Rabbis not happy with Madonna

Oct 10, 2005, 11:19 GMT

Madonna will face "punishment from the heavens" for dedicating a song to a Kabbalist scholar, according to Jewish rabbis.

On forthcoming new album, 'Confessions on a Dance Floor', the stunning singer has penned a track called 'Isaac' about Yitzhak Luria, a 16th century Jewish mystic, rabbi and scholar.

News of the song has infuriated rabbis who claim the tribute is a shameless effort by Madonna to profit from Luria's name - an act that is forbidden in the Jewish faith from which the Kabbalah originates from.

Rabbi Rafael Cohen - head of a seminary named after Luria in the northern town of Safed, in Israel - has condemned the sexy star over her actions and insists she will face divine punishment for her sacrilegious behaviour.

Cohen told Israel's Maariv newspaper: "Jewish law forbids the use of the name of the holy rabbi for profit. Her act is just simply unacceptable and I can only sympathize for her because of the punishment that she is going to receive from the heavens."

Rabbi Israel Deri is demanding Madonna - who converted to the Kabbalah after being raised a Catholic - be thrown out of the mystical faith for desecrating the late scholar's name.

He said: "Such a woman brings great sin on Kabbalah.

"I hope that we will have the strength to prevent her from bringing sin upon the holiness of the rabbi Luria."

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