Jackson is not planning to convert to Judaism, but was interested in attending a Jewish service, said Boteach, who met Jackson through mutual friend Uri Geller. Geller, an Israeli psychic famous for his ability to bend spoons, also attended the services.
Jackson “was swaying right along as if he were a Chassid,” said the shul’s rabbi, Samuel Intrator.
“When I was teaching Torah later, he was again swaying along and listening,” Intrator said. “He seemed to get into it.”
Longtime congregant Barbara Meyer said Jackson created less of a stir than one might expect.
“What I found very interesting was it didn’t seem to have any effect on the concentration of the congregants,” said Meyer, noting that the rabbi acknowledged Jackson’s presence, but “didn’t do anything to draw that much attention to him.”
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