‘'S

KIDNAPPED

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e

on page 84

pain of a mother whose son was taken
from her and turned against her but
who nonetheless persisted in seeking
justice.
Among the powerful scenes in the
book is Ham's first meeting with Rabbi
Helbrans. He spoke to her with a cur-
tain between them, asking her to read
from a Hebrew text about sinning and
hell, with frequent stops and starts, and
then engaging her in conversation,
shifting his tone from confrontational
to congenial.
She suddenly realized that five hours
passed and she hadn't moved from the
chair. The potentially mesmerizing
powers of Rabbi Helbrans — and how
his charismatic personality might play
on someone vulnerable — become
clear to readers.
For Denholtz, one of the most dra-
matic nvists to the story is how Shai,
who "clearly adored his mother, could
be so totally turned around and lie
under oath to save the rabbi."
In the Helbrans kidnapping trial, the
boy testified that his mother beat him
daily, although years later, when he was
no longer religious and told his story
on Israeli television, he recanted.
In an epilogue, Denholtz explains
briefly that Helbrans was deported to
Israel in May 2000. In July 1996, Shai
traveled from Israel to New Jersey to
attend his brother's bar mitzvah and
decided to stay with his mother and
attend high school in New Jersey.
Later, Shai, Hana and her three other
children returned to Israel. Shai stayed
there for five years, living alternately
with his mother and father. Now 22, he
lives in Monsey and contends that he
was neither kidnapped nor brain-
washed, although his parents disagree.
Denholtz doesn't know what his reli-
gious beliefs and lifestyle are like now
The author, now working on a book
about how grandparents are re-estab-
lishing the three-generation family,
agrees with her publisher's assertion
that her book is very timely. "It asks the
question, 'Where does religious fervor
end and evil begin?'
"This book does not in any way
blame Chasidim. It's about one particu-
lar rabbi who thought he was above the
law. Ultimately, justice was served."
Denholtz points out that this case
was not unique. Others have come for-
ward to tell stories of Jewish children
who were kidnapped and hidden in
yeshivot for years.
She adds, "I hope to sensitize people
to the dangers of extremists —extrem-
ists of any culture, any religion." ❑

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