Many have claimed that Kabbalah – at least Madonna’s kind of it – isn’t a branch of Judaism so much as it’s a cult. Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone claims that Kabbalah caused the divorce between Madonna and Guy, and its influence has brought nothing but negativity into their lives.
Apparently the sect’s leader Rabbi Berg is upset with all the bad press Kabbalah is getting due to their contemptuous divorce. It really does speak poorly of them that Madonna claims to be all spiritual and deep and a good person and then acts so terribly, trash-talking her husband. So Rabbi Berg wants to step in and have a Kabbalah-mediated divorce for the two – and according to the Daily Mail Madge is considering it.
Madonna is facing a major fall-out with her kabbalah leaders who are demanding an immediate out of court settlement to her divorce from Guy Ritchie. Rabbi Berg, the most senior kabbalah member and her spiritual leader, has instructed her that the ongoing mudslinging and prospect of a court battle between the sect’s two most high-profile members could badly damage its image. Berg has now given Madonna a 24-hour deadline to come back to him with a plan to mediate towards a swift divorce resolution using a round-table of kabbalah leaders chaired by him.
‘Rabbi Berg’s ultimate hope would be a reconciliation. But that seems rather a distant hope so at best he would like to put an end to the public raking over of their marriage,’ said a source close to the couple. Madonna however is said to be torn with the idea, thinking that if they go to kabbalah mediation at this point, she will be persuaded to part with a substantial amount of her wealth and also may lose out in having to give Guy a larger share of custody of their son Rocco, seven, and David, three.
‘Kabbalah’s view on this would be that it as far as family is concerned, it’s only money. Guy would get a lot more than if their lawyers were slugging it out. Kabbalah might also give Guy better access than British law might. Let us not to forget that Guy and Rabbi Berg were also very close. Guy really studied kabbalah. There was a feeling in certain quarters that Madonna’s interest in kabbalah was linked more to her ego. Guy on the other hand was more interested in the fundamentals of it, in dissecting it. Consequently he had a much greater intellectual bond with the kabbalah leaders.’
[From the Daily Mail]
Guy Ritchie has long been reported to have thought Kabbalah was bull, but about 5% of the stories out there claim he’s more into it than Madonna but just quieter about it. It’s pretty hard to know, and it sounds like each side has legitimate arguments for and against Berg’s request. If nothing else it’s good that he’s clearly stated how terrible it is that Madonna and Guy are playing their divorce out in public. But his motivations are obviously about the church’s reputation. He’s not telling them to tone it down for the sake of being good people.
I think Madge should get a Kabbalah divorce if for no other reason than it’s the only divorce proceeding where she could probably give Guy the evil eye and make him burst into flames or something, while she warded off his return evil eye with her red bracelet. Sounds like the fundamentals for a fair and just legal proceeding.
Here’s Madonna along with daughter Lourdes and son David sharing some Kabbalah Centre love in Manhattan in August. Images thanks to Bauer-Griffin.
Uhmmm, sorry, not buying into this one. I find it hard to believe that Berg and Co. would go up against one of their most generous donors for any reason.
Sold her soul has she?
i think the rabbi is right.
playing this divorce out in public spells lots of trouble for all concerned.
anyway, being spiritual requires work. it means going against yourself sometimes.
if madonna wants to wear the red string bracelet, she’d better stop acting like she’s the only person who matters here.
What is the picture policy these days? Just blondes with strainy hair and huge sunglasses on?? 😆 All icons on the main page some sort of looks the same. Funny!
Just because Guy thinks kablalala is bull and may not be into it, doesn’t mean that he can’t have an intelligent conversation about it and even have friendships with those who do follow it (not that I know or care; it’s just that for all I can’t stand these two, the source point of view re Guy sounds reasonable). It may be my bias against those who believe in something so much they can’t acknowledge other points of view (which isn’t a problem with the belief/religion/whatever at hand, but rather something else), but I can see this scenario. I thought the source content of this article seemed pretty believable, actually.
I think this is a PR move on the part of “Rabbi” Berg — a former insurance salesman turned cult leader. He’s worried that his cash cow — Esther! — might get disillusioned with Kabalalala and move on to her next phase… Hinduism, Scientology, Voodoo, Navel gazing, whatever….
yeah, mif, equally plausible and probably more likely…
That’s the equivalent of saying the Boogeyman wants to judge the case.
v: It’s Halloween week! The Bogeyman as judge is PERFECT! Hee.
Just go away, Skeletor. And your unibrow spawn too. 😈
I am with the Kabballah is the roots of all her problems. The psycho sect has dig their claws so deeply , she is all but a zombie……
This whole Kabbalah thing annoys me no end. It’s not a sect of Judaism, it’s a mockery of it.
Ah, Kabbalah to the rescue once again. I reckon it’s a mix of already expressed opinions here: she’s making them look bad; they’re afraid she won’t have any money left to buy fancy water and string; she’s hoping they’ll persuade Guy that she really is 35 and the Second Coming; and Guy’s hoping they’ll talk some sense into her. Good luck with that.
Shocking, but I’m about to say something nice about Madge – her hair looks pretty good in the header pic. I wish my hair would do that wavy, shiny, healthy thing effortlessly.
Re: Kabballah divorce. Meh. Don’t all devout Jews have to seek a Jewish council divorce? I mean, it’s not like this is just some weird Kabballah thing.
@Mif: Including Hinduism which is a valid religion that is older than old and practiced by millions around the world in a list including voodoo and scientology is disrespectful to say the least.
(I’d even say including voodoo with scientology to be unfair to voodoo adherents, but hey…)
Madonna should call Rabbi Boteach from ‘Shalom in the Home’. First thing he’d do is make her flush that red string and eat a plate of latkes.
Mmmmm, latkes!
Well if this isn’t the look of a rich woman who has been sucked bone dry by a cult, I don’t know what is.