Controversial ex-Lubavitcher Rabbi Shmuley Boteach defends Jackson
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Best man Michael Jackson dons a yarmulke at Uri and Hanna Geller's wedding in 2001, watched by his mentor Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
ABUSE: RABBI BACKS JACKO
RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH last night staunchly defended Michael Jackson over allegations that he abused 13-year-old cancer victim Gavin Arvizo early in 2003.
"I don't believe that was true. I was actually there that night with my family. We were staying in his apartment," the US-born rabbi told the Jewish Telegraph in an exclusive interview.
Speaking from his holiday base in Iceland, he insisted: "My impression was that Michael had that child round to impress me what he was doing for children with cancer."
Describing the "deep emotional bond" shared by himself and Jackson, Rabbi Boteach said there had never been a rift between himself and the self-styled King of Pop.
"When it's time to move on, it's time to move on," he told the Jewish Telegraph .
"Michael wouldn't listen to me any more."
Rabbi Boteach said he was referring specifically to his advice that Jackson should not be alone with children.
Rabbi Boteach described himself as Jackson's rabbi for two years, but the two became estranged when Michael continued to entertain children.
Rabbi Boteach and his family hosted Jackson for Shabbat dinners and the pop star twice accompanied him to shul.
He also used to "joke around" with Boteach's children.
Rabbi Boteach said: "I have sent condolences to his mother Catherine. I miss Michael. I mourn him and was saddened by his untimely passing.
"There was a deep affection between us and I cried when he died. We got along. We used to talk about things. We both believed in family and kids and G-d.
"But now the focus must be on the welfare of his children."
He added: "He was very devoted to children and particularly to his own.
"More than anything else, I helped him get his life together.
"I succeeded at first and got him to to do several lectures at Oxford and Carnegie. However, my influence was neutralised by him and other people."
That was around 2001, the year Jackson was best man at Uri Geller's renewal of his marriage vows under a chuppa, with Rabbi Boteach officiating.
Boteach declined an invitation to Jackson's 30th anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall.
"You'll notice," said Boteach, "that at the time our relationship ended his life went downhill very rapidly.
"I had to be very critical of him. After me, there was probably no-one with positive influence on his life.
"From the 30th anniversary concert onwards it was downhill."
Rabbi Boteach recalled how Jackson had sat in shul picking up the melodies and joining in the songs. "He liked them," he added.
What did Rabbi Boteach believe would be Jacko's legacy?
"It will be mixed," he said. "He celebrated the good, but you can't whitewash the not-so-good.
"He was secluded with children. He promised me he never would again, but he broke that promise."
Rabbi Boteach said he knew Jackson's children "extremely well. Their place is with their mother or grandmother".
He added that Debbie Rowe, the mother of two of Jackson's children, was "a wonderful woman".
He declared: "I've no idea if they were Michael's kids. If he said they were, I accept it."
Rabbi Boteach also maintained he was "not sure" Prince Michael and Paris were halachically Jewish, as has been suggested.
"I've heard that Debbie Rowe had a Reform conversion. I hadn't seen them in seven years."
Now, however, the legacy Jackson has left Rabbi Boteach has landed his former spiritual mentor with a quandary.
He has 30 hours of taped conversations which have never been published.
"They were for a book," explained Rabbi Boteach," but after Michael was arrested in 2003 I chose not to publish it."
Rabbi Boteach described it as "very emotionally raw material. It is too soon to decide what do do with it".
Topic: Michael Jackson - Anti-semite (Read 3208 times)