Madonna an ambassador for Judaism?

By Stone Martindale Sep 16, 2007, 18:16 GMT

Israeli President Shimon Peres as he meets with singer, super star Madonna and Guy Ritchie (R), Madonna\'s husband and filmmaker, in the president\'s Jerusalem residence. Madonna is in Israel on a Kaballa (mystic Judiasm) visit, and presented Peres a book on Kaballa. EPA/MOSHE MILNER/HO

How does Madge do it?  Now in Israel, pop singer Madonna celebrated Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year) with Israeli President Shimon Peres, and declared herself an "ambassador for Judaism," according to the local newspapers in Israel.

The Catholic "Like A Virgin" singer came to Israel with her hubbie Guy Ritchie, on the eve of Jewish new year to attend a conference on the mystical study of Kabbalah.

Madonna and Peres met and the two exchanged gifts, with Madonna getting a bound copy of the Old Testament.

Madge gave Peres  "The Book of Splendor," the guiding text of Kabbalah, inscribed "To Shimon Peres, the man I admire and love, Madonna," the Yediot Ahronot daily reported.

"You don't know how popular the Book of Splendor is among Hollywood actors," Yediot quoted Madonna as telling Peres. "Everyone I meet talks to me only about that. I am an ambassador for Judaism."

Madonna took the nake Esther when she made the jum into Kabbalah years ago. The once Roman Catholic girl has infused the religious sect with millions of dollars.

Not all Jews are singing the praises of Halaka loving Madge and her keen interest in Kabbalah.  Orthodox Jews say her involvment in the study is an abomination.

The Haaretz daily quoted Ashton Kutcher, who also attended the same conference with his wife Demi Moore, telling a group of Israeli businessmen and entertainers on Saturday that Kabbalah had answered fundamental questions in his life and made him a better actor.

Rabbis who study Kabbalah have been critical of the cult-like interest by non-Jewish celebrities in the subject.

According to the AP, the Jewish tradition claims Kabbalah "is so powerful and complicated that only bonafide students may begin to approach it and then only after age 40. Among the elements of Kabbalah are mystical revelations drawn from holy books by recombination of letters and other signs."

Madonna paid her first visit to Israel three years ago on another Kabbalah-centered trip.

"I can't believe that I'm celebrating the new year with you in Israel," Maariv newspaper quoted her as telling Peres on Saturday. "It's a dream come true."