Michael Jackson and Uri Geller visit New York synagogue – October 02, 1999

Article taken from the NEW YORK POST, Sat. Oct 02, 1999

JACKO FINDS JOY IN APPLE SYNAGOGUE

By DAN KADISON and ANDY GELLER

Michael Jackson got his wish of attending a joyous synagogue service – thanks to the magic of Uri Geller.

“I loved it. I loved it. It touched my heart,” the King of Pop said after the Simchat Torah service at the Carlebach Shul on West 79th Street on Friday night.Michael Jackson got his wish of attending a joyous synagogue service – thanks to the magic of Uri Geller.

Jaws dropped when Jackson arrived wearing a black fedora, a red shirt, a pink and green iridescent tie, black pants, white socks, black shoes and sunglasses – which he kept on for the service.

He rocked back and forth and clapped his hands in time with the singing and the chanting.

Throughout the service, star-struck children came running up to see if it was really him.

Rabbi Schmuely Boteach, the author of “Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy,” was the guest rabbi for the service.

He is a friend of Geller, the psychic, and they have written a new book, “Confessions of a Psychic and a Rabbi.”

Geller, in turn, is a friend of Jacko and introduced the two men about two months ago.

“He’s a very special person.” Boteach said. “He’s so humble and gentle. His concern for people in pain is genuine. He’s been truly mistreated in his portrayal.”

The rabbi said Jackson told him, “‘I’d love to go to synagogue to see a service.’ He said he’s been to a Bar Mitzvah, which he completely enjoyed. I said, ‘The best time to go is tonight because it’s a Jewish festival.'”

“He wanted to see how Jews celebrate from the musical point of view and from the point of view of happiness,” said Geller, who presented the pop icon with a 60-pound stone taken from Mount. Sinai in Israel.