Hugh Jackman, the newest Kabbalaist.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:11pm

found this earlier tonight. made me laugh so damn hard!'

"Australian movie star Hugh Jackman is the latest convert to Kabbalah and will accompany Madonna on a pilgrimage to Israel next month, according to reports. Madonna, a long-term follower of the mystical offshoot of Judaism, will be celebrating the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah in Tel Aviv - and will be joined by Van Helsing star Jackman, his wife Deborra-Lee Furness and designer Donna Karan, according to website The Scoop. Other Kabbalah-keen stars Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore have yet to confirm their places on the jaunt. The Scoop claim the pilgrimage will appear live on American news show 20/20, and will include an interview with Kabbalah leader, Rabbi Philip Berg - as part of a publicity push by the Los Angeles Kabbalah Center. A source tells the site, "It will be quite the media event for Kabbalah. This all comes a month before a publicity extravaganza in October, including a billboard on Sunset Boulevard to promote a book on the red string - which wards off the evil eye - as the got-to-have religious fashion accessory of the season."

meanwhile, i also read that once Hugh leaves BFO on Sept. 12, he will take a month off and then replace Alfred Molina in "Fiddler."

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:45pm

GAH...this whole Kabbalistic trend in Hollywood is so dumb. They are taking the Jewish out of Jewish Mysticsm, which means they are left with just superstitious mumbo-jumbo that has no spititual or religious context.

Akiva

[shira467]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:54pm

For some reason, I want to say "Yasher Koach! and Amen!"

I couldn't agree more. Also, what annoys me is that people are now thinking Kabbala is Judaism. While Kabbala is a sect of Judaism, it is not actually Judaism.

[Alix7272]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:57pm

i agree. it's not even a sect. it's a tradition that according to tradition one isn't supposed to study until they're 40 b/c it can drive you crazy. but other than that, what they're doing is being labeled as judaism and it just isn't! it annoys me

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:58pm

". . . a billboard on Sunset Boulevard to promote a book on the red string - which wards off the evil eye - as the got-to-have religious fashion accessory of the season."

I'm afraid I don't see what this has to do with spirituality.

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:00pm

Oh he and Madonna will probably stay up all night giggling and never get any sleep.

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:15pm

where the hell are you getting him replacing alfred molina? he's taking a vacation then filming "the fountain".

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:31pm

its a joke

[Plum]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:42pm

Hm. I thought he was going back to Australia after BFO ended. And he'll have to be in Israel only 3 days after the closing to make it in time for Rosh Hashanna. Seriously, though, it's just a rumor. People BS all the time. If it is true, I'm kinda disappointed in him, though. I don't appreciate the mutilation of my religion.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:43pm

This is basically tearing apart the Jewish religion. The whole publicity thing is really shameful to me. But that might be because I'm religious and I've been raised with Jewish values my whole life. This stuff really gets to me.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:46pm

Well, I guess joining that group is easier than converting to actual Judaism. That's a real pain. For this, all you need is money...

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:48pm

I doubt it's true. Hugh said in an interview that he practices a sort of spirituality that's a combination of aspects of several different types of beliefs. There's an actual school for that, and he said he attends.

It's not just the fact that Kabbalah distorts Judaism, but the fact that it's become the cool thing to do without any regard to true spirituality.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:50pm

yankeefan - there are quotation marks around your posted news item - where exactly did this come from?

[Plum]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:51pm

It was in MSNBC's gossip column. Very reliable, of course, just like all gossip columns.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:01pm

I did see pictures of Hugh's wife with the red string on her wrist. Hugh has mentioned how highly he regards the School of Practical Philosophy in interviews.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:01pm

i found it on IMDB.com

[Plum]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:12pm

So it came from WENN? They're notorious for their BS.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:15pm

Stupid.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 3:51am

I agree with everything that's been said about Kabbalah - it's not really Judaism.

BUT...

If he actually comes, I'll be soooooo excited. We rarely get people like him here! Plus he'll be in my city, so I might just have to go down and try and catch a glimpse..hehe.

[shira467]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 4:23am

Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Los Angeles?

Heh, if you're going after Hugh in LA, I'll join you!

[BwayLover]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 5:24am

Tel-Aviv. :) Sorry.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 5:29am

BwayLover,

Are you saying that you live in Tel-Aviv. I am from Jerusalem myself, born there and we own an apartment in Gilo. Just thought I'd add that.

Akiva

[BwayLover]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 5:40am

Yep, I do live in Tel-Aviv. Too funny. :)

You don't live in Jerusalem year-round though, do you?

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 5:44am

BwayLover,

No I live in Canada, but every seven years we go for a year. This year my parents will be there from Jan-April, and i might go in December for a bit. My only problem is that if I ever want to stay there I would have to army service, which I really don't want to do for time reasons more than anything...taking 2 years out of my life isn't somehting I can do taht easily, but we will cross that bridge when it comes.

Akiva

[BwayLover]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 5:53am

Well this is getting a bit off-topic... But
A. If and when you come in December I can show you around Tel-Aviv if you want.
B. I get what you're saying about the army, but I can't say I agree with you - I guess since I grew up here I felt like it was my duty to give back to my country. Plus here it's just...the norm, you know what I mean? I didn't even think to question it, I just knew I was going to give two years and that was that. That said- I gotta tell you those were two of the toughest yet most wonderfully rewarding years of my life.

P.S. Check out my fan photos, there's a pic of me in uniform. I'm a dork. :)

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 05:53 AM