The Yellow Deli Cult

[@kristinrooney-erb501]

I lost a friend to this cult. He abandoned his wife and now 6 month old daughter. He’s gone off grid and it’s honestly just so sad and maddening.

[@lilafeldman8630]

That is terrible. That actually goes against the teachings of Jesus. You don't leave your unbelieving spouse. So 😢.

[@lynnpayne9519]

I had a friend who did similar. It really hurts.

[@natsunohoshi7952]

@@lilafeldman8630 What about 1 Corinthians 7:12-15?

[@lilafeldman8630]

@@natsunohoshi7952 that's the one I was thinking.

[@beslanintruder2077]

I wonder if he moved to Georgia . I have some connections with the communities in Brunswick and Savannah..

[@hamcaked]

A note about the website revamp- I happened to be in the middle of a research paper on the 12 tribes for my history class when they overhauled the website. Coincidentally, many of the articles that I had been using as sources for how they justify their treatment of women, children, and minorities were scrubbed from the website. I definitely think that they are trying to clean up their public image

[@verynice126]

Did you get copies of the website before it was scrubbed?

[@arianrhodhyde7482]

Wayback machine?

[@charliekelly7539]

That must have sucked for ur bibliography 😂😂

[@HillyPlays]

It's because it's run by men who live based on their fee fees, which just so happen to be yt supremacism and patriarchy

[@KaylaNoelle1]

I went to the Yellow Deli in Nelson B.C. with my grandma because we didn’t know it was a cult thing. This 30-something worker started hitting on me and being so creepy. I was turning 16 a week later and he was like “oh wow, so you’ll be looking for a husband soon then huh?” and my grandma was like “no… she’ll be looking for a university soon.” I’m glad I signed myself over to UVic instead. 👩🏻‍🎓💕

[@maddi3014]

I live on the island and I had no idea that there were things like that in BC. I find it so interesting that these cults can have such a wide reach. It's a bit funny that we're so busy minding our own business that sometimes we don't realize what's going on. UVIC is the school I have in mind so go you!

[@KaylaNoelle1]

@@maddi3014 Yeah it's crazy how far their tentacled reach! There's also Bountiful BC which is an FLDS (fundamentalist Mormon) cult They keep getting raided for trading little girls to be child brides in Utah and taking child brides from Utah. But they never get fully shut down!! It's infuriating! Also, that's awesome! I hope you get accepted! It's a really nice campus and I had some kickass professors there!

[@koreabooisms3052]

@@KaylaNoelle1 that’s literally insane oh my god??? Also thanks!

[@beckiejani7782]

You go, Grandma! I would do the same for my granddaughters.

[@davidallamericananarchist9220]

Yooooo WTF?...

[@BuriedErect]

When you use the word "update" in a title, it's never, "Cult comes to senses en masse, makes meaningful amends, begins trauma informed therapy" 😅😔

[@ddjsoyenby]

"they stopped being a cult guys" - what i wish would happen.

[@ThatCrazyStranger]

I really hope one day that will be a title for a video. We can dream, right?

[@TheCerealluvr]

I WISH that were the update

[@ThatCrazyStranger]

@@TheCerealluvr Seconded

[@hannerikruger7216]

Damnit😂 I saw this before watching even 1 minute so now I know what kind of update this is going to be😂

[@tortimeese]

Now I remember,! I used to be a buyer for a natural foods store (okay, Whole Foods in the early 90s). We sold a liquid hand soap that was very popular, well made, and cheap. The label had a drawing of young women with blue head scarves picking flowers in the field. We knew the product was made by a “church.” When we got wind that children were being used to work in the fields, we pulled the entire line from the shelves. Yep, that be them. The lavender soap was particularly lovely.

[@HouseOfPagesAndPaints]

Okay, I’m normally just a lurker, but this unlocked a memory and is vindication for me. There is this weird kind of hippie junglecore restaurant in the city nearest to me in Canada. A few years ago my mum and I liked the name and decided to go one day (we like trying different places near us). Please note that we did NOT see any of the literature while we were there. She thought it was fun and kind of cool but I was IMMEDIATELY uncomfortable and hated the entire experience (though the food WAS good). Something just felt off and I specifically remember telling my mum that it felt very culty while we were in the restaurant and then listed all the reasons why when we were in the car. They were a little TOO friendly and a little TOO granola-y while still serving meat and animal products, all their questions were a little too probing while still being friendly. It was just off. My mum thought I was crazy and after telling my father how weird I found it all (he would have felt the same as me if he had come with us) and my mum saying I was crazy (in a nice way-not a hurtful way) we never really talked about it at all. This video unlocked all of that and I immediately googled the restaurant as I had forgotten the name. ITS A YELLOW DELI. I WAS RIGHT. PLACE HAD CULT WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. Thank you for this video!! I’m going to go brag to my mum now how I was right. Love this channel.

[@AdriJB06]

I'm glad you're getting vindication!

[@suhwhha9504]

You gotta call your mom now and report back her reaction 😂

[@toreason8146]

✊

[@cheesebean4040]

Good old nelson lol

[@baileymoran8585]

I like how you describe the fundie-hippy movement. It’s like ‘wanna wear comfy clothes and not brush your hair anymore but you don’t want to open your mind, let go of your xenophobia, or find healthy outlets for your anger? Well, this cult is for you!’

[@nottheilluminati]

I didn't grow up in a fundie religion but your channel has helped me realize how much of our culture, in the Midwest especially, has been shaped by these groups and ideologies. My extended family, hometown structure, state govt, etc all have threads of the stuff you discuss. Thank you for your work!

[@kateyaquilina8910]

Same! I remember when I was like 5 maybe, my babysitter since I was a baby watched these 2 girls a little bit. They were younger than me and I remember them calling each other "Zion". I didn't understand it, but I had a feeling already in my gut that it was somehow religious and very very bizarre. Fast forward to when I was older and I realized that literal toddlers were calling each other Zionists in their own way - as an insult. Even at 5 without know what it meant I was like "This is seems very weird and even weirder that nobody is checking this". I'm also originally from MI and I see it alllllll the time.

[@Ulaclarewrites]

Thank god! I’m from the Midwest and while we went to church it was very liberal(seriously so lucky, LGBT Friendly, pro choice, ect.) but it still fucked me up in the Midwest. Like it’s just in the area.

[@thedisobedientdaughter]

THIS. There are many people who don't realize how insidious this is. It's not just the blatant presence of religion, it's the rigid thinking, the child abuse, the worshipping of authority, etc. that are woven so tightly into Midwestern communities.

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

Thats why a lot of people are REALLY uncomfortable in the Bible Belt. Fundie WASPism is systemically embedded into everything, despite it being unconstitutional, and SPECIFICALLY what the Founding Fathers tried to prevent. NonChristians in the US are SERIOUSLY discriminated against, but if a child abuser is yapping about Abrahamic Fairy Tales they dont even understand, its all fine and dandy.

[@_Lucy_1]

Same! I grew up Catholic but not super religious. I stumbled upon this channel a while ago and I have been obsessed! They do a wonderful job giving informative, fascinating presentations (and inserting their humor and great personalities into it too🥰)

[@BriannadaSilva]

Small correction, as someone who lives in Colorado very close to where the fires (Marshall and Boulder) happened: They were not forest fires! They were suburban fires! They ripped through neighborhoods and shopping areas. That was part of what made them so horrible. Somewhere around a thousand people lost their homes. We've never had anything like this in our state's history.

[@maryswanson9982]

We could see all the smoke. Terrible.

[@viniciusbelisario8102]

Are you sure they did that deliberately and on purpose? I do know them very well from the neighborhood and I'm pretty sure they are not criminals nor terrorists.

[@maryswanson9982]

@@viniciusbelisario8102 I don’t think it was on purpose. We had such high winds that day. It’s grassy, and it was also very dry. One tiny spark, and the wind spread the fire so rapidly. We don’t know exactly how it started. I blame the wind.

[@hannerikruger7216]

Oh no😂😂😂 how is your correction worse than the original statement

[@mariahclaar7915]

​@Tzadik Okarin Here's some info on 12 tribes: On a fall day in 1999, 19-year-old John I. Post packed up his birth certificate, Social Security card, state identification, favorite pictures of his family and prepared to leave the religious cult into which he’d been born and raised. He’d been taught his whole life that anyone who left the Twelve Tribes would die. He had no money. Agonized over the decision to leave. But he couldn’t stay. He planned to walk into town and call a friend for help. When he finally stood up to leave the Vermont compound, some 15 cult members blocked his path outside, forming a wall. They prayed and warned there would be consequences if he walked out of God’s protection. He’d probably die. Post shook as he moved by them. The 65-year-old Tennessean worked many 12-hour days in various jobs across the country for the religious cult. Never baptized in as a full member, he bent the rules at times, frequently leaving for work so early that he missed mandatory morning worship sessions. “You can get away with a lot when you are a good worker,” he said. But in 2015, the Twelve Tribes told him he was no longer welcome. “I said, ‘Well you need to settle up with me then,’” he said, using his middle name and last initial in this story to avoid being identified by current cult members. “And they said, ‘Oh we don’t do that.’” An Australian family who managed to escape a notorious sect have revealed the horrific punishments they endured as children. sexual and authoritarian relationships. I am beginning to understand why I cannot have healthy relationships or why I tend to use sex as an escape when I'm feeling depressed.. This also means that I understand why I clash with every person who has authority over me. The reason is, I am still fighting Aquilla subconsciously. This experience has affected me in many areas and the most severe of those areas is school. I moved from middle school to home school because everyone in my school was calling me a slut, horror, and a ho. I wasn't even sexually active yet, but they called me these names because I subconsciously carried myself in a sexually inviting manner. My therapists have explained that this manner in which I carry myself is a result of being abused and needing to fight back. This and many other experiences brought my self-esteem down. They made me depressed which in turn led me to sex. So, over time, I have learned to have high self esteem instead of judging myself as other people perceive me. Slowly I am mending my relationship problems. I still have years of work ahead of me. Most cults prey on women or men with low esteem because they are the most impressionate. These are people who are always searching for someone else to provide a remedy for them. People with high esteem do not wait for others to tell them what works, they look inside themselves for the answers, they believe in themselves. To avoid getting trapped in a cult women should work on having high self esteem. This way when cult recruiters try to approach you on the street you will have a good sense of what you really need and what is good for you. If women have high esteem they will avoid cults that prey on victims with low self esteem. Police have been investigating the high number of stillbirths within the sect Three graves have been uncovered at one property which has no running water The property is only used when members are exiled for questioning their beliefs The cult does not align itself with any denomination and shuns modern medicine A search for the bodies of stillborn babies is underway at the headquarters of secretive religious sect Twelve Tribes. Here is a list of Yellow Deli's across the world:Title State Country General Rodríguez (Argentina) Buenos Aires Argentina Katoomba, NSW (Australia) New South Wales Australia Londrina, Brazil Paraná Brazil Itapecerica da Serra São Paulo Brazil Courtenay, BC British Columbia Canada Chilliwack, BC British Columbia Canada Nelson, BC British Columbia Canada Winnipeg, MB Manitoba Canada Kingston, ON Ontario Canada Kyoto, Japan Kyoto Japan San Sebastián, Spain Guipúzcoa Spain Mount Igeldo, Orio Guipúzcoa Spain Honiton (UK) United Kingdom Vista, CA California United States Valley Center, CA California United States Boulder, CO Colorado United States Arcadia, FL Florida United States Brunswick, GA Georgia United States Plymouth, MA Massachusetts United States Plymouth, MA (To-Go Shop) Massachusetts United States Warsaw, MO Missouri United States Hiddenite, NC North Carolina United States Oneonta, NY New York United States Ithaca, NY New York United States Coxsackie, NY New York United States Oak Hill NY New York United States Chattanooga, TN Tennessee United States Pulaski, TN Tennessee United States Rutland, VT Vermont They are a cult. They go to Dead shows and drug and kidnap "lost souls" who then wake up on one of their compounds throughout the world. They take all possessions and finances and put them back into the cult. The only reason they are self-sustaining is because they take everything from the members and put it back into the cult. The cult is self-sustaing; it's individual members are not. That way they are dependanat on the cult.

[@noellatrix]

My boyfriend and I went to a Common Ground Cafe several years ago and I legitimately thought it was just a hippie health food people thing, but somehow he immediately knew it was a cult. I asked him why and he said "they're all wearing the same pants and the workers look underage and scared" 😬😬😬

[@Afmedic85]

Lol sounds like McDs but nobody I worked with looked scared when I worked there. I mainly looked bored or had that "I'm only doing this job because I have to put gas in my car and pay my cell phone bill.."

[@pansprayers]

Having escaped a cult before I met my husband, it used to freak him out that I could usually call it within 60 seconds of entering a business/environment run by one. It doesn't really hurt that, when you grow up in that environment, the group you're in goes out of it's way to point out the other cults in the area (kind of a, 'WE'RE not a cult, see? Look at THEM' deflection). The first time he ranted about going to one of a 12 Tribes restaurant that was by his place in Massachusetts where he grew up, he about freaked out when I went, 'Yup, that awesome Ruben came with a nice side of fries, and accidental support of religious abuse'. The color drained out of his face.

[@amazingabby25]

I use to go there, my bubby lived in Hyannis, and we’d go there to the Common Ground to eat because they had vegetarian food and we kept kosher-style, which is hard do outside of big cities. This is so crazy. I didn’t really know the difference between Catholics, Christian’s, and cults…it was all the same to me. So wild.

[@pansprayers]

@@amazingabby25 eh, it's a complex criteria (determining what qualifies as a cult/high control group) that exists on a scale/gradient, so not knowing what determines what is/isn't is perfectly understandable. Religion doesn't even have to figure in - it just often does, due to how much easier it is to control someone when you convince them that not only is their existence in this life in peril, their existence in the next will potentially be as well. Most esoteric/ecclesiastical groups have a splinter group that goes rouge to the level of qualification, but it's a pretty tense/sensitive subject in many ways.

[@blushface]

... there was (or maybe still is) one of those near me, i had no idea its culty.

[@Elliebellyboo02]

There is a Yellow Deli in my small southern US town. They moved in specifically because of the local college. The deli is the only place in town that's open past 9, they have free wifi, they seem "safe". It's worked beautifully for them, despite several locals being quite outspoken about not supporting them due to the things you speak about here Jen. A friend of mine was invited to one of the tribe's sabbath meetings and she and her husband decided to go out of curiosity. They came away from the evening deeply unsettled. My friend couldn't name any exact reasons why she felt so unsettled, she just said that she felt like had stepped behind the curtain just for a moment and gotten a whiff of rampant boundary stomping and abuse.

[@daMillenialTrucker]

Whooooooaaa

[@Remmirae]

Must be from Pulaski?

[@Elliebellyboo02]

@@Remmirae You know it!

[@sethread8978]

Hell yeah can't go back home to see the family without Granmaw complaining that the Yellow Deli people share their women.

[@HillyPlays]

​@@sethread8978they what?? I think I have a friend stuck in the pulaski deli, Shua Delaney

[@amberm2777]

I used to live in Cambridge NY, a very small town, actually classified as a village... This cult had a small farm and coffee shop there and were very strange. I did witness quite a few things that immediately rubbed me the wrong way. 9 mo pregnant woman walking down the st pushing double strollers while men leasurely walked ahead of them in 90 degree heat. Small children working in the field and in and out of the barn where they made soap all hours of the day and night. The yellow deli cafe closed years back but they continue to run the farm at women and childrens expense. Aside from building a shed here and there and having the privilege of driving trucks, I never really saw the men doing much of anything but trying to recruit and preach. The children looked so miserable and exhausted all the time, I feel so bad for them.

[@lhproductions61]

They’re definitely still around my partner was approached by them while working in another small town that is also classified as a village just outside cobelskill NY they gave him a pamphlet and everything. Seems they like to set up shop in tiny towns up here where people are not as..aware I’d say?

[@noellewithane6111]

I always saw dairy farms as exploitation of free labor of mothers… directly corresponding to exploitation of women. Same principle.

[@amazingabby25]

I use to go there coffee shop, restaurant in Hyannis, Mass on cape cod

[@suhwhha9504]

This really worries me. And nothing is being done. Meanwhile, good parents struggling have their kids ripped away from them ?!

[@coolandhotgirl6143]

I can tell you as someone who has family members in the 12 tribes that the women have to undergo extreme physical stress due to back to back pregnancies with insufficient natal care.

[@xlondontipton]

My best friend from college joined 12 tribes. She was recruited while hiking the Appalachian trail. You are definitely correct about them preying on people going through major life changes. Seemed like her entire personality was just erased within a few weeks.

[@muffininorbit]

I know exactly where she was recruited from. There’s a hostel in central Vermont that’s situation between trailheads. I got dropped off at it when I was in my twenties and hitchhiking. It was off-season for hikers so they were surprised, picked me and my friend up and brought us back to the big house for “Shabbat.” Luckily my friend and I were pretty savvy about these things and had lives to get back to. I told my brother about this experience right before he hiked the AT. He said in Vermont their literature was passed back and forth between hikers. Other hikers told him that their reputation on the trail is that they often take in people who have been hurt and care for them. It’s honestly genius in an evil way, they know right where to put themselves to find vulnerable people.

[@starlightanddreams1317]

Ha! I was just telling my husband about the same thing. My childhood friend broke up with his years long GF. She cheated on him and he was lost and hurt. He decided to walk the AP trail . He met a girl and lived with the 12 Tribes for awhile. They broke up and he left during the night. He wanted her to leave but she didn't want to. But he has a strong head and couldn't be told how to love and the religion stuff. He's not into it. Glad he got out. It was down south. In West Virginia I think. Just saw A Yellow Deli in Ithaca visiting my Son.

[@RebeccaNoyes]

"This whole thing is kind of like a modern day equivalent of today's cool fashionable hipster Christian vibe that we see with young evangelicals...you know, those charismatic mega church Christians that rock the iconic look of a white pacific northwest bisexual, yet they remain Bible-thumping bigots" EASILY the most ICONIC thing Jen has ever said 😅

[@ddjsoyenby]

evangelicals have been using pop culture/fashions to appear cool forever *youth group flashbacks*

[@beckbentz2069]

As a white PNW bisexual myself I’m offended by the comparison but I can’t say that Jen’s wrong

[@mntlhlthaddtnstilltrying]

I rewound that bit a few times

[@Robynfrye1111]

This quote hit me to the CORE. Two years ago, I was one of those charismatic mega church Christian Bible-thumping bigots. Now I’m divorced and actually am a white Pacific Northwest bisexual. Oh how the turntables have. 😅 at least I didn’t have to buy a new wardrobe 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@ultraboombean]

A lot of Christians I know have that aesthetic but are not bigoted and are skeptical of churches.

[@SpanishHazel]

"I was a child not allowed to be a child." Yeah. I felt that to my core.

[@sjkassee]

❤

[@sourgreendolly7685]

unfortunately I do too

[@melissahammer6267]

me too

[@hobocode]

same. grew up fundamentalist and abused every single day. i was very lucky that i got to go to public school because my parents were too lazy to watch us all day. so, i had a few hours of just bullying by kids and teachers and not severe mind fuck parental abuses. The bullying at school was nothing compared to home. So, it seemed like heaven. But most kids would probably report that they hated schoo based on my experience. but, to me, if was a relief even if I was singled out and yelled at by teachers for forgetting homeowrk or passing notes. You know, horrific crimes like that. I would watch the clock. they'd scream at me for like 15 minutes of class time in front of everyone. and once one teacher hates you, they tell the others in the lounge to hate you too. suddenly, every teacher in school despises you because you don't fight back like the "bad kids". You're a fucking wimp. You take it. You cry. But you sit and take it. And there's not a single person who ever defended me. No one. For years and years. My worst crime was being late to first hour. that happen a lot. oh my. what a terrible monster. running late, sneaking in, and apologizing silently. i really deserved that horrible treatment. teachers knew my parents would never complain or care. I would never tell my parents anything because everyone knew how bad it was at home. so, they could let out all their frustrations on their favorite little punching bag. everyone in town knew it. I was unprotected. So, if you have a violent side that wants to come out. I'm a safe target. At least, I was. Now I can afford a lawyer if I need one. And I'm an adult. I have my own house. I don't need to live with anyone. I'm safe now.

[@kathleendigregorio1701]

I hope things are much better for you now Sarah 🌼

[@carolinemincks]

The way I lit the shabbos candles and then wandered over to watch this...the groan about Messianic Judaism gave me LIFE. Thank you SO much for talking about it, because it is relentless. I would love to see you tear "Christian seders" to shreds (I wish I could find the Christian blog that had tips about how to host a YOM KIPPUR BRUNCH FOR JESUS but I think it was taken down after they got, well, torn to shreds about it)

[@lilymcmanaway]

OMG QUEEN yes messianic Jews give me hives 😭😭😭

[@fredislate]

I ended up on one of their communes in Nelson, Canada while hitch-hiking through the country-- they offered free meals to vagabonds like me-- down there they had a whole working farm and a Yellow Deli shop in the village... Where children clearly worked. No men talked to me, only the women, and they all said the same stuff over and over, like a script. It was so creepy! They insisted that I sleep in the commune, but I didn't feel comfortable AT ALL. I garantee you I preferred the cougar-ridden forest over the farm lol

[@kay_hush]

I still dream about the waffles from the Nelson Yellow Deli. I will never go back, now knowing about the commune and cult connections. But I still dream about the waffles.

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

@@kay_hush Make them at home, yourself. Its not as hard as you think, I PROMISE. Please somebody help me find an awesome waffle Recipe for this guy.

[@asenseofyarning5614]

"No thanks, I'd rather sleep in cougar territory. At least THEY are upfront about being predators." That's such a wild story, man, but I'm sure you made the right call!

[@fredislate]

@@asenseofyarning5614 lol seriously i'm glad I didn't sleep there, especially after reading the racist/misogynistic pamphlets they gave to me, like no thank u lol

[@lsmmoore1]

@@asenseofyarning5614 And also, unlike cult recruiters, cougars don't make a habit of hunting humans.

[@CosmicPizzaCat]

For anyone thinking they may have a Common Ground in their area, be sure it's actually a "Common Ground Cafe" and not something unrelated. We have at least a couple of coffee shops in my area called "Common Grounds" (with an s) that are just local small coffee shops/roasters.

[@yooperskeptic]

We have the same thing here! I was like ooooh nooooo haha, but no, not related.

[@springstreetstudios3501]

literally this and some form of 'breaking new grounds' are like the most common cafe names in the us

[@CultivateWithKait]

I'm in Denver and one of the worst things about the fire that wasn't reported much was that a lot of people lost their pets because they couldn't get into the area before the fire moved through...they're still finding pets that managed to get out and run away, as well as burned cats that survived somehow. It's awful seeing friends and family and acquaintances posting on social media looking for their pets.

[@AmandaPaige71]

That is horribly sad. Those poor animals and the people who lost them. I can't imagine the trauma.

[@yooperskeptic]

I feel like something is wrong with me, because I usually feel worse about pets than humans.

[@culatoraligator]

I live in boulder and seeing the fire from my front door was devastating

[@CultivateWithKait]

@@culatoraligator I'm so sorry

[@timid_soup]

Southern Oregon had a fire couple years ago that ripped through 3 towns in just a few hours, it was heart wrenching to see Facebook posting from all the pet owners with missing pets

[@fuskersong]

Not really anything to do with the vid, but I just wanted to say that I really struggle with my self confidence, especially not being super skinny and feeling ugly as a result of that, and seeing you be gorgeous, confident, sassy and clever, all while doing youtube and making really cool makeup looks really helps me to see that my brain and its yellings is wrong and I can totally be all this regardless of ym body type

[@rosesavoy9035]

Society is crazy. When I was extremely sick (but looked good just super asthmatic and not being able to breathe) people complemented me on how “fit” I was lol and wished to be so “elegant”… that’s because I couldn’t eat much…. Society is crazy! And I understood how harassed people were for not being “skinny”! You are beautiful and if you’re healthy that is such an amazing blessing!!

[@cassidy5457]

My childhood home was one of the houses that burnt down in Colorado (we no longer live there, but still felt the loss if that makes sense). Thanks for calling attention to it!

[@maryeckel9682]

I'm so sorry

[@Thaiz_]

KZbin recommended this channel to me and it's been such an interesting content to watch. I'm Brazilian and my country is heavily Christian (of course not everyone is a fundie but there are the perks of religious groups everywhere). There's a lot of US influence among churches here - specially the pentecostal and neopentecostal ones - so I can see a lot of similarities between our countries. Thanks for the content!

[@flossytoo]

My grandparents knew a man who had left the 12 Tribes, though his wife and children had stayed in. He spoke about how they had stated they would never forgive him or see him again, but he had hope that one day his children might leave. I was just a kid when I was told about it, but the utter devastation and heartbreak he felt about losing his family will stay with me forever. I distinctly remember him calling it a cult - I think it was the first time I was introduced to the idea of cults and destructive religious groups.

[@mireillemartinez4601]

Jen, I just found you! I watched this video and found you so honest, so brave and made me laugh at the end of the video. I am a mother of an ex-member of that terrible group. When my son was 18 he was struggling and ended up in this group. He was invited to a tea in the Yellow Deli and they offered work exchange in their farm. Once in their farm, they charmed him with smiles and kindness and eventually convinced him that they were a wonderful community for him. He was separated from his family, taken all his possessions and baptized to a Hebrew name. I was so distraught and in so much despair! Once I had some money, I flew to BC, where he was and pretended that I wanted to spend time with the group to potentially join. It was so horrible to be acting as if I was happy while being there! I just wanted to be with my son and to take him home. But he was convinced that he was in the right place. When I came home I was very messed up, leaving my son behind but also doubting if they were right and I was wrong! I went back every chance I got to be with my son. I hated the place so much and hated them for stealing my child! At first, my son was "very happy" but every time that I visited he looked more withdrawn and unhappy. I tried talking to him, but he would not respond. I wasn't sure what was happening. Everyone had a fake smile on their faces, but really seemed so miserable. The more I went and acted as they expected me to act the more miserable I felt, but I did it to be able to visit and be with my son. Once the group had my son brainwashed, everything turned. He was emotionally, spiritually and physically abused. He worked over 100 hours a week with no pay, was not allowed to see a doctor if sick, never saw a dentist or any health provider and if he was sick and could not work, he was not given food to eat. They called him "retarded" and told him that he would never be able to marry or have a family in the group. My son's mental and physical health started to go down, and once he wasn't well enough to slave for them, they threw him out of the "family" and left him in a highway without any means. This was at the onset of the pandemic. They also told him that, because he is not part of the chosen ones" any longer he would die within 7 years of leaving the group. My husband picked him up from the highway and he lived with us for a while. At the moment, he is living on his own, but he is really struggling from all the trauma of being there for almost 6 years. The more I visited this disgusting place, the more I was able to see the child abuse, the patriarchy, the racism, the hate against homosexuals and disable and the control. They are a disgusting group of people and I feel very sorry for those children, women and young vulnerable sensitive men who are trapped in that place. The leaders, of course, have cars, travel, have phones, hardly do any physical labor and get to decide what happens to everyone in that "community". I am so happy that my son is out of there, but I am suffering seeing him not being able to heal from all the damage from all the abuse that he endured while living there. Please, everyone reading this, do not support this group. They are truly terrible people doing very horrible things to vulnerable human beings! I have heard it with my very own ears, they are racist and homosexual haters. I also saw with my own eyes how the children are punished for being children. They cannot have tantrums, play as children, use imagination or be who they are meant to be. I also saw, how they make their members do hard labor from early in the morning to very late at night. My son sometimes worked 24 hour shifts and would not be allowed to rest. Thank you for your video Jen, you inspired me!

[@meeomelovescookiesandhisto459]

As a German Jennonite I love that you included a source for the German branch of the 12 Tribes. A lot of the time it's easy to forget that despite the religious atmosphere/ culture and laws being very different from the US cults are still very much a thing here. I also love that you keep doing updates on older videos, just in case you're wondering whether or not your audience likes them. (also: your look! It's everything!) Alright, now I've got to make dinner- your videos are my sign to start relaxing and officially start the weekend (and that I need to feed myself asap).

[@Animefan4869]

Also let's not forget all the christian fundamentalists and evangelicals here in general, it's kind of sad actually. A lot of these evangelical churches are quite similar to their american counterparts

[@sisuguillam5109]

Fellow german here, seconding this post! Schönes Wochenende und ich hoffe es hat geschmeckt!

[@hoathanatos6179]

As someone with a Mennonite Oppi these kinds of behavior seem very normal. Just work yourself to death to provide for your family and community and to keep sinful thoughts at bay; blame your children for things they have no control over or that they don't understand and then proceed to beat them with leather straps, canes and metal rods; and shame them for all of their unordained actions until they no longer possess self-esteem and are driven to the point of suicide or complete obedience.

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

Cheers to y'all for busting these crazies. I wish the US government could do more, faster, but American Law Enforcement has gone batshit insane, what with the Republicans starving the FBI while municipal cops go on power-drunk assault sprees. Does Europe have these problems with anti-intellectualism?

[@sisuguillam5109]

@@Exiled.New.Yorker hard to say? Germany as a virulent 'alternative medicine' scene. Those people are not anti-intelectual as such (quite often they are middle-class and well educated) but are adamant that everyone else but them is failing to seek knowledge.

[@ashlyn6405]

There is a yellow deli in my small town and i used to go there all the time and one lady in particular that worked there started to really love me and I would always talk to her so much whenever I went. One time her and a man that worked there talked to me and my friend for like 30 minutes about their community and they make it sound so amazing. They would always invite us to their festivals and made it sound so fun, they said they sang and danced and made different food that wasn't available at the yellow deli. The women even invited us to a wedding at another yellow deli location about 4 hours from us. Once I was talking to her about school and she told me I should come live with them because they homeschool their kids and told me about how they teach different things like music and gardening. They genuinely make it sound like such a good way to live. If I was an impressionable girl I can definitely see how they could have lured me in. Everything they do is intentional; they want to bait new young girls into their cult.

[@Grace-er9ep]

"I bet your bread isn't even that good" Jen delivering one liners that devastate is a core part of my personality. I cannot and will not elaborate. Friendly reminder: comment for the algorithm if you're too broke for Patreon

[@ddjsoyenby]

holy sh1t jen is the 12 savages!

[@OhKaeThen]

My brother has been in the Twelve Tribes for well over a decade. He seems quite happy there, but every time my mom or he give me a life update, my little agnostic, attachment parenting, feminist heart cringes/dies a little. I have to admit, though, the Yellow Deli food is amazing. But yeah, definitely a cult.

[@arturogonzalez6232]

When the presenter says at the end “I bet your bread isn’t that good” I was thinking. O no it’s good

[@yelnickmcwawa5858]

Feminism is cringy

[@dustykelsey7756]

No matter what I am listening to on Fridays, when these pop up, I immediately change it to watch, lol. BTW Jen, this look is adorable on you 😊

[@andiepants]

I agree! Jen looks super cutie today 😍

[@rajithavelakaturi7012]

right!! she looks amazing:)

[@benjaminarrington5136]

I once went to a Common Grounds Cafe in Massachusetts with some friends and family. We didn't know about 12 Tribes at the time, and were super impressed by the food, decor, and atmosphere of the place. Seriously some of the coolest theming I've ever seen in a restaurant. It became clear when a barista was talking to us that it was a cult. It was fun watching other people in the restaurant come to the realization too.

[@magnoliacoronamerodio8623]

How did y’all notice it was a cult?

[@benjaminarrington5136]

@@magnoliacoronamerodio8623 It was just the way the barista was talking to us. Very heightened, old school religious speech. He also gave us a pamphlet.

[@lolxdrofl.demeh.315]

I actually had a run in with the german part of that group: In 2015 I was at a weeklong church event of the protestant church in Stuttgart (pretty tame stuff, nothing to worry about). I was 15 and we were there as a group from school. We were sitting in a park in the shade of a tree and suddenly a woman came up to us without saying anything and just handed us little flyers about how they were a group of religious people and the government had taken away all their children in a form of religious persecution and what we could do to help. She was from the 12 tribes. Back then I didn't know shit and I thought that it was a shame that as a minor I couldn't take action to help them. But I gotta say, it was pretty smart to use a big church event where a lot of people are in a particularly charitable mood and then picking out a group of clueless kids to give those flyers to.

[@lolxdrofl.demeh.315]

@Alias Fakename i don’t really know what the reasoning was here in germany. In her last video, jen said that it had something to with illegal homeschooling practices which kinda makes sense bc it is mandatory in germany to actually go to a physical school building and get a standardized education. And as far as I know, in germany Religion can’t be used as a shield as much as in the US but here I might be talking out of my ass.

[@AmelieHarms]

@Alias Fakename I looked it up. Someone used a hidden camera and filmed the abuse, so the law enforcement could actually see the children being abused.

[@hayleyfournier8582]

I just want to thank you for spreading awareness and education on these topics. Your channel is one of my comfort channels (even though the topics are usually heavy) but I think it’s just because of you as a person. So thank you

[@hannahfanning9585]

I'm so glad you have this channel, it makes me feel less crazy when I think about how I was brought up when I was a child. Thank you for sticking up for survivors.

[@shainablinn9776]

Same. I was brought home schooled in a large family fundamentalist baptist Christian and my siblings and I reminisce often of how wack our childhood was at times.

[@constantoverthinking7770]

Thanks for covering this, Jen. My house burned down in the Marshall Fire. I can offer what I know and my opinions: The remains of one person have been found and two people are still missing. I don’t know how the families feel about their loved ones’ names being public, except for a missing woman named Nadine Turnbull. Her family has been vocal about her disappearance, so I think it’s important to recognize her name and story here. The other name I’m aware of, I’ll leave out. The flames were initially reported to emergency personnel as a fire caused by downed power lines that were hanging over the road next to Twelve Tribes. Later, investigators found downed communications lines, but no downed power lines in the area where the fire started. The Marshall Mine runs underneath Marshall Mesa and has had an active coal fire burning inside it for the last 150 years. In 2005, it caused a small fire that was extinguished quickly. Apparently, there were steps taken to reduce the risk of further above-ground fires, but I guess they can just pop up through seams in the ground. Coal mine fires can burn for hundreds of years, and they’re impossible in many cases to extinguish. Jen didn’t show it here, I don’t think, but there’s a video of a burning shed on the Twelve Tribes property at the start of the fire, taken by a person in a car at the traffic light nearby. I have heard that nothing else was burning at that point, but don’t know if that’s true. If the Twelve Tribes turn out to be responsible for the fire, I hope there are severe criminal charges. Unless it was a child or someone who moved here very recently, or if some factor related to the control and manipulation of the cult was at play, I think a grassfire should absolutely be considered criminal negligence, with possible additional charges for the loss of life that occurred. If it was caused by humans, someone is responsible. Everyone here knows that we’ve been in a terrible drought. Their site is on a mesa that has tall grass - dry, like straw- covering the entire thing. Colorado constantly has changing fire conditions. High winds mean an automatic open fire ban. It seems like common sense to me that fire or risk of fire (like a tipped space heater), dry grass, and high winds should not mix. I’m trying to keep an open mind about the coal seam fire theory, but I gotta say, it’s tempting to blame Twelve Tribes when they’re already getting away with so much abuse.

[@chillarypuff]

Wow I'm so sorry this happened to you. Hope you're doing well now, thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@hmneill]

Hi Jen! Thank you for talking about this! I am in Denver and I just want to add that the Marshall fire was actually the worst fire in Colorado history in terms of home loss because it was not in the mountains where it is sparsely populated…it was in the suburbs. Entire subdivisions are gone. I don’t know anyone in Denver who does not know someone directly affected. Also we are in a drought so that did not help! I just want those who don’t know how bad this fire really was.

[@qwitchyy]

I was born and raised in Chattanooga, and every single interaction I’ve ever had with the Twelve Tribes is seared into my memory.

[@woomybeeb]

Your scheduled posting is the only thing that reminded me of the day of the week. Bailey on Mondays and Thursdays, and Jen on Fridays. We stan our essay writing youtube ladies

[@shayb8315]

I do the same! Love Bailey as well ❤

[@chantalwood5788]

Oo who is Bailey? Im not familiar with them.

[@lifewithklc]

@@chantalwood5788 Bailey Sarian, and she’s SO good!

[@woomybeeb]

@@chantalwood5788 Bailey Sarian is the host of both Murder Mystery Makeup Mondays and Dark History Podcast on thursdays! She does her makeup as well when filming her videos

[@cortney3798]

Bailey is soo inconsistent at uploading that you might not realize it’s January 😆 I kid.. I kid lol

[@RR-kz4hq]

Thank u Jen, I feel like my comment is always too cheerful for the content but as a survivor of this shiz I just really feel soothed by you talking openly about these groups. My understanding of how they occur and what was really done to me has evolved 100% since finding your channel and discovering the world of deconstructed people.. thanks again , love to you and the bae (I forgot his name I’m so sorry I am so bad w names I think it’s James right? Love you guys keep being you)

[@ichangedmynameforyoutube]

That fire was so incredibly bad! We couldn’t breathe for days! It literally rained ash! People died! (I know you just said that. But it was just so terrible) They told us the wind blew down the power lines. Never heard anything about Twelve Tribes. But I guess I don’t watch enough news.) Excellent content, as always. Thank you!

[@cynthialewis3408]

I am here in Colorado as well and I never heard anything about the 12 tribes either. It’s bee n devastating here for so many people who have also lost ALL of their family belongings and pets.

[@r.j.grayson6899]

Having lived through the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire: It's some scary stuff. My son was born only days before and we didn't drive through the blaze as first responders directed us north of the city- we were flown to Edmonton- I don't wish that anxiety on anyone. My family was surrounded on both sides of the highway by fire. One cousin still isn't okay and refuses to move out because his Mom got separated from the others for hours since she was driving her own car- and she had no cell. Its a devastating experience and I'm shaking just remembering the feeling of fear for her. I hope everyone made it out okay.

[@dottiewofford8314]

I was watching my usual true crime videos & after watching a couple on family annihilator, Chris Coleman (the dude who worked for Joyce Meyer Ministries & rather than risk getting fired from the gig by divorcing...just murdered his family...you know, as one does), KZbin recommended Fundie Fridays. Wow...what a ride! I've been trying to catch up by binging as many videos as I can. So many get my blood boiling but when children are abused on the regular as part of a religion, I think the US needs to rethink some sh*t! I'm just a disabled 65-year-old dame in St. Louis and I wish there was something I could do. However, the fact that you are out here shining a light on the fundamentalist horrors gives me hope. Now for me, it is back to binging your old videos!

[@annemorph]

I would actually die of second hand embarrassment if had to attend a "pre-enactment"; adding that to my list of reasons not to join a cult. But wow I just realized theres a yellow deli right near the Walmart I frequent 🤯I just looked at their website and the whole aesthetic is incredibly misleading. Definitely seems all hippie-love-vibes esp considering it's in Vermont which is like, the least religious state. They look like your average 90s Phisheads. Interesting.

[@okaytessa2481]

Laughing at how vague their non-responses are to the accusations. No denials. Would love to watch you break down messianic Judaism as a whole. I have a friend who got out and she went through a lot. She is still trying to heal the damage that was done to her, but she's openly gay, married, and happy so I'm really proud of her.

[@spacemanspromise]

messianic "Judaism" is Christianity

[@okaytessa2481]

@@spacemanspromise yes i know. my comment wasn't in favor lol

[@bemo98]

I hadn’t known about this group before this video, but I think it’s so interesting how jen’s videos bring together all of these people that have stories to tell and experiences to relate to/empathize with. I learn so much about random people’s lives, usually with loads of positive experiences AFTER leaving the group. Anyways, always nice to hear a happy outcome for people that get out of these things :)

[@pansprayers]

The best way I've ever heard the Messianic movement described is, 'Jewish LARPing'. They're an odd (and really concerning bunch), who's specialty is absolutely cherry picking the crap out of doctrine, even more so than the usual high control groups. I'm glad your friend is healing, and happy.

[@spenserwhite4603]

I’ve met actual Jews who are Messianic, but those are few and far between. Usually it’s white people LARPing as them.

[@jlbnerdy]

On behalf of Chattanooga, I am sorry. I've gotten such a creepy, yucky, weird vibe when at Yellow Deli here & I in no way will ever go there ever again. I'd rather go hungry- and yes, it is legit right beside the college campus in town. Just makes me shudder.

[@tanyalong2606]

I grew up near where the Marshall fire started. Breaks my heart to see the damage done to the land that is a part of my family history. I hope they find who is responsible.

[@Akursedtime]

When I visited my friend in the States, we went to Yellow deli. Food was really good. But I was very disturbed by the staff. They were so eerie. I didn't know about the cult but I remember thinking "This is not normal."

[@cherrygirl64]

I think I was lucky, cults were EVERYWHERE in the late 60's & 70's. While I was in my single digits my christian father and mother would point them out and talk about how they were a cult and why they were bad. Several events marked my youth but none other as much as the violence unfolding on tv with Jim Jones. I think that without this knowledge I would have fallen for the hippie love spiritual village lifestyle. I totally hated my parents materialistic workaholic lifestyle and feel that I grew up in the wrong era. Anyway love your channel! Your beautiful as always.

[@sweb23879]

My parents live in Louisville, CO, just a few blocks from the edge of the burn. Not to split hairs, but it was a grass fire, not a forest fire; that area is basically prairie. Thanks for doing a second video about them-- my friend is an EMT in the area and said she's seen multiple 911 calls to their property in the past for burning garbage, so that makes sense to me as a source of the fire. Also happy you commented on the underground coal mine fire theory - that was actually my first thought when it all started; there are underground coal vein fires burning right across the street from the Twelve Tribes property that have been going for close to 100 years! Anyway, it's all really sad and I know so many people who have lost their homes (and sometimes pets) at probably the worst possible time. The issue with the emergency management was a big problem, though I think in some cases it was just because the fire was moving so quickly; it jumped the freeway and was in my parents' neighborhood while I was still on the phone with my dad trying to convince him to evacuate smh. Love your look this video!

[@kikikiera2506]

My French TA friend in college this year accidentally ate thanksgiving dinner at the yellow deli in Plymouth bc it was free and she texted me after realizing what she accidentally did 😅

[@sourgreendolly7685]

Accepting free food doesn’t give them anything at least lol

[@RodMiller-cw8zr]

I lived among these people four years. They sent me to work in Vermont, Tennessee, Kansas, and Boulder, CO. Very high control as you present. I'm keeping a low profile presently to get info as I plan to make a documentary hopefully this year. There are some good people there but the leadership is predominantly self righteous buffoons. All you present regarding their beliefs is accurate but there is much more. Good job with both your presentations on this cult. People need to be aware, there is a rather sinister undercurrent beneath the " Summer of Love " facade.

[@alexiabliese8935]

Hi Jen! I love what you’re doing here! I respectfully request that you do a video on Jehovah’s Witnesses. My family is still in the choke hold of this cult & even though I am no longer associated with them, they are deeply disrupting my life by being a source of harm throughout my family. I want for more people to be educated on what they are really about before getting involved. Thanks again for all you do!

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

Im sorry to hear they have a hold on your family. My ex-roomate's sister is involved with them, she cut off and abandoned her own teenage son and we had to take the poor kid in. He ended up in prison because he robbed a gas station after they threw him out of the Brooklyn Watchtower in november with nothing but the clothes he stood up in. He was 17, and had severe learning disabilities. :(

[@alexiabliese8935]

@@Exiled.New.Yorker that’s awful & unsurprising. They believe in shunning or as it is better known, emotional abuse. They are pretty twisted. Sorry for your ex-roommate and her family. BIG HUGS

[@timid_soup]

Lost my best friend to JW cult. She fell in love with a man who grew up as JW and although he didn't/doesn't really believe in it any more he couldn't handle being shunned by his family, so she converted for him. Haven't really talked to her since.

[@angelamaryquitecontrary4609]

@@Exiled.New.Yorker That's one of the worst things I've ever heard. And how can a person with severe learning disabilities end up in prison anyway? Is this normalised in the USA? I have no links to the JW cult, but I can recommend the Lloyd Evans Channel, and The Truth Hurts, both made by ex-JWs, here on KZbin. They both discuss their deconversion, subsequent problems etc, and the drawbacks of belonging to the cult. They're also, both, well-produced and at times very funny. They certainly put my Catholic upbringing into perspective!

[@CrankyBubushka]

I lost a good friend to the JWs when we were young.

[@allijohnson1228]

My co-op used to sell Common Sense Farm soap back in the day I always hated placing orders because the man they had taking our orders over the phone always creeped me out. I had no idea they were part of a cult back then but I found out a few years later when they got called out for breaking child labor laws (again). Thankfully we had already stopped working with them by that time. We also used to sell Mate Factor in our Grocery Department but had no idea they were affiliated with the 12 Tribes until this video. There are actually a remarkable amount of organic & natural foods brands that are affiliated with or were started by fundamentalist or evangelical Christian groups. Loma Linda (created by Seventh Day Adventists), Food For Life (several varieties of bread are named "after the holy scripture"), Eden Foods (supported Hobby Lobby in Burwell V Hobby Lobby allowing businesses to block their employees access to birth control...there are more but those are 3 of the most prominent ones I can think of.

[@shewho333]

The inside of that bus has almost the least peaceful vibes I have ever felt in my life. I might have fallen for it as a teenager (I fell into another cult like situation instead) but when I stepped on that bus, I was 36 with a toddler and I just needed to get us out of there in a hurry! Pretty sure I met Gene in ‘93 when I was giving away free t-shirts. He swooped up to me and told me I was an Angel. By then I’d spent my whole life being controlled by bad people, I was looking for a way out of something else that was awful, and it’s a mystery why I chose to walk away at that moment. Glad I did.

[@heilandl]

I was a resident of the Oneonta, NY area for most of my life, and full stop their food was some of the best in the area. Especially their Reubens, the onion-bread they had, and the rootbeer on tap. However it was also an open secret at the colleges that were nearby to never go alone, especially women, because they were really preying on the young and the lonely. The downstairs area had a phenomenal fireplace spot that was just great to sit at during the winter. Really, really sucks to find out the dark end of all this.

[@Ojo10]

Someone else commented one of the 30 year old waiters was hitting on her before she turned 16. When she said how old she was, he said "oh almost time to get married huh?" Her grandmother who was with her replied "no, almost time for her to go to uni."

[@Shestheman013]

Hey Jen, I just wanted to say that your channel has inspired me to take an intro to religion class at my university. This channel has made it really easy to make connections and understand the material. So thank you for your channel 💜💜

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

Take Comparative Mythology as well! You'll gain a MUCH better understanding of the matter doing both side by side. IMHO it's a crime that academia doesnt acknowledge that all human myths are equal in relevance and insist on putting that ugly little book on a pedestal.

[@malloryjines5050]

Do you seriously think your university will be able to teach you anything truthful about religion? Professors are rife with anti religion biases. If you want the truth, then please read the actual Bible starting with Matthew in the New Testament. Never put your faith in professors. Do the research yourself.

[@DarkFleurofIra]

​@@malloryjines5050 I'd rather listen to professors and people who have done thorough research into topics like these

[@malloryjines5050]

@@DarkFleurofIra professors are only human and have a bias as all of us do. Their “research” doesn’t amount to much if they only use material that confirms their own bias. Don’t put your faith in human beings because they’ll ALWAYS disappoint you. I prefer using my own brain and research ability. At my age, I’ve seen it all.

[@DarkFleurofIra]

@@malloryjines5050 But with that logic, wouldn't that also apply to religion? Many pastors I've seen seem to have some rather biased sermons. While I'm not sure where this distrust in professors comes from, I think dismissing them isn't really good in the long run. Doing your own research is fine, but it never hurts to get knowledge from other people as well

[@mckenziejames4463]

I'm in the Boulder / Superior area, where the fire happened. Just to add some info, the downed power lines theory has been debunked as there were no power lines found anywhere near the point of ignition. I would also like to add that it was not a forest fire, as that has to happen in a rural, forested area, and this fire happened within cities - basically burning down the entire town of Superior. I know this is a matter of semantics but since this fire has gone under reported and underplayed, I think it is worth noting. Another thing, about the 'accident' aspect: even if the fire was caused by an 'accident,' because of a number of variables it is still considered arson as the winds were over 100 mph AND there have been fire bans for months. Thank you for covering this and I hope some of this info helps add some clarity (:

[@chexmixbaby44]

Okay, okay, another video suggestion: I Need a deep dive on the lifehouse skit. Someone on TikTok made a video about it and opened a floodgate of weird if not straight up disturbing memories. (Cw for EDs, self harm, etc). You can look the skit up on KZbin, it has been shown in churches, and even my high school during our chapel time. The grip this video has on modern Christianity is WILD

[@loztpm]

Omg if you’re talking about what I think you’re talking about, I WAS IN ONE OF THOSE SKITS AS A HIGH SCHOOLER!!

[@traci3868]

This cult has also been mentioned in the disappearance of a guy from an outdoor concert or music festival, Kevin Graves. A theory is that he ran off with them, but they say that he isn't part of their cult and hope that he will be found. Sometimes cults don't like to admit to things like this, but they claimed that they weren't at the venue and their bus isn't road worthy anyway.

[@kimchiandfries4830]

going thru a real rough mental health period, so its nice to have your videos to look forward to on fridays

[@goblin3359]

There is a Yellow Deli in my partner's home town in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. The locals hate it, but because it's a big tourist town, they still manage to stay in business. It's infuriating to know that they manage to stay in business with some abhorrent practices. Another brilliant video Jen. Thank you. By the way, the pink looks gorgeous on you. Especially with the lilac hair.

[@ouestlelivre]

If their employees are actually "volunteers" that's how they stay in business. No payroll.

[@goblin3359]

Yeah. It's exploitative as fuck.

[@katieg4083]

Thank you for calling out how awful Messianic "Jews" are, Jen. It feels like they're an issue that aren't really talked about by anyone outside of Jewish circles (also lol @ that "candy Seder", pretzels are so not kosher for Passover)

[@pansprayers]

I think they aren't spoken about as in depth as they need to be, because even the true believers are super weird about their own doctrine, that they cherry pick the snot out of. I do know that Chris Shelton - an Ex Scientologist - did a breakdown of it with an ex Messianic, but the whole system is so convoluted that it would almost require an entire semester in University to begin to cover (what I've had to start describing myself since hearing it) the Jewish LARPers of Christianity.

[@Exiled.New.Yorker]

People need to understand that these people are actively trying to bring about the end of the world. It's not some cute little sunday schools miscommunication, theyre literally trying to kill EVERYBODY.

[@rivky11225]

There are different levels of messianic jews lololol

[@lilafeldman8630]

I came to Christianity from Judaism and I always sensed something very off and amiss about messianic Judaism. It just doesn't line up.

[@malloryjines5050]

So you listen to an atheist to learn about messianic Jews? Seriously?

[@Palestizi]

There is a yellow deli in my home town. I remember when they first arrived. NO local visits the yellow deli. It is purely a tourist attraction. I live in NSW. Their "base" (idk what to call it.) Was raided and they found heaps of unmarked graves and undocumented infant graves as well. I had no idea the 12 tribes were all over the place. I thought it was just my hometown. So wild.

[@christinagandolfo]

A podcast on 12 Tribes has been in the works that I've been waiting on for YEARS to drop. I unwittingly went to eat at one of their cafes years ago, saw some of the "literature," and fell down a rabbit hole of researching this cult. They're all over my state.

[@jadeharley7190]

What’s the name of the upcoming podcast?

[@OMGoc9]

I went to school at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Yellow Deli was a very common spot for students, as it was right next to campus- and the house many of them lived in was in the historic district next to campus where many of the fraternity/sorority houses were, including mine, and sometime's they'd say hi. I was member of the film club too, and we went to the Yellow Deli after every screening, so they knew who we were (they even once told some students to leave "our" table when we arrived.) After our screening of the documentary "Hail Satan?" our server asked us, "So, what was the movie this week?".... and we didn't want to tell him the name.

[@bunnyellabell]

my parents went to one of the yellow deli restaurants (in tennessee) a while back! i couldn't believe it when my dad told me about the "hippie restaurant" and when i saw the pamphlet they had, i couldn't stop laughing. obv it's a sinister group with horrible beliefs but the fact that my child abuser southern parents were turned off by these overly religious hippies was honestly surreal, adding to that the fact i watched your video not that long before and it was fresh in my mind. i ended up naming one of my kittens deli in honor of that situation lmao

[@uudreyyy6435]

as a californian, i can tell you that fires are some of the most devastating things that can happen to a town. i live in a small city in norcal and i saw people having to let their horses and animals just run free away from the fires because there wasn’t enough time to load them into trailers. it’s heartbreaking that this could have been prevented and that people could have saved their homes, their livelihoods, and their animals if emergency services were more prepared and if people (the 12 tribes) took fire danger/safety more seriously.

[@annfisher3316]

Fabulous Friday greetings Jen! My daughter and son-in-law worked many folk festivals, prepandemic 😏, there were copious warnings ⚠️ given to attendees concerning "the bus."

[@hannahrose4091]

that f**king bus, man!!!!!!!!!!! sad how they prey on dr*gged out people. offering people who look "out of it" with water and refreshing maté just to get them on the bus or promising a ride to the next show but taking everyone to their farm with no phone service. just twisted

[@shewho333]

I’d been to many west coast festivals and concerts and I was also warned often about “the bus” but I only ever saw it one time. And I only realized I was standing in it when the horrible creepy atmosphere inside gave it away.

[@VioletSunflowers8]

Thanks for making this video, I've been a fan of yours for a while! I actually live in Louisville, Colorado. The fire missed my apartment by less than half a mile. The powerlines were determined not to be the kind that can spark a fire, but the 12 Tribes investigation is still underway, and I personally think they did it. I'm really glad you covered this!

[@2degucitas]

Hubby and I took the kids to see the "big boats", sailboats that have history. 12 tribes were there with their bus and boat. The ladies wore homemade "clown" pants, as one guy described them.

[@millsykooksy4863]

lol

[@fragilelikeabomb3400]

Like parachute pants from the 80s/90s? 🤣

[@2degucitas]

@@fragilelikeabomb3400 Worse. Much worse.

[@hershelroswell]

commenting mostly for algorithm purposes BUT i managed to survive writing two essays in one day and now i'm ordering takeaway and watching this video. thank you for the work you do, jen - i know it helps a lot of people, and it's certainly helped me learn and be more empathetic of others, as well as keeping an eye out more for weird shit like this. (also your makeup in this video is fab)

[@suzannashebib2192]

Not sure I can convey how much I have come to adore you and James. You two and your channel are a blessing. Also you look so fabulous today.

[@bemo98]

The pink high neck sleeveless blouse w matching hair scarf/ribbon 🥰 jen has such a cute style that always compliments the makeup look!!

[@stylis666]

@@bemo98 Ribbon! That is the only acceptable word for the ribbon. In the dictionary it clearly says: acceptable [vegetable] What Setekh deems not too awful to reject. Couple of pages later: Ribbon [ -noun- awesome!] any pink, blue, red, or purple tied -band- ribbon, usually made of -cotton or nylon- silk or magic, cutest and best fashion accessory in the known universes, prevents all status ailments. If it's orange or green you can call it a hair band, even if you wear it around your wrist or use it to make a bow on a present, I don't care what you call that, all though vale or dark orange bows should obviously be called puke or poop ties :D Doesn't make them bad, it just makes their name objectively -questionable- better :D

[@ddjsoyenby]

yeah.

[@azurephoenix9546]

I really appreciate your effort to keep up with these cults. Most channels just hit-and-run report when it's a hot topic, and then just forget about it the second something shiny comes along. Also, your makeup is amazing in this video. 😍

[@VeraBean]

Their bus "peacemaker" sounds like the name you'd name a custom weapon in a video game.

[@ussinussinongawd516]

It originates from a haudenosaunee founding leader, as a translation from mohawk language.

[@uppercut147]

Fridays have always been a great day of the week, but you make a great thing even greater. Much love from Houston.

[@madelinedalziel4304]

The cafe they have in Ithaca is really cute. I really liked it until I looked closer and saw the posters about corporal punishment. And the second time I went one of them had an argument with me about vaccines. That was also the last time.

[@TheSaraldo]

I remember the first and only time I went to the Mate Factor in Ithaca, they offered me free tea and were reeeaallly pushing me to join their “farm” in Albany (where I went to school at the time). I got freaked out and left. I really think they got ran out of town because I haven’t seen any members in years

[@madelinedalziel4304]

@@TheSaraldo I went to college in Ithaca in 2012 and first went there during orientation when we were exploring the Commons. I thought it was so cute and didn't see the red flags so when my mom visited I took her there. Then I saw the children abuse advocacy and one of the guys called me "spunky" when I told him how important vaccines were. And then someone mentioned to me that it was actually a cult and I decided the cute factor was not worth supporting them. I don't know if they're still there. It would be nice if some other people could use the nice atmosphere in the cafe for something good.

[@fragilelikeabomb3400]

Posters about corporal punishment?! 😱

[@justinl776]

@@madelinedalziel4304 they are there. And thriving. Building a yellow deli where the mate factor was. They're all healthy, despite being unvaccinated. Probably all that Organic locally grown food they eat.

[@madelinedalziel4304]

@@justinl776 the anti vaccine 12 tribes guy literally told me his daughter has cystic fibrosis

[@Fiona-68]

Makeup is fire Jen. Thank you for this channel. It runs deep I am a 53 year old woman deconstructing.

[@lunalovengood9670]

Ooh look at you! 😉 Like a fuchsia candy dream! ETA: I live very close to the Boulder area and can confirm, it is devastating. I have no idea where all of these displaced are going to go as housing is already hard to find. I feel terrible for these families and hope they’re lives regain some sense on normalcy soon.

[@allisonfry3854]

The Marshell Fire came dangerously close to the hospital in which I work. I contacted my supervisor to help in any way, I was off that day. I can think of how nervous I was for the wellbeing of the patients I serve. Leaving a toxic cult like situation just months ago, and having to pick up myself and start over, I am filled with rage! In a first world country we can't stop this absolute atrocity!? What I mean to say is that cults are an epidemic and insidious and NEED to be delt with swiftly. My heart goes out to any person that may be in a situation where they don't feel right spiritually, mentally and physically-- Babe, if it feels wrong look inward and have strength, and know that you are valuable

[@saigematson9280]

This channel is the place where I remind myself that sanity exists in the world!! Would love to see a deep-dive into seventh-day adventists.

[@lexiwexiwoo]

I had really only heard of The 12 Tribes when I was watching some of my true crime channels. Apparently they were suspected of being involved with a missing person case, a man named Kevin Graves. Kevin went to the Electric Forest Music Festival in Battle Creek, Michigan, with his girlfriend and a couple of friends. They had a tent and camped out on the grounds of the festival, which is really common. There were a lot of people around, which on he surface is great because you up the chances of someone having seen something important but (unfortunately) by the time the local police took the disappearance seriously, the festival was ending. So, with the festival being over, witnesses were either coming down from the various drugs and alcohol they'd been doing, OR they had already left the grounds and gone home. Kevin and the girlfriend had an argument, and he stormed off, saying he was going back to the tent but Kevin was never seen again. People reported seeing one of the two busses that the cult uses as recruitment through offering first aid. The 12 Tribes has said neither of their busses were there, both not being road ready for a while. They, of course, say they haven't seen Kevin Graves, know nothing about his disappearance, have been pretty cooperative as far as I could tell.

[@poilaaliop]

Paused the video (and my knitting) to say: JEN!! HOW DARE YOU!?!? I need to know where that shirt is from, this whole look is illegal levels of cute 💖💖 Okay, serious mode activated, back to the video. EDIT - The adorable shirt is from Torrid! She says so at the end, love how well Jen knows her audience haha 🥰

[@tonaishabradley9216]

I'm new to Fundie Friday's, so I am catching up on all everything. When I saw this on the 12 tribes it brought back memories. I graduated from UT Chattanooga and the Yellow Deli is right behind UTC housing. I used to walk past the Yellow Deli while they would dance outside on a weekend. They actually ask a group of us if we wanted join. Told them no, but definitely a good spot to talk to college students.

[@Hanndango]

I’ve been to The Yellow Deli in Vista CA! My friends and I always heard rumors about “weird culty stuff” with the staff but never looked into it. Tbh the restaurant was awesome (super cute and great food). Now I understand why the waiters were so quiet ☹️

[@queencelestyna]

I felt the same the one time I went there, before knowing anything about them. They sell bread at the San Marcos farmers market now, and I'm really tempted to ask the organizers if they're aware of the group's background.

[@heavierproductions]

my sister worked at that deli for 2 years but she got married a month ago and I haven't heard from her since

[@jrakko]

There is a Common Grounds Cafe near me and I started panicking about having to choose between supporting a cult and vegan chocolate cupcakes - but apparently they are unaffiliated

[@jennifertalley49]

I’m new , and so glad I found your channel Jenn. I grew up in southern baptist, and have religious trauma from their indoctrination. I cannot imagine the trauma these other cults have inflicted on others. You are knowledgeable, and hilarious, even though it’s such a serious subject. Your sarcasm and dry humor are much appreciated.

[@oliviaroumelmusic]

i live in Boulder, this fire was very close to home. there are neighbor reports of the twelve tribes burning trash on their property, and there is a video of a burning shed right before the fire popped off. Crazy stuff. thanks for the video Jen 🙏

[@maggielou17]

I’m from Chattanooga, I go to the University of Tennessee. People are appalled that I refuse to eat at the yellow deli. Everyone just ignores what they do for a turkey sandwich.

[@mistyblue9610]

Why would someone go to Yellow Deli when there’s a dozen other better restaurants surrounding UTC? 🙃

[@jlbnerdy]

@@mistyblue9610 just go to Champys! 😍

[@maggielou17]

@@mistyblue9610 right? Yet they’re packed 24/7 and all my friends love it and go all the time. My boyfriend likes to eat there but he knows better than to ask me to go.

[@maggielou17]

@@jlbnerdy yesss

[@victoriashevlin8587]

I'm absolutely loving your pinky/purple eyeshadow, and your liner is fiercely on point. You're just serving even more epic looks with sass today.

[@swade2830]

I love her collection of cardigans, too.

[@laurensekelsky2502]

Just a heads up that lots of actual Jews do candy seders for kids, including my own family, so those aren’t inherently wrong. But Karissa Collins can still absolutely get bent for appropriating Judaism.

[@deborahmulkey1627]

Hi Jen..I live in Denver Colorado and we saw horrific photos of the thousands of homes people lost to this fire... But yet more details have yet to come out in the media about exactly what was going on. Apparently it started in one of their barns, and men were seen helping another man to his feet who was on the ground at the time that the smoke first started to go up, but that's all I've heard so far. I love your channel you're hilarious...smart as a whip. I grew up in a semi-fundamentalist way with my cuckoo mom... So I love watching you cover these crazies.

[@katherinelennon668]

Omg I used to go to this super cute coffee shop in my city and after becoming a regular, the barista invited me to go to her cultural celebration on Friday night which sounded really neat! But then she revealed to me that she was only 14 and I literally thought she was my age which was 19 at the time. Literally had no idea that they were the 12 Tribes. And I learned that all the workers are children and stopped going. I think they were trying to initiate me into their cult. Really sad.

[@chillarypuff]

I have NEVER heard of this cult or yellow deli until your videos. So interesting and sad - thanks for covering it !

[@britnicox3929]

If I ever expected the Colorado fire to be brought up, I did not expect it to be tied to the 12 tribes! Great vid Jen!!

[@tazaryoot6970]

I live right where the fires were in Colorado and it is beyond devastating how many people lost their homes. So many of my friends are still homeless. The local humane societies had to release all of the animals so they wouldn’t burn to death. The tragedy that this cult started hurt thousands of people. We are still trying to get things back to “normal” here in Colorado. Shame on them.

[@ChoclateOrio]

I'm so happy you are covering this!!! As soon as the news came out they were linked to the Marshall fire I was hoping you'd cover it!!!!

[@mausioer8710]

I went to the University of TN at Chattanooga and the Yellow Deli was literally behind my dorms. I frequented often to eat and study. Loved the food. I recently went back after about 8 years later with my partner and child, and wow, this went over my head when I was younger. They would often give me free food when I was in college.

[@Wilbs]

Been checking my phone all morning waiting for this! 😂 FF is my favorite part of the week 🥰 Ps. Todays makeup is STUNNING.

[@BattleSoXx]

I feel almost addicted to your videos they’re so goooood! /constantly/ checking to see if you have a new one out 😂🙈 Also Pixi cosmetics full on needs to partner with you at this point 😂

[@EllieBetts]

Being from Chattanooga and having met several survivors of this cult I can say that unfortunately their bread is that good. Still don't ever eat there but it is a sacrifice

[@pinkbookink8589]

Worked a double, got my car towed, and had to uber an hour in the snow. Getting the notification you uploaded a new video instantly made my day better.