Jessica Feshbach

Jessica Feshbach, also known as Jessica Feshbach Rodriguez and Jessica Davis (born December 18, 1975^[3]), was an American official within the Scientology organization. The daughter of an influential family within Scientology which gave millions of dollars to the organization,^[4][5] she attended The Delphian School in Yamhill County, Oregon, which uses techniques developed by the movement's founder, L. Ron Hubbard.^[6]

At age 19, Feshbach joined the Scientology division Sea Org,^[7] an elite group described by the organization as occupying "the most essential and trusted positions in the senior churches in the Scientology hierarchy".^[8] She was characterized in 2005 by MSNBC as a "Senior Scientologist",^[9] and by Fox News Channel as "a high-level Scientologist";^[10] in 2006 MSNBC described her as "a high-level Scientology practitioner and member of the church's influential Feshbach family".^[4]

Feshbach is most well known for her stint as Tom Cruise's assistant, and for her friendship with Katie Holmes during the couple's engagement.^[11][12] 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][12][13] Warner Bros. made special accommodations for Feshbach to accompany Holmes during promotion of Batman Begins,^[10][14][15] and she attended Holmes' wedding to Cruise in Italy in 2006.^[12] Feshbach was later a guest of honor at Scientology's Patron Ball, held at the organization's headquarters in Britain.^[12] By 2009, Feshbach had become a high-ranking spokesperson for the Scientology organization.^[16]

Feshbach now lives with her husband Tommy Davis in Austin, Texas.

Early life and family

Born on December 18, 1975, Feshbach comes from an influential family within Scientology.^[4][11] She is a devoted member of the organization,^[17] and her family, having given millions of dollars to the organization,^[5][12][18] are one of the most significant donors to Scientology.^[10] Her mother is Lucinda Horn Feshbach and her father was Joseph Feshbach, an investor in Palo Alto, California; he was profiled in a 1991 article about Scientology in Time magazine.^[5] Feshbach has a twin sister, Melissa,^[19] and an older brother Kurt. As of 2005, her aunt was the manager of a Florida-based Scientology center.^[5][12]

Along with two brothers, Joseph Feshbach worked out of facilities in California and Clearwater, Florida.^[20] The Feshbachs are noteworthy for gaining wealth through the process of short selling companies on the stock market.^[5][20] The brothers are all devout adherents to Scientology,^[21][22] and have used Dianetics, a philosophy which serves as the base of Scientology methodology, to aid their trading techniques.^[23][24][24] One of Feshbach's uncles told the St. Petersburg Times that a Scientology program titled Super Powers had helped him improve his investing skills.^[21] Feshbach's brother Kurt later utilized the same approach to invest successfully.^[25]

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.^[6] The Delphian School is located in Sheridan, Oregon, and delivers instruction to grades K-8.^[6] In 2005, Feshbach began going by the name Rodriguez, her second husband.^[10]

Scientology official

Sea Org

In 1994, Feshbach joined the division of Scientology called the Sea Org,^[7] an elite unit within the organization.^[12][26] 3 News characterized the Sea Org as "Scientology's senior management".^[27] In their book Cults and New Religions, Douglas E. Cowan and David G. Bromley wrote, "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'."^[8] Rolling Stone notes, "Sea Org members staff all of the senior ecclesiastic positions in the church hierarchy".^[28][29] As of 2010, there were 5,000 members in the Sea Org.^[30] Feshbach told the Associated Press, "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.'"^[7]

As part of her ascent within the church's hierarchy, Feshbach completed Scientology courses including "Security Checker Internship," "False Purpose Rundown Auditorship" and "Clear Certainty".^[10] In 2005, MSNBC characterized Feshbach as a "Senior Scientologist",^[9] and Fox News Channel called her "a high-level Scientologist" within the organization.^[10] In 2006, MSNBC described Feshbach as "a high-level Scientology practitioner and member of the church's influential Feshbach family".^[4]

Assistant to Cruise and Holmes

Feshbach soon began working as an assistant to Scientologist actor Tom Cruise.^[31] In April 2005, she transferred from her Sea Org duties to serve as a personal "handler" to his then-fiancee, Katie Holmes.^[11][12] Soon after beginning her relationship with Cruise, Holmes fired her long-time manager and agent, and Feshbach became her new "best friend".^[32][33] Feshbach tutored Holmes in Scientology methodologies,^[34] traveled with Holmes^[35] when the actress was interviewed during publicity events.^[10]

In one cover story for W Magazine, journalist Robert Haskell wrote that 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."^[13][36] This was in contrast to Holmes's earlier press, which noted approvingly she "arrives without the ubiquitous PR person in tow."^[37] Holmes simply characterized Feshbach as her best friend,^[10] and Feshbach said the same.^[15][38] During the interview, however, Feshbach intervened multiple times to answer questions posed to Holmes.^[39][40]

Feshbach additionally accompanied Holmes to promote her film Batman Begins.^[41][42] Warner Bros., the studio that distributed the film, released a statement to New York Daily News that denied reported friction with 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."^[14] Later that year, along with Cruise and Holmes, Feshbach was a guest of honor at the Patron Ball, a Scientology event held at Saint Hill Manor, the organization's British headquarters.^[12] In 2006, Feshbach attended Holmes' wedding to Cruise in Italy.^[12]

Organization spokesperson

By 2009, Feshbach had become a public spokesperson for Scientology;^[16] she continued to serve in this capacity in 2010.^[7][43]

Feshbach and Scientology official Tommy Davis held a meeting on February 27, 2009 in Burbank, California with actor Larry Anderson.^[44][45] Anderson, who had previously starred in the Scientology introduction film Orientation, asked Feshbach and Davis to give back money he had donated to the Scientology organization.^[44][45] Anderson recorded the 90-minute discussion and it was made public by the St. Petersburg Times.^[44][45]

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.^[16] Feshbach asserted, "He is an expert in every field."^[16] In July 2010 the Church of Scientology International publicized a "Scientology Newsroom" website tailored for members of the media;^[46] Feshbach was one of four international representatives for Scientology listed as "Spokespersons".^[47]

Life After Leaving Sea Org

In 2009, Feshbach married Scientology executive Tommy Davis in a small private ceremony.^[48]

Feshbach now goes by the name “Jessica Davis.” She acquired a Texas realtor’s license in July 2013, and worked as an agent at Wilson Goldrick Realtors in Austin.^[49][50]

See also

• Gold base
• List of Scientologists
• Office of Special Affairs
• Scientology and celebrities

References

Further reading

• Hartwig, Renate (1995). Scientology: das Komplott und die Kumpane (in German). Renate Hartwig. p. 203. ISBN 3-89623-049-2. 
• Nordhausen, Frank; Liane von Billerbeck (2008). Scientology: Wie der Sektenkonzern die Welt erobern will (in German). Links Christoph Verlag. p. 46. ISBN 3-86153-470-3. 

External links

• "Church of Scientology International Contact Information". Scientology Newsroom. Church of Scientology International. 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-28.