Madonna visits Safed grave of Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria

 

It seems to me strange that of all the accomplishments of the Jews, the Kabbalah should be the one to attract so much positive attention.  

Last update - 08:46 04/09/2009       
Mystical Madonna visits Safed tomb of kabbalistic great
By Eli Ashkenazi

 

Pop music icon Madonna, who took Israel by storm earlier this week with two back-to-back concerts in Tel Aviv, wrapped up her tour with a visit Thursday night to the Safed tomb of a kabbalistic great.

 

Rabbi Isaac Luri - or the Ari - was one of the founders of kabbalism, a tradition Madonna has embraced over the last few years.

 

Pilgrims flock year round to his grave and the neighboring ritual bath at the foot of the ancient northern city.
 
Madonna was accompanied in her visit by Rabbi Michael Berg, her own rabbi's brother, as well as her partner Jesus. At the site, she sang the Sabbath song "Lecha Dodi," ringing in with a kabbalistic tune.

 

During her visit, the material girl has paid tribute to Jerusalem's Old City, where she toured an ancient tunnel near the Western Wall - the holiest site where Jews can pray.

 

Madonna isn't Jewish, but she's a follower of Jewish mysticism and has even taken the Hebrew name Esther.

 

She arrived early Sunday for a pair of concerts in Tel Aviv this week. It was be her first performance in Israel since 1993, though she came on private pilgrimages in 2004 and 2007.

 

Madonna is also set to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on
Friday.