Madonna the Jew
The week's news at a glance.
Jerusalem
Pop singer Madonna celebrated the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, much to the dismay of many Orthodox Jews. Madonna, who has recently converted to a New Age version of kabalah Judaism and taken a Hebrew name meaning Queen Esther, was visiting Israel for a conference of mostly Western kabalah devotees. When her entourage stopped at the Wailing Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, Orthodox worshipers yelled at her to go home and to stop desecrating their religion. Talk-radio host Uri Orbach mocked her on his popular show, saying, “This is entertainment, not Judaism.” But some Israeli officials said the Madonna visit was good for tourism.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle