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Jessica Feshbach

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Jessica Feshbach
Born1976
United States
Other namesJessica Feshbach Rodriguez,
Jessica Rodriguez
EducationThe Delphian School
Occupation(s)Scientology official,
Member of Sea Org
Years active1994-present
EmployerDavid Miscavige
OrganizationChurch of Scientology International
Known forScientology spokesperson,
Assistant to Katie Holmes
ParentJoseph Feshbach

Jessica Feshbach (also known as Jessica Feshbach Rodriguez) is an official within the Scientology organization. The daughter of an influential family within Scientology which gave millions of dollars to the organization,[1][2] she attended The Delphian School in Oregon which uses techniques developed by the movement's founder L. Ron Hubbard.[3] Her father, Joseph Feshbach, is a bond trader in Palo Alto, California who was profiled in a 1991 article in TIME magazine about Scientology.[2]

Feshbach joined the Scientology division Sea Org in 1994,[4] an elite group described by the organization as occupying "the most essential and trusted positions in the senior churches in the Scientology hierarchy".[5] She was characterized in 2005 by MSNBC as a "Senior Scientologist",[6] and by FOX News as "a high-level Scientologist";[7] in 2006 MSNBC described her as "a high-level Scientology practitioner and member of the church's influential Feshbach family".[1]

In April 2005, Feshbach was transferred from her duties within the Sea Org in order to serve as an assistant to Tom Cruise in the capacity of attending to Katie Holmes.[8][9] In this role she traveled with Holmes during publicity for the actresses's film roles, sat in on interviews, and responded to questions about Holmes from journalists.[10][9][7] The cinema production studio Warner Bros. made special accomodations for Feshbach to accompany Holmes during promotion of the film Batman Begins.[11] The two became best friends,[7][12] and Feshbach later attended the wedding of Holmes to Cruise in Italy in 2006.[9] Feshbach with Cruise and Holmes was a guest of honor at a Scientology function the Patron Ball held at Saint Hill Manor, the organization's headquarters in Britain.[9]

By 2009, Feshbach had become a spokesperson for the Scientology organization.[13] In this role, she held a meeting along with representative Tommy Davis in 2009 in Burbank, California with Scientology member actor Larry Anderson, in order to address his grievances about the organization.[14][15] Feshbach represented the organization to Florida newspaper the St. Petersburg Times in 2010, and commented on the expertise of her supervisor, Scientology's top leader David Miscavige.[13]

Early life and family

Feshbach is the daughter of an influential family within Scientology.[1][8] She is a devoted member of the organzation.[16] Her family is one of the highest donors of funding to Scientology,[7] having given millions of dollars to the organization.[17][2] Her father is Joseph Feshbach, a bond trader in Palo Alto, California; he was profiled in a 1991 article about Scientology in TIME magazine.[2] In 2005, her aunt was the manager of a Florida-based Scientology center.[2] The Feshbachs are noteworthy for gaining wealth through the process of short selling companies on the stock market.[2]

Feshbach received elementary education from The Delphian School, a private boarding school whose teaching techniques are based on the methodology of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.[3] The Delphian School is located in Sheridan, Oregon, and delivers instruction to grades K-8.[3] In 2005, Feshbach went by the name of Rodriguez, her second husband.[7]

Scientology official

Sea Org

In 1994, Feshbach joined the division within Scientology called the Sea Org,[4] an elite unit within the organization.[18][9] 3 News characterised the Sea Org as "Scientology's senior management".[19] In their book Cults and New Religions, Douglas E. Cowan and David G. Bromley describe the Sea Org writing, "Described by the Church as 'a fraternal religious order,' members of the Sea Org 'occupy the most essential and trusted positions in the senior churches in the Scientology hierarchy'."[5] Rolling Stone notes, "Sea Org members staff all of the senior ecclesiastic positions in the church hierarchy".[20][21] In 2010, there were 5,000 members in the Sea Org.[22] Feshbach commented to the Associated Press about her view of serving in the Sea Org, "When you sign up as a Sea Org member, you're signing up as a member of a religious order. You're a volunteer. You sign a contract that says, 'I'm not going to be paid minimum wage and I know that.'"[4]

In 2005, MSNBC characterized Feshbach as a "Senior Scientologist",[6] and FOX News called her "a high-level Scientologist" within the organization.[7] In 2006, MSNBC described Feshbach as, "a high-level Scientology practitioner and member of the church's influential Feshbach family".[1] She completed Scientology courses including "Security Checker Internship," "False Purpose Rundown Auditorship" and "Clear Certainty".[7]

Tom Cruise assistant

Feshbach began working with assistants to celebrity Scientology member and actor, Tom Cruise,[23] in April 2005; she attended to Katie Holmes.[8] She transferred from her Sea Org duties in order to serve in this capacity.[9] Soon after beginning her relationship with Cruise, Holmes fired her long-time manager and agent and acquired a new "best friend", Feshbach.[24][25] Feshbach went along with Katie Holmes, when the actress was interviewed during publicity events, including an interview in W magazine.[7] Robert Haskell, who wrote W magazine's cover story on the actress, said Feshbach "was described to me as Holmes's 'Scientology chaperone' and it was clear that she would be on hand during our interview despite my protests."[26][10] This was in contrast to Holmes's earlier press, which noted approvingly she "arrives without the ubiquitous PR person in tow."[27] Holmes characterized Feshbach as her best friend;[7] Feshbach as well stated to W magazine the two were "just best friends".[12][28] Feshbach intervened multiple times to answer questions posed to Holmes during the W magazine interview.[29][30]

Feshbach accompanied Holmes as she helped to promote the film, Batman Begins.[31][32] Warner Bros., the studio that distributed Batman Begins, released a statement to New York Daily News denying reported animosity between the film studio and Feshbach, "There's no discord between us and Jessica. We, in fact, made Jessica's hotel reservations for her and brought her along on our plane. If she's someone Katie wants to travel with, that's fine. The people who made the tour made every effort to accommodate her. It's a very amicable situation."[11] Along with Cruise and Holmes, Feshbach was a guest of honor at a Scientology function the Patron Ball held at Saint Hill Manor, the central management location of the organization in Britain.[9] She attended the 2006 wedding of Holmes to Cruise in Italy.[9]

Organization spokesperson

By 2009, Feshbach had become a public spokesperson for Scientology;[13] she continued to serve in this capacity in 2010.[4][33] Along with Scientology official Tommy Davis, Feshbach held a meeting February 27, 2009 in Burbank, California with Scientology member actor Larry Anderson.[14][15] Anderson, who had previously starred in the Scientology introduction film, Orientation, recorded the 90-minute discussion; it was made public by the Florida newspaper the St. Petersburg Times.[14][15] Anderson requested of Feshbach and Davis to have money he gave to the Scientology organization returned to him.[14][15] In June 2009, Feshbach commented on the expertise of Scientology leader David Miscavige to the St. Petersburg Times, regarding his experience in the methodology of the organization and his ability to monitor a controversial case involving the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson.[13] Feshbach asserted, "He is an expert in every field."[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Zhao, J.-Y. (February 13, 2006). "A Valentine's ode to TomKat". MSNBC. msnbc.msn.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Friedman, Roger (June 21, 2005). "Katie Holmes' Missing Days". FOX News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  3. ^ a b c Rowlands, Ted (August 11, 2005). "Scientology vs. Psychiatry; Scientology Explored". Anderson Cooper 360. CNN. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  4. ^ a b c d Flaccus, Gillian (Associated Press) (March 29, 2010). "Scientology lawsuits draw attention to work of 'Sea Org'". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  5. ^ a b Cowan, Douglas E. (2007). Cults and New Religions: A Brief History. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 39. ISBN 1405161280. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Bonné, Jon (August 8, 2005). "When enough is enough". MSNBC. msnbc.msn.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Friedman, Roger (July 11, 2005). "DreamWorks Nightmare: Insider Trading?". FOX News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  8. ^ a b c Friedman, Roger (November 20, 2006). "Tom Cruise: Was Wedding the End of His Career?". FOX News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Morton, Andrew (2008). Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography. St. Martin's Press. pp. 273, 279–282, 291–294, 310. ISBN 0312359861.
  10. ^ a b "Katie Holmes: A New Direction - Getting Closer to Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Is Finding New Friends—and Embracing Scientology". People magazine. 63 (25): 52–53. June 27, 2005.
  11. ^ a b Grove, Lloyd (June 14, 2005). "Is Tom turning Katie into a sect addict?". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b "Holmes says she and Cruise will always be in honeymoon phase". New Zealand Herald. www.nzherald.co.nz. July 12, 2005. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  13. ^ a b c d e Tobin, Thomas C. (June 22, 2009). "Death in slow motion: Part 2 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology". St. Petersburg Times. www.tampabay.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b c d Childs, Joe (January 24, 2010). "I want my money back". St. Petersburg Times. www.tampabay.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b c d Childs, Joe (January 24, 2010). "Larry Anderson, star of Scientology's 'Orientation' film, wants his money back". St. Petersburg Times. www.tampabay.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Tauber, Michelle (April 24, 2006). "The Private World of Katie Holmes". People magazine. 65 (16). www.people.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  17. ^ Friedman, Roger (October 7, 2005). "Katie Holmes Completely Cruise Controlled". FOX News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  18. ^ Ternieden, Hendrik (20 November 2009). "Debatte in Australien - "Scientology ist eine kriminelle Organisation"". Spiegel Online (in German). www.spiegel.de. Retrieved 22 March 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ Davies, Melissa (26 November 2009). "Video - A New Zealander's whistle-blowing about the church has made it all the way to the Australian parliament". 3 News. www.3news.co.nz, TV3. Retrieved 26 March 2010. Aaron's allegations about his time in the Sea Organization, Scientology's senior management. (quote time = 1:40) {{cite news}}: Missing pipe in: |quote= (help)
  20. ^ Reitman, Janet (23 February 2006). "Inside Scientology: Unlocking the complex code of America's most mysterious religion". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  21. ^ American Society of Magazine Editors (2007). The Best American Magazine Writing 2007. Columbia University Press. p. 339. ISBN 0231143915. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ Collerton, Sarah (12 March 2010). "Scientology insider's nightmare childhood". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  23. ^ "Katie's in Cruise control". Uxbridge Gazette. www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk. June 12, 2005. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  24. ^ Last, Colleen. "Cruise Control: How Tom has changed Katie". MSN Entertainment. uk.MSN.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  25. ^ Hoffman, Claire (December 18, 2005). "Tom Cruise and Scientology". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-18. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Haskell, Robert (August 2005). "Holmes Sweet Holmes: She's landed the role of a lifetime—beautiful bride of the world's biggest movie star. What's so weird about that?". W magazine. p. 164.
  27. ^ Graham, Caroline (November 9, 2003). "What Katie Did Next". Mail on Sunday. London. p. 30.
  28. ^ Fink, Sharon (July 10, 2005). "Sideshow series". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2B.
  29. ^ Harnden, Toby (July 10, 2005). "Scientology minder prompts Katie Holmes through first big interview". The Daily Telegraph. www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  30. ^ Roloff, Heiko (July 14, 2005). "Im Griff von Scientology?". Hamburger Abendblatt. www.abendblatt.de. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  31. ^ "Katie Holmes's New Friend Raises Eyebrows". People magazine. www.people.com. June 15, 2005. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  32. ^ Rush, George (June 23, 2005). "'War' is hell for Cruise press pack". New York Daily News. www.nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  33. ^ Gardner, David (March 28, 2010). "Scientologists make their followers 'work as slave labour', according to lawsuits by two former members". Daily Mail. www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-18.

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