Is Madonna converting Britney Spears to Kabbalah?

MSNBC/September 11, 2003
By Jeanette Walls

It looks like Madonna has gotten to Britney Spears with more than just her tongue. The inter-generational best friends created a stir with their televised smooch at the MTV Video Music Awards, but the buzz is that when they're off camera, Madonna has been busy preaching the virtues of Kabbalah, the study of ancient Jewish texts that has become all the rage among certain celebs these days.

In addition to Madonna, stars such as Roseanne, Naomi Campbell, Elizabeth Taylor and Barbra Streisand have all reportedly studied Kabbalah as taught by Rabbi Berg at the super-trendy Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles.

Kabbalah is an ancient form of study of Jewish text, but the Kabbalah Center has come under attack from traditional Jewish scholars.

"Madonna seems to be the high priestess of proselytizing for the Bergs and the Kaballah Centre," Rick Ross, an expert on cults and alternative religions who has been an outspoken critic of the Kabbalah Centre, tells The Scoop. "No doubt she's pitched it to anyone with a brain in their head, and that might include Ms. Spears."

A Spears spokeswoman confirms the story. "Britney was introduced to Kabbalah through her friendship with Madonna," the rep tells the Scoop. "She is now learning more about it."