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| Kabbalah Centre |
(Scroll down for video) The Kabbalah Centre of Los Angeles, California, in under fire after allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of donations to enrich the center leaders, according to a new lawsuit filed this week.
Former supporters of the Kabbalah Centre have sued the spiritual organization based in Los Angeles, for fraud, alleging misuse of more than $1 million that has been contributed to a fund for construction.
"The Kabbalah Centre has engaged in a pattern of fundraising in order to enrich themselves and others associated with the Kabbalah Centre," according to a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County by Carolyn Cohen, a real estate broker in San Diego, and president of the Chamber of Commerce of Solana Beach.
Cohen said she and one of her companies, Here We Grow Inc., lost nearly $810,000 in contributions and interest on loans. A similar complaint was filed by Randi and Charles Wax, who own a healthcare supply business in San Diego, claiming losses of more than $326,000.
Both lawsuits state that employees of the Kabbalah Centre pressured applicants "to give money until it hurts to receive the light and win the favor of the leaders of the center.”