In 1995, a nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway by a cult called the Aum Shinrikyo killed twelve people and left thousands ill. In Waco, Texas, eighty-three Branch Davidians suffered a fiery death after a federal siege of their compound. And every day, saffron-robed, shaven-headed Hari Krishnas travel through campuses trying to "save souls." Although unrelated, these incidents add up to the sad fact that cults are a very real and very virulent part of our society.

How is today's Jewish population faring against this onslaught? Let's first take a look at modern Jewish history. As we recovered from the confines of the ghettos of Eastern Europe almost a century ago, various "enlightenment" movements encouraged the discarding of traditional Judaism. When we stepped onto a new land as "greenhorns," fresh off the boat from the old country, we were told to forget the "archaic" traditions of Torah: in this "new world" the old rules needn't apply. Consequently, religious observance and Jewish identity gradually faded from the lives of many people, one generation at a time.

But children who have been brought up unfettered by the so-called confines of religion, in fact, drift in a sea of discontent. They have nearly exhausted themselves in a rationalistic and materialistic culture, running out of reason, running out of theories. They have become desperately unsatisfied adults, yearning to discover their purpose on earth. They feel their own mortality; they do not want to die without a heaven to aspire to. Since their parents have discarded orthodox religion, these children find themselves attracted to unorthodox religions. As a result, we see a disproportionate number of Jews in "New Age" spiritual movements and cults.

Once a person has become part of a cult, it is extremely difficult to extract him. When young Jewish men or women have not been taught the rich religion of their forefathers because their parents have no spiritual wealth to offer them, the searching child often turns to cults. Many are seduced on college campuses with the promise of a glossy meaning to an otherwise empty existence. Suddenly they have something to grasp onto, teachings to water the parched land of secular cliché. They are sadly unaware of the paltry offering of cults compared to the abundant heritage that is theirs. Once cults have gained a member, most aggressively fight for what they see as one of theirs, a reward for their proselytizing and "redeeming of souls." They will not relinquish their prize at any cost.

So what can parents do to guide their children in the proper direction? They can rediscover their own roots, quenching their own thirst from the waters of the Torah and sharing this with their offspring. Even if a child is already attracted to an alternative religion, there are a few expert, dedicated rabbis and educators around the world who redeem child by child, soul by soul, bringing children back home at a tremendous risk and effort.

May we all be brought back home safely to Eretz Yisroel with Moshiach. Amen.

Sara Levy