Two sisters, ages 17 and 14, have been missing from their homes for the past week.
According to the girls’ family, the disappearance occurred after the parents, Tzvi Arie and Leah Sandik, decided to move out of the Gerrer community in Ashdod. They say community leaders suspected that they were planning to join the community of Rav Shaul Alter.
The parents say that Gerrer authorities were in close contact with the girls, persuaded them to oppose their parents’ decision and flee from home, and arranged special living accommodations. They say the girls, 17-year-old Esti and 14-year-old Ricky underwent brainwashing for months by mentors with senior positions in Ger, including women from their educational staff at their seminary, who instructed them to flee the home as soon as their parents tried to leave the community.
According to Israeli media reports, the family recently has felt disconnected from Chassidus, and they apparently considered the possibility of joining the “breakaway” community led by Rav Shaul Alter, however they did not take any real steps to join.
The family reportedly decreased contact and involvement with the Gerrer community in general, and decided to move from Ashdod to Bnei Brak and send their children to Chassidishe yeshivos there.
The parents say that community leaders and yeshiva faculty urged the children to defy their parents. The family’s 12-year-old boy said that one of his teachers told him: “You have no father or mother, you have to do what the Vaad says.” In addition, the girls’ older married siblings who remain connected with the Gerrer Chassidus helped persuade them to abscond from home.
According to the report, the parents even assured the 17 year old that she could continue to study in the Gerrer seminary in Ashdod, and offered to arrange transportation.
About two weeks ago, both daughters did not return home one evening. Late that night the younger one called from a blocked number, said “I am fine”, and hung up.
The next day the two girls returned home.
Then to their horror, a week ago the parents woke up and saw that the two girls were gone, and they saw a ladder placed near the girls’ bedroom window.
The parents have gone to court, and the court is involved in the matter, however the details have not been disclosed.
One follower of the Gerrer Chassidus denied any involvement in the disappearance, and claimed that it is an internal family matter.
The police confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, and that the parties accused have denied any involvement.