“Madonna tells Peres she is ‘in love with Israel.’” The other day I came across this headline on the English language website of “Yediot Ahronot,” a popular Israeli newspaper. At first glance, it appeared to be reporting that the international pop superstar had a crush and had been confiding in Israeli president Shimon Peres.
That was not the case. Madonna, along with a smattering of other celebrities, including Demi and Ashton, was visiting Israel over the Jewish New Year for a Kabbalah conference. She and Peres, whose role as president is ceremonial, met up to chat about the peace and exchange autographed books. Luckily for us the event is documented by a series of photographs, the most awkward of which features a beaming Madonna flanked by Peres, whose eyes are closed, and husband Guy Ritchie, who looks supremely uncomfortable.
Madonna has been practicing Kabbalah, esoteric Jewish mysticism, for several years now, and even took on the Hebrew name Esther. My Grandmother, whose name is Esther, was thrilled: “I always liked my name!” she gleefully declared at the time.
My grandma notwithstanding, Jews’ feelings about Madonna’s Kabbalah study have ranged from scandalized to mixed. Kabbalah is traditionally intended for married middle aged male Jews who have mastered the Torah and Talmud, Jewish legal writings.
There is also the tiny detail that Madonna is not Jewish, and even if she wanted to convert, it would be a difficult process. Unlike many religions, Judaism has no illusions of world-wide domination, and in fact potential converts must be turned down three times by a rabbi before being allowed to begin the process. So the sudden obsession of a non-Jewish celebrity with an aspect of our religion was bound to raise some eyebrows. Of course the irony is that there has suddenly been a marked increase in study of Kabbalah amongst average Jewish people since Madonna made it a Hollywood trend.
But despite the discomfort with Madonna’s Kabbalah study amongst many Jews, Zionism pretty much forbids us from scolding any international celebrity who has taken a special liking to Israel. Besides the fact that she made Judaism hip, in light of her expressed support for our country, which has such a bad image problem, it’s pretty much impossible to feel anything but thankful to Madonna. It’s not every day that a fashion and music icon visits Israeli, let alone gushes with admiration of the Israeli president.
“I am an ambassador for Judaism, and time will tell,” Madonna told Peres during their meeting, and of course she was pretty much right.
Comments (9)
like i said- this is the WASHINGTON POST
people dont come here to read about madonna or brittney speares
we come here to GET AWAY from that sensationalist nonsense
there are no points to be debated in a civil manner
and this IS where the adults go to interact
Posted September 26, 2007 1:12 AM
Posted on September 26, 2007 01:12
Also, in response to Victoria, this site is called "Faithbook" (a play on the popular networking website "Facebook" widely used by college students) and is supposed to be from a college students point of view- if you don't like what you are reading, go read many of the other "adult" published blogs that can be found on the interweb. Just because something may be a bit unpolished doesn't mean its points can't be debated in a civil manner. No need to be rude.
If you don't have anything nice to say, maybe don't say anything at all :(
Posted September 25, 2007 1:03 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 01:03
Shari- I can't help but remind you that at its roots Judaism was a prosthelatizing religion. Prostheletizing by Jews only stopped in the 12th/13th centuries in Europe when it was outlawed, along with MANY other Jewish practices. I think that Jews often times forget our sometimes seedy history, and I sort of admonish the idea that other religions that do prostheletize ARE focused on "world domination." Why is this necessarily the case? I know that many Southern Baptists truly do believe that they are saving the souls of the people who they are converting. I am not saying that they are necessarily right (just as the Colonizers weren't necessarily right in converting the Native Americans to Christianity), but Jews haven't always/ don't always do it ALL right either.
Regarding the study of Kabbalah, only right-wing sects of Judaism still hold onto the belief that Kabbalah should only be studies by wise, aged, men. Other denominations of Judaism are of course more egalitarian when it comes to this issue :) (to answer the comment that Judaism is sexist, elitist etc.) HOWEVER, to me, the prohibition against studying Kabbalah before having mastered the Tanakh and the Gemorah does sort of make sense. Being mystical and text based, a complete understanding of these cannonical texts would of course be beneficial in ANYONE's study of Kabbalah, be it me, you, or Madge :).
Posted September 25, 2007 12:50 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 00:50
Att: A S I M, et al;
"LET HISTORY BE OUR JURY"
Question: Besides ISLAM belonging exclusively to the Muhammad "Fatima/Ali Family" (Shia Mosloms/Muslums/Moslems); Is it true, according to ISLAM, that this World, a/k/a Space-Ship Earth/Tellus/Gaia & Solar system & beyond , belongs to ALL current Muslums and Islam and does not belong to the "Non-Believers" of praying five times a day to a Mr. Allah (a He? not a she?) because Mr. Muhammid & his Mr. Gabriel (a he or a She) said so, having nerve to calling them "Non-Members " of the Islamic Mafioso Family or Tribal community as infidels????? a/k/a Christians, Jews, Hindu's, Buddhists, Seikh's, Jains, Confucious, Eclati-On(s), atheists , gnostics, Heretics et al?????
If it was not for them so-called Several Tribes of Jew's, [Cohan's, Levites etc..] then the "Cannanites" ["low lifes" of the low Lands, according to Abraham ] also know as as a Palestine (as a Nation or a Person) would be nothing today, or would have given them alittle Abrahamic Peleg Islam, would not get so much attention as you's have at these latter days of the so-called sixy years of Occupation?. Ya Ya.
Note: Stop it already! Stop Being Jealous! Stop Blame Gaming! Stop hating yourselves & portraying them on "Jewish" folk and or those who help them?! Please. go the the "AMEN CORNER" and Atone for your imagined or real sins or repent within your "Genuine" ECLATARIAN self realization and that life is a miracle & never a bibliomaniac sin!!
Enjoy Ramadan in a better Peace with oneself & for better future bound happyness, not Evil/Satan going backwards lustful ways to no where! It's True, Give Peace a chance! note: "Peace" does not just belong to hogging Palistinians or Israeli's, so to speaketh, and they mean nothing to Eclatarians if they [Israeli's & Palistinians]trealy think IT so! So;
W A K E *** U P!
Uphold & Make Honorable the NEW-NAME for Allah/Krishna/Jesus! The New-Name & The New-Song for ALL your Pre-Apocalyptic superstupidstitious religion(s) is called the "OUR-BOOK". a/k/a O.ne U.niversal R.eligion system BOOK! a/k/a "HOUR-BOOK" where "H" is for 'Holy' OUR-BOOK which is both G-d Made & Man Made Religion Book of Everything , includes being a Humanity-Doctrine, before there can ever be a theory of everything!
Psssssst: The new Name for Allah is, EPONYMOUS-E*C*L*A*T! or simply say Eclat. Inhale when saying "E" & then exhail when saying "clat". You feel that?!
Yes G-d Has a NEW-SONG too & not just a new-name coming from OUR old. And so, today your "Eclat" (Alla/G-d/Yawah/Visnu and by many names is simply being O.U.R. own immortal Eternity that's avoiding loneliness , via the FIAT-LUX that's miraculousy in and out of US-ALL, animates & in the inanimate things) Plus your "i" (immortal "YOU" and US, via a "HEURISTIC"a/o (a/k/a female/Sporade or Male/Maverite "spirit/Soul/Photon-Essence" who's gender never ever ceases)) is a MIRACLE and the relization that SOURCE-ONE (creator of the FIAT-LUX) has reversed the "CURSE" of NOAH in Moses's & Jesus's & Muhammads War blessings novels (includes Vyasa (hindu) & Gautama (Buddhist))via them MYTHS (opposite of TRUTH) that
has accidentally been prophecied in each of your REVLEATION [Zizal/shaking in Arabic, Tikkun in Judah , Rapture etc.. ] which is the times of the unfoldings of the Secrets & the exposing's & destructions of the Riddles & the real face of Satan/Jinn/Devil & good & bad angel story's running rampant in your man made Scriptures, instead of Eclat/G-d/Allah and made into, or attempting to, some kind of History like, not Eclat's making!
Please know that it takes a power greater then the Satans in order to expose the riddles of the devil, so to speaketh. WE [ECLATi-On's of the JOKTAN Eber biblical blood lines] are Here!
IMPORTANT: My Father [pbuh] was in the "HAGANNA" and was a quasi Zionist. WE never kicked any one out of any Arab's [Palistinian] home or cave or house or den! We bought, from good Palistinian's & built-up our home. And
My Dad did not kill ("millions of Palestinians"???? like you so evilly said above & snuck into this blog as if true, making it sound like a Palistinian/Arab-Wanna-Be-Holocaust compared to modern jewish Hitory, not ancient fallible man made, as if genuine G-d said & did la la la story crap ?????) those folks whom did not attempt to kill him via jealous G-d reasons & not Diplomatic Political reasons. If anything;
My Dad & those like him, did what they did, not because their family's (mine included) perished in World War Two (Arabs sided with Hitler & Commies) which is self self evident today (please add this fact next time you speak Mr. ASIM) , was for the Nation/State building/creation & for the LOVE OF A SECULAR-GOVERNMENT mostly & not to allow ISRAEL (JERUSALEM) to be taken over by finatic & facist Halakah/Sharia/Theocracy folk!
Note; Israel, amazingly is now 65% Secular & not a genuine religious Government! Wow! For this reason & besides a blame game, you also now holler & flowt "Sharia" a/k/a Halakah???
AND; Palistinians lived in Palm tree Hutts. It was the Israelites [Multitudal add mixures of slaves, or craparino's that was so hastily amassed, collected from all over that region (in that part of the world, not AMERICA world) who was called "JEWS" and later settled and built-up Palistine & made Palistine what it is today.
Fact: The Koran does "NOT" mention the word "Jerusalem" (Evin in Arabic) in the unholy non Glorious Quran/Koran! And Palistinian's did not build up Jerusalem like you exagerrated. Atleast in no significan modern Wowing wondermenting ways, so to speaketh. And;
So Remember Cyber Friend(s); Those Palistinian "refugees" are refugees because it was what they & their Parents tried to sneakilly destroy the New STATE OF ISRAEL by ganging-up on him/her as Israel was an infant , yet they (five Arab Nations & their merceneries for hire, via Saudi Arabia et al) was repelled.
Note: Today's those genuine "Israeli-Palistians' (smart parents & kids who stayed in the Newly established Israel & whom did 'NOT" flee & Join the "Arab-League" terrorists whom then attacked Israel at 1948) now enjoy 99.9% of ALL what "MODERN-ISRAEL" Economy has to offer and who's GDP is +/- $24,000 per person (a Wonder of the World, like another Miracle yet people refuse to accept an Apocalyptic Israel, by people who jealously still think Pre-Apocalyptic. oh well).
WELCOME TO SPACE-SHIP-EARTH! < ?: +)/ Ya Ya.
Includes disgruntled Palistinians who cause their own diasporah & misery for others (their Kids especially), that's a self created phenomonon, and thus are trying to sneakilly get the world to see palistinians as some kind wandering-Palistinians, instead of wandering Jews!!
You see: It's all about your hidden subconscience that is copy catting "Jewish" Pelegian Eberu Life [Koran is plagerized Jewish Teachings] & not "Joktanian Eberu Life" weish History and trying to incorporate [by Hijacking & injecting some works into their Islamic-Religion].
Hay, if there was NO-JEWS then there would never be ISLAM, Right?? Ya Ya!
Wa Salaam walaikem. Sholom! Peace!
Happy Every Day! Do not Blame your hatred nature on Jews! That's unjutly another trick & excuse of the Satan/devil. So please STOP IT ALREADY!
Get a LIFE [your PHOTONS ESSENSE AWARENESS, not via Quran, Bibles, Geeta/Tantr etc. Pre-Apopcalyptic knowledge]. SO;
Praise the Non Jealous thus fearless Lord/Eclat/Alla/Almighty/ "G-d HOLI-NO-MAN"!
"ALL MAGNITUDES in and of LIFE=PHOTONS start within! Never the other way around!"
Wherefore: WE-Eclatarians, a/k/a Apocalyptarians, a/k/a Eclati-On(s) and alternatively as a JOKTAN-ION(s) of the APOCALYPSE/REVELATION [Dispensers of "Opposite of Secrets" ] as promised us HUMATES (Citizens of Space-Ship Earth) who are not slaves of any pre-apocalyptic religion(systems) existing today) via All five Major Pre-Apocalyptic man-made, never ECLAT Made, Religions, Faiths & belief System(s) whom all have have ancient rituals & ancient static old-song Philosophy that goes with them old-songs instead of G-d 's New-Song Philosophy that is genuine revelation, a/k/a Holy Umma/MANNA/KARMA, so to speaketh Brethrens & Sistars of the Modern AQUARIUS-AGE and "Not" the ancient PISCES-AGE.
Note: Pre-Apocalyptic Folk-lore's & their Epochs are all self fullfilled & self serving & Do & then Denying ones own Prophecies. a/k/a Man Made, Zero G-d Made. So Becareful what you wish for!?
Happy Every Day! Thank You!
Posted September 21, 2007 12:47 PM
Posted on September 21, 2007 12:47
who in the world could possibly care if madonna loves israel or israel loves madonna?
who gives these teenagers these jobs anyway?
if i want this drivel ill go buy the new york sun.
are we supposed to take this seriously?
mercy!
Posted September 21, 2007 1:53 AM
Posted on September 21, 2007 01:53
Hey Asim,
Please give it a rest. Just try for a moment to see that not every article about Israel requires a gush of bile from you.
And while we are at it, look up some history.
If Israel is tough at all it is because of all of the love showed them by their peace-loving, innocent, never hurt anyone, never started (and then lost) any wars neighbors.
Posted September 20, 2007 2:01 PM
Posted on September 20, 2007 14:01
Trying to paint Judaism as "not bent on world domination " is pretty dishonest.
In fact- it is an elitist religion that looks down on gentiles. (Look at the smug derision exhibited by the author).
"Kabbalah is traditionally intended for married middle aged male Jews who have mastered the Torah and Talmud, Jewish legal writings."
So women are not allowed?
Elitist AND sexist.
Posted September 20, 2007 12:06 PM
Posted on September 20, 2007 12:06
Why is Madona "in love with israel"? Does she know how israel came to being? Does she know about jewish terrorist gangs that ethnically cleansed millions of palestinians who still live either in huge concentration camps-Gaza and West Bank? Does she know that israel is a racist miliaristic apartheid exclusivist jewish theocracy? Did she read President Carter's book on israeli apartheid? Why does not she take a short trip throughout the west bank and Gaza to see the tragedy of the palestinian people first hand? How could a "mystic" be so insensitive to an ongoing human tragedy? Does she know that judaism is a racist creed and that only if her mother was only jewish she can be considered a jew?
Here is More facts for Modana:
1///The problem is that "Israel" never ever recognized the existence of the indigenous owners of Palestine: the Palestinian people.Golda Meir once said "What Palestinians?"
2// Israel never implemented a single UN resolution since its anomalous and questionable creation including 181 which created it-by devouring large chunks of the would be Palestine state in 1947.
3/// Jewish terrorist gangs such as Haganah, Palmach, Shtern and Argun used extreme violence to ethnically cleanse Palestinians and destroyed over five hundred Palestinians villages to prevent their return as per UN 194-which 60 years later Israel still refuses to implement. Israel was built on and continue to survive on terrorism.
4// No land or resources left whatsoever for a Palestinian state: Israel occupied 78%of Arab historic Palestine in 1947/8 and 22% in 1967 (West Bank, Gaza and most importantly Jerusalem which was built by the Canaanite Arabs long before there ever were Jews on earth) AND again Israel annexed-slowly but surely by implanting settlements in full day light- over 50% of the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem-leaving 10% of original Arab historic Palestine for a Palestinian state???
5/// Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and others were created in response to the extremely lengthy 60-year old brutal Israeli military occupation; Hezbollah was created in response to Israeli occupation of Lebanon from 1982 to 2000 when Israel was evicted by from Lebanon by Hezballah.
6///The issue is simple and clear: chronic brutal inhuman military Jewish Occupation of all of Arab Palestine for sixty years which have and continues to torment Palestinians and drive them to despair...
7/// Her friend Perez bombd hundreds of children in Lebanon,Palestine..and he is the father of next nuclear war in the ME-he created israel nuclear arsenal which is the biggest threat to peace in the region.
This is israel Madona loves!!!
Posted September 20, 2007 11:35 AM
Posted on September 20, 2007 11:35
The photo is laugh out loud hilarious - I hope that someone explained to Peres just who this woman was...??
Posted September 19, 2007 6:46 PM
Posted on September 19, 2007 18:46