“The Zaddik: The Battle For A Boy’s Soul” by Elaine Grudin Denholtz
The story of that celebrated Jewish kidnapping case, in which 13-year-old Shai Fhima was taken to a renegade rabbi for bar mitzvah lessons. The boy decided to become Orthodox, after the rabbi told him he was a hidden zaddik, and did not return home. Was he kidnapped? Was he brainwashed by this Jewish cult? Was Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans delusional or just fervently religious? Was it true that his mother was abusive? Did Shai write the letters, or was he only copying what was dictated by the rabbi? He didn’t see his mother for two years and was hidden in New York, Israel, Holland, Luxembourg and France by the controversial rabbi’s followers. A trial ensued, even though the district attorney did not want to irritate his Chassidic voter base. Helbrans, who had his run-ins with the law in Israel, was sent to prison in New York state. This is the story of the case, the mother, and what happened.