Madonna Published In Israeli Newspaper

This time around, the next move in Madonna’s publishing career doesn’t involve sharing more scandalous photos or on the flip side, another children’s book. Friday’s edition of Israel’s biggest daily newspaper, “Yediot Ahronot,” featured an article by Madge in which she detailed her spiritual awakening.

The paper published Madonna’s article in both Hebrew and in the original English.

She explained that she was raised Roman Catholic and that she first heard about Jewish mysticism, called Kabbalah, at a dinner party in Los Angeles 12 years ago.

At the time she was pregnant with her daughter Lourdes and had recently starred in the film “Evita” but she wrote that “still felt like something was missing in my life.”

Photo: AP Photo

Valle Hovin Stadium, Oslo, Norway

After she started learning about Kabbalah, following years of reading up on Buddhism, Taoism and early Christianity, “all the puzzle pieces started falling into place.”

Madonna’s first Kabbalah class was taught by a teacher named Eitan.

“I heard what he had to say and I knew at this moment my life would never be the same,” Madonna writes. “Life no longer seemed like a series of Random events. I also began to see that being Rich and Famous wasn’t going to bring me lasting fulfillment and that it was not the end of the journey.”

Kabbalah includes the study of mystical texts, prayer and meditation. Despite the traditional Jewish belief that Kabbalah is so complicated that followers should be over 40 with a strong background in Jewish to really grasp the teachings, it has attracted other Hollywood celebs such as Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Britney Spears through the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center.

Although some mainstream Jewish scholars have criticized the Center’s self-help teachings and sale of Kabbalah-themed merchandise, in addition to its popularity with non-Jewish pop stars, that hasn’t stopped Madonna from being involved with the Center.

Madonna has shown her devotion to Kabbalah by taking on the Hebrew name Esther and making private pilgrimages to Israel in 2004 and 2007.

After last performing in Israel in 1993, the 50-year-old pop star is wrapping up her Sticky & Sweet tour with two dates in Israel. After her Sept. 1 show at Hayarkton Park quickly sold out, she added a second show, Sept. 2, at the Tel Aviv venue.

Upcoming tour stops also include shows in Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Romania.

Click here for the AP story.