Jacko on Oxford pilgrimage
Popstar Michael Jackson may visit Oxford having been given a taste of the Jewish faith by the high-profile founder of Oxford's L'Chaim society, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.
Boteach was a Rabbi in Oxford for 11 years where he initially set up the controversial L'Chaim. High profile visitors such as Mikail Gorbachev and Henry Kissinger have in the past visited L'Chaim in Oxford as a result of Boteach's intervention.
Such past coups have sparked the rumour that Michael Jackson is planning an imminent visit to the dreaming spires.
Speaking exclusively to the Oxford Student from his New York office, Boteach denied that like many of his celebrity associates Jackson would immediately visit Oxford to lecture at one of L'Chaim's events.
"Michael and I have become quite close, but we'll have to see about him visiting Oxford," he said.
Rabbi Shmuley went on to explain his relationship with the controversial singer: "I am very good friends with Uri Geller and Uri took me to Michael's house." He then told how he had given Jackson symbolically important Jewish artefacts;
"I gave him a Mezuza which is a scroll of parchment which Jews keep as a sign of God's blessing. I also bought hi m a silver tzedaka, a charity box, because he gives a lot to charity."
Shmuley also related how Jackson had visited a synagogue with him on Manhattan's Upper West Side:
"He loved it and clapped his hands to the songs." Boteach also paid tribute to Jackson, whom he calls "a very special person."
"Michael's a man of great humility and great spirituality. It's terrible to see how misrepresented he has been. He is a man who has devoted much of his life to helping those in need."
Boteach was also quick to dismiss the bad press which Jackson has sometimes received, calling Jackson "a soft target" for the worst elements of the press.
Rabbi Boteach's belief that 'Judaism is the new Buddhism' has already attracted several celebrities; Roseanne Barr rediscovered her Jewish roots after meeting the charismatic Rabbi, while Madonna is rumoured to have dabbled in Jewish mysticism.
If this trend continues, Richard Gere, who claims to be a committed Buddhist, may soon be sitting alone in the celebrity balconies of Hollywood's Buddhist temples.
Such crowd-pleasing tactics have not always endeared Boteach to all members of the Jewish community.
David Asfandi, President Elect of J-Soc, Oxford's more traditional Jewish society, supported Boteach's role in 'exposing young people to Judaism' but felt that his 'pursuit of controversy in recent years had gone too far.'
7th Oct 1999