My teacher was a young man named Eitan Yardeni— he would, years later, come to worldwide attention from becoming the spiritual teacher of Madonna.

From 1988 to 1994, I was a very involved volunteer of The Kabbalah Centre. Over a disagreement of “halacha” (Jewish law) between myself and Rabbi Berg, I became suddenly disenchanted and estranged. I departed from the Kabbalah Centre; an organization which taught me most of what I now know of Torah and the Kabbalah.

My disagreement led me to begin to rigorously fight against The Kabbalah Centre, in every way I could think of.

I knew the Centre did nothing wrong; yet, I just went about trying to build a case. I created the case. I did all kinds of stuff that was not right. It was manic, raging abusive behavior because of my ego and it was helped by my being bipolar. I even wound up abusing my own wife.

Looking back I was possessed. And that’s the truth of it. I was possessed by my own ego. But I am an adult male and I have to take responsibility for the bed I made.

I collected up many sets of the Zohar which The Kabbalah Centre had disseminated to the world. These Zohars found their way to the garbage at my will; sets of Tefillin (Phylacteries) which were produced by The Kabbalah Centre were put to the fire under my direction. My sudden outrage and hate toward The Kabbalah Centre was entirely inexplicable; I spread the negative word to many bookstores and to Federal and Municipal agencies. When WABC television in the U.S. was intending to do an expose on The Kabbalah Centre, representatives of the network contacted me and I spent considerable time providing them with negative information. The same held true of my discussions with the Wall Street Journal.

I contacted the Federal tax authorities in the U.S. and in Canada in order to bring forth government auditing of the Kabbalah Centre organizational offices.

About a year following my 1994 departure from The Kabbalah Centre, my life began a deep plunge; in retrospect I now see that such was the result of my own hate and all-consuming war against The Centre: since that time I have divorced the woman whom I had been with for 40 years and have been forced to declare bankruptcy as my family business settled and ended; my family is entirely distanced from me and as a wealthy man I lost all of my assets.

I have found that no organization has prayer services that are as beautifully and powerfully done as The Centre;  Love abounds at The Kabbalah Centre, a fact which I had overlooked as I took war to The Centre .

You should know that all the criticisms do not come from authoritative sources. I saw that first hand. I turned around my life when I saw how fanatical these Rabbis were. They are simply jealous. The Rabbis are even jealous of one another. Rav Berg managed to do what no one else could do — he united the Rabbis by their opposition to Kabbalah.

People are unfortunately influenced, as I was, by the Rabbis that say the Centre is a cult.

I have since contacted Karen and apologized, sorry for what I had done.

Remembering the love and joy shared by The Kabbalah Centre teachers and students prompts me to once again study at The Kabbalah Centre after 17 tumultuous years since my departure.

I miss it in my life ….. I miss the teachers and students as well as Rav Berg, Karen Berg, Michael Berg and Yehuda Berg.

Through the years since I was actively involved in The Kabbalah Centre (until late 1994) , and thereafter, my best friend at the organzation was, and continues to be, Rabbi Yehuda Berg ; we simply had a close, loving relationship, quite naturally . After I departed my involvement in the organization, Yehuda was always there to receive messages which I would disseminate globally ; those years saw me writing my views on various Torah topics , which writings are directed to hundreds of Torah influential persons around the world . When I began my attachment to Rebbe Nachman Of Breslov , after my years with The Kabbalah Centre, Yehuda would send me messages in this regard, including sending me a beautiful photograph of the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman’s principal disciple,  Rav Noson Of Nemirov.

I have always sustained my love for Yehuda , the epitome of the love which The Kabbalah Centre seeks to pass-on to persons, Jew and Gentile alike, around the world.

The Rav (Yehuda’s father, Kabbalist Rav Berg) was always my Rav.

No matter what.

Even when I fell apart, I never stopped regarding Rav Berg as my Rav and teacher.

He was the one who brought me life, deep wisdom and brought me back to the truth of the Bible.

There is only one Rav like Rav Berg in a generation.

I am ashamed for what I have done.

May the hate for no reason evolve into love for no reason!

Shmuel (“Steve”) Glass

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MY OWN COMMENT:

When I read Stephen’s letter I cried. I’ve known him since 1989. It pained me to see what he went through and it opened up my own eyes to  the irrational opposition that a few people — opposition that I witnessed over the last 22 years and that I learned about over the last 2000 years.

I began studying Kabbalah in 1989  in Toronto. In 1994 I moved my wife and 4 children to Los Angeles. We had a very active Kabbalah Centre in Toronto. I volunteered as many hours as I could because I was passionate about this wisdom and in love with the mission—teaching wisdom as a way to creating a better life and a better world.

Unfortunately, at the time, I had no idea what creating a better world meant. I did not know that the only way to make a better world was to make a better me. It was a difficult lesson. Deeply painful. But only on my ego.The ego is a funny thing. Wars are never fought over land, territory, resources, money or power. Wars are fought because of the human ego. Period.

And make no mistake: men would rather die than suffer humiliation and subjugation of their ego. People will often commit suicide just to prevent pain on their ego. Don’t underestimate the power of the pain of an ego.

And therein lies the problem with Kabbalah as it is taught by the Kabbalah Centre.

The teachers from the lineage of the Kabbalah Centre expose the human ego. The whole purpose of the Bible was to help humanity transform the selfish, intolerant, narcissistic nature of oneself into the opposite — a being of sharing, tolerance and unconditional care for one’s neighbor. The same way the human ego incites wars between brothers, friends, businesses, religions and nations, it wages war against the wisdom that targets the ego in all of its crafty and clever disguises.

So in the end, if you want to cut to the heart of the matter, the real problem with the Kabbalah Centre is that it demands that we control our ego. Kabbalah demands that we transform it, repurpose our drive, our talent and redirect our ambition toward offering unconditional love, care, kindness and assistance to all of humanity, no matter the race, religion, political party, social or economic standing.

Contrary to popular belief we did not come into this world to make our dreams come true, despite what our ego tells us. We came to this world to support  others and help make their dreams come true. And when we do that, six billion people help us achieve our dreams.This is a subtle insight into the meaning of life; an unorthodox nuance and dynamic that takes a lifetime to truly grasp and internalize.

Therein lies the purpose of the Kabbalah Centre: to teach me how to help you make your life a little better, nicer, sweeter because of my own existence. Not in a dramatic, heroic fashion. But in terms of simple human kindness, care and a little dedication.

Only the ego prevents that from happening.

Sooner or later, if you have the courage to walk the talk that the Kabbalah Centre teaches, you will be asked to peel back a layer of ego and expose your heart. Imagine, for a moment, being publicly accused or embarrassed. Difficult right? Well, this is the kind of sacrifice of the ego one endures when on a spiritual path. Not everyone has to reach that level. Only a true Kabbalist has the courage to get there.

As the great 13th century Kabbalist, Rabbi Abraham Abulafia stated:

“If God brought the Kabbalist to the point where rabbis and the whole community make up lies about him and call him crazy, and even children in the street call him evil, he should make himself strong as a lion and not seek revenge. He should do this for the sake of God and not for the sake of honor. Because God does this with all the true Kabbalistic sages of truth.”

Being on a spiritual path means one is prepared to have “skin in the game.” At one point, the ego has to be provoked to the point of doubt. It’s not easy learning to love your neighbor unconditionally. It’s just not. Especially if that neighbor is not so nice.This path of transformation is what the Kabbalists teach. There are people who fanatically oppose the Kabbalah Centre and want to save the world from the Kabbalists. But we know if someone experiences genuine truth, along with it comes the realization that each person must find truth on their own.

So if someone tries to convince you, or preach to you, then it might mean they are not so sure of their truth. A person with truth doesn’t need to convince others. He allows each person the space and dignity to find the truth on their own.

There are all kinds of fanatics that claim they want to change the world. If you have wisdom, you no longer want to change the world. You understand that the best you can do is to change and become kinder, gentler,  more tolerant. And if we each do, THAT is what changes the world.

So simple, so profound.


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Billy Phillips

Billy Phillips has been a student of Kabbalist Rav Berg and Karen Berg since 1989. He has been instrumental in helping to make Kabbalah accessible for the masses working on both private and public projects under the guidance of Kabbalist Rav Berg. He has lectured on a variety of topics, most notably the profound connection between Kabbalah, Christianity, Islam and the world of Science.

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30 Responses

  1. Paul G says:

    Wow! That takes real guts. I’m not sure I would be brave enough to come clean so publicly.

  2. Hazel says:

    Thank you for cleaning the slate.

  3. Rachel Yesenia says:

    Such Bravery!

  4. Ana Davila says:

    Wow i think this is what kabbalah is all about moment like this WOW.

  5. JP says:

    Turning Darkness into blessings. Good Job Steve.

  6. Annie Burns says:

    Steve Glass, I admire your courage. You and an example to us all.

    I do hope all is well with you, that you have continued with your Kabbalah studies with us. You know that you would be welcomed back.

  7. Lizzie Levinson Kulesz says:

    truely inspiring, thank you for sharing your honesty.

  8. Rachel B says:

    HI Steve, reading this brought tears to my eyes ! Wishing you light in your life always.

    Knowing The Rav was always your Rav – so true 🙂

  9. Ilan says:

    Thank you!! In our paths we truly learn from “THE CREATOR”
    Let us truly connect whoever you are whereever you are!!

  10. “Light can only come from darkness.”
    (Karen Berg, 5/7/2011)

    @SeedLevel

  11. Nacho says:

    Well said, Steve! May your life be full of sweet blessings!

  12. shimon shor says:

    thank you for the truth. you must do more if you are serious: bring it up to as many people as you can including media authorities who blackmouth the most amazing family in the world. Rav and Karen, Their children, all the teachers of the Centre and their true love to all the people must be protected at any cost because they are the only hope of this planet

  13. erin gray says:

    wow! so true and simple thank you for sharing

  14. Warren says:

    “We came to this world to support  others and help make their dreams come true. And when we do that, six billion people help us achieve our dreams” – love that line

    @WaterProofWeb

  15. Barbara Rothstein says:

    Thank you Steve Glass for stepping up to the plate with your truth. Too few of us seem to have the ability these days to read and listen to newspapers, radio talk shows, TV ‘news-tertainment’ with our critical thinking hats on. So I think I speak not only for myself, but for many when I say “Thanks! I needed that”.

  16. Irene Dios says:

    If not for the love of our beloved Rav, Karen, Yehuda and Michael.
    If not for my teacher.

    Thankyou for your letter of confession and regret Steve.

  17. Wendy Esther Fowler says:

    You were very brave to speak out publicly, Steve, and you brought tears to my eyes for your honesty.  I salute you for doing this and trust you will speak out much more to the media and public at large, so that those who have been poisoned against the Berg Family and the teachings of Kabbalah will finally know the truth for themselves.

  18. Guillermo Del Solar says:

    Well done
    Blessings

  19. KhazarPride says:

    I see you dont have the guts to publish peoples personal experiences with the Bergs as though your testimony is more true then theirs. Yours is the weak kind of mind that they prey on. You are to be pitied. Its not only the Rabbis who say its a cult, but people smarter then you who got out and are warning othhers. But your life is so fucked up now that all got is Gruenberger the former insurance salesman

    The fact is that one of Rav Ashlags descendants or Students descendants have anything but condemnation for Berg. You have stocklholm syndrome. You get so emotionally attached to those who do you wrong that you no longer see yourself as the victim of an evil or negative force.

    You will continue to be screwed up and when they are done with you all you will have left is yourself. Get some medication. As a bipolar user of seratonin balancing medicines to keep a balance at least I dont fall for any charlatans crap. And dont worry, I have friends who will keep on keeping the public alerted to the Kabbalah Center and what the Justice system has in store for them.

    Enjoy your so called freedom and love. Your like Gollum, self loathing and pitifull all at once about your precious Berg.

    • Now tell me what you really think. Just kidding. Dude, i wish you nothing but joy and miracles and let us just agree to disagree with dignity. how we treat each other is more important than who is right or wrong. if i am wrong but we treat each other with dignity, we win and the world wins. if you are wrong and we treat each other with dignity, we win. the world wins. Its about love thy neighbor. all the rest is commentary. seriously, nothing but unexpected good fortune, blessings and true miracles for u and your loved ones and a connection to the Light of the Creator.

      Regarding your original comment, i put my name out there and stand for what i believe in, right or wrong. so do other students. i will post your comments if you also give me your true name and email address and stand for what you believe. let me know.
      thank u.

      billy

    • Rivka says:

      The purpose of this site is to absolutely publish the testimony of the tens of thousands of people who have benefitted from the work the Kabbalah Centre has done for the last 40 years.

      There are always nay sayers and people like yourself, that no matter what you do for them or how much you give to them will always find darkness not light because that is their perspective on everything in life. Those people will use the institutions of this fine country as if they were their personal instruments of hate. They will sue their own brother or turn on their very partners because their truth is always black. It seems from your words that perhaps your viewfinder is a little dark, as you feel it necessary to put others down by attacking them. Perhaps attacking the integrity of others makes you feel more adequate. But judging from your anger it is you who needs the help. When all is said and done you are the one who has to live in your dark, unfriendly world all alone; because you can’t find it in your heart to live and let others live.

      You know when something is true not by the lies of the few, but in the experiences of the many.

  20. “Cowards can never be moral.” – Mahatma Gandhi

    @SeedLevel

  21. Annie Burns says:

    Khazar Pride,

    No matter what the content of what you are written, dont you see how bitterness has taken root in your heart? For your OWN sake, not TKC, not the Bergs not the Ashlag’s but for YOU please get rid of this bitterness in your heart.

    Or I fear it will ultimately kill you. It’s time to let go and be healed. MEM HEY SHIN.

    Light and Love to you

  22. Well put @AnnieBurns, and a check for me as well. Love for no reason is the true goal. Thank you for reminding me as well.

  23. Nacho says:

    Dear Khazarpride!

    Deep inside we all agree in the desire to live a reality free of lies, fears, doubts and confussion. In my life, Im very grateful to Berg’s Family for having the courage to spread the Kabbalah Wisdom Technology tools to all who are willing to make a change and live a life via the road out of chaos, even thou all the attacks the Bergs receive.

    My life have reach a potential that I though I was never able to reach. I was a very negative, paranoic, selfish being, victim of circunstances.

    Now I can say I’m a very different soul with an universe of opportunnities coming true. The Kabbalah Centre and The Puerto Rico Kabbalah Study Group are making me very “loco” with so many blessing we are receiving. Even so there is a lot of work to do to erradicate all the negativity.

    Hope you can find urself having a life in a reality full of the joy you were destined to receive, free of agitation or discord. Hope one day we can get together and dance with love for no reason!

    Live long and prosper!
    Nacho

  24. Edward says:

    I am very inspired and amazed by this long drawn out story. Every situation like this could be resolved in a second if you simply change your mind, a brilliant lesson and surely it was perfect even if not necessary.

    you are a lucky man, to see again

  25. David Mats says:

    only love can remove hate
    any thing else will only increase it!!!
    there is so much love in the center ,injected by the rav and karen ,yehuda and michael that can transform so much hate in to such a touching loving softness and heart opening of a person that got almost to the 7th deepest lowest place in hell and was returned because he never forgot that the rav is the rav and the only rav.
    so much tears of joy for such a revelation of the real face of mashiach.

  26. Caleb says:

    Steve,

    I can’t read your letter in its entirety, but I care enough about it to want to tell you that you do not need to feel guilty either because if you do so … your feelings of guilt will be a disservice to the folks you express your sorrow to, those you give your apologies to, the folks who care about your well-being. Take care!

    Caleb

  27. Its great to find a piece of the true about the way we follow at the kabbalah center,so bad that the ego made you loose almost all and steal from you all those precious years,but nothing can be measured when you stand against your own ego and say go away………….davidm

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