Authorities monitor Jewish sect under investigation for alleged child neglect

Authorities are planning a Monday morning meeting to address the case of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect that abruptly left Quebec for Ontario last week.

Members of the group, known as the Lev Tahor, are under investigation by social services in Quebec for alleged child neglect.

Members of the community of about 200 people packed up and drove to Chatham, Ontario in the middle of the night last Monday, in advance of court hearings for some of the families scheduled later in the week.

Denis Baraby, director of youth protection for Quebec’s Laurentians region, says there are concerns about the health and education of the children and the hearings were to ensure child services had regular access to the families.

Baraby says information from the investigation in Quebec has been passed on to youth services in Ontario and a conference call is planned for Monday to evaluate the situation.

Nachman Helbrans, a spokesman for Lev Tahor, denies children are subject to neglect.

Helbrans says community members hope they can freely educate their children in Ontario according to their religious beliefs.

Some families are staying in local motels in Chatham and Windsor, while others have already leased homes in the area.

A spokeswoman for Chatham police says the force is aware the group is staying in the municipality and has been in touch with Quebec authorities.