I guess as well as to remind the world of Boteach’s love for money.

You might be asking what Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Michael Jackson might have in common. You may also be wondering why Michael Jackson would have a rabbi at all, or why he would share intimate details about his life, children, and beliefs.

Rabbi Boteach is a religious leader made famous for his books, television appearances, and statements regarding relationships and “kosher sex”. Michael Jackson is quite possibly the world’s biggest pop icon of all time. But beyond these vast differences, both men prioritized their family and enjoyed conversations about this very topic.

Boteach and Jackson met many times toward the end of Jackson’s life to discuss their families and the wonderment and innocence they called “the child spirit”. These conversations were recorded, and were recently released on January 11 in Boteach’s new book, “Honoring the Child Spirit”.

Some have questioned why the rabbi would have waited until after Jackson passed away to release the book, as opposed to publishing it when the singer was alive. Boteach discussed Dr. Conrad Murray in a recent interview, and revealed what he believed was important for the public to know.

As PopEater reports, Boteach said of Murray, “Here is a doctor, who essentially acted as a pusher, now denying any and all responsibility for dispensing to Michael a truckload of prescription drugs that eventually killed him. Bodyguards have already testified that as emergency workers came to try to save Michael’s life, Murray was gathering bottles of pills and removing them from the scene of the tragedy.”

The rabbi went on to say, “I am still amazed that a year-and-a-half after Michael’s death, we have still heard nothing about anyone else who facilitated his self-destruction. Professionals who were on his payroll had a responsibility to protect him from harm, both from others and from himself. Instead, they pursued the opposite, content to allow Michael to indulge his growing dependency on piles of prescription drugs.”

The rabbi also raises a question that many fans have wondered as well: It has been almost two years since Jackson has passed away, and the world is still waiting to see what justice will be obtained for the King of Pop. Jackson died years before his time, and was never able to see his children grow up which was of great importance to him.

Boteach believed it was important for this book to be released to remind the world that, in his core, Jackson was a family man with strong values and a love for his children.

There were many speculations about Jackson’s drug habits and relationships with children throughout his career, which tainted the public’s image of the man. “Honoring the Child Spirit” is an important reminder that Michael Jackson was a good man with a soft soul, who absolutely adored his family.

But I guess it’s what we’ve come to expect from the Bobblehead Rabbi.

For those of you who do not know to whom I am referring, behold the wonders of YouTube.

I say all of this because I was reminded of that character while I read this next story.

A new book based on taped interviews with Michael Jackson reveals the star thought he looked like “a lizard” and “didn’t want to grow old”.

The Michael Jackson Tapes, written by the star’s former adviser Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, provides first-hand detail about the reclusive singer’s life.

In one conversation, Jackson says: “I don’t want to grow old. I never want to look in the mirror and see that.”

The star died in June, aged 50. His death is being treated as homicide.

Speaking to US TV show Today on Friday, Mr Boteach said his overwhelming impression of the star had been one of “indescribable pain”.

“He lost the will to live,” he added. “I think he was just going through the motions of life toward the end.”

Mr Boteach recorded 30 hours of interviews with Jackson nine years ago. The tapes reveal the star talking about about his fear of aging, and being hit with an electric cord by his father.

I would like some way to disappear where people don’t see me any more at some point

“He was rough,” the star says. “The way he would beat you, you know, was hard.

“He would make you strip nude first. He would oil you down. It would be a whole ritual. He would oil you down so when the flip of the ironing cord hit you, you know… it was just like dying.”

“I used to get so angry at him,” Jackson continues.

“I would just go in my room and just scream out of anger because I didn’t understand how a person could be so vicious and mean.”

Ken Sunshine, a spokesman for the Jackson family, said after the tapes were broadcast: “We will not dignify this with a comment.”

In another conversation released by Mr Boteach, the star can be heard saying: “I don’t want to be seen now, because I am like a lizard. It is horrible.”

“I would like some way to disappear where people don’t see me any more at some point.”

Mr Boteach is an orthodox Jewish rabbi who has written self-help books with names like Shalom in the Home and Kosher Sex.

The latter book, which encouraged Jews to have more sex, was publicly criticised and the rabbi was forced to resign from the synagogue where he preached in Willesden, north London.

He was introduced to Jackson in 1999 by entertainer Uri Geller and acted as his confidant for many years, helping to establish the star’s Heal The Kids initiative.

Their conversations were taped with an eye to giving the public a more accurate image of the pop star.

Mr Boteach said he became disillusioned with the book – originally set for release in 2003 – after Jackson failed to adhere to recovery programmes they had worked out for his public image and private self.

On the Today programme, he insisted that Jackson would still have wanted the tapes to be released.

“He did all this because he wanted to consecrate his fame to a higher cause, and that was cause was ‘parents prioritise your kids. Don’t neglect them, because look what it did to me.’”

Yes, I am fully aware that these conversations may not have been confidential as such, but I nevertheless find Boteach’s willingness to exploit Jackson’s death highly offensive.

As with most of the things he does.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach will release a book based on his interviews with the late Michael Jackson.

Boteach conducted 30 hours of taped interviews with Jackson more than eight years ago that are said to reveal much about the singer’s life, his views on celebrity and what motivated him.

“NBC Dateline” is scheduled to run a one-hour special next weekend on Boteach and the book, The Jewish Week reported.

“Michael loved coming to our house for Friday night dinners with his kids,” Rabbi Boteach told The Jewish Week.

The rabbi met Jackson about 10 years ago and struck up a friendship.

Boteach says that in in the summer of 2000, and for about 10 months, the two met regularly during the week.

“We started our conversations on Shabbat, the only day of the week with no intrusions or distractions,” Boteach said. “He had nothing but distractions in his life; he was always so busy.”

Coming soon: Boteach’s new reality show on helping Bubbles the Chimp cope with his grief.

It’s Elvis all over again (hat tip: Elder of Zion).

The sad thing is, it almost makes perfect sense.

He may have been in the news in recent times, more for the wrong reasons than for his music, but there is no doubt he was an unbelievably talented individual who brought joy to millions on the planet. Including yours truly.

Update: It is hard to pick my favorite Michael Jackson song, but this one is up there.

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Answer: This photo of what he has in his car.

More photos here.

Michael Jackson has become a Muslim — and changed his name to MIKAEEL.

The skint superstar, 50, donned Islamic garb to pledge allegiance to the Koran in a ceremony at a pal’s mansion in Los Angeles, The Sun can reveal.

Jacko sat on the floor wearing a tiny hat after an Imam was summoned to officiate — days before the singer is due to appear at London’s High Court where he is being sued by an Arab sheik.

A source told last night how Jacko, brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness, decided to convert as he used a studio at the home of his chum to record a new album.

The star — whose hits include The Way You Make Me Feel — was spotted looking “a bit down” by a producer and a songwriter who had both embraced Islam.

The source said: “They began talking to him about their beliefs, and how they thought they had become better people after they converted. Michael soon began warming to the idea.

“An Imam was summoned from the mosque and Michael went through the shahada, which is the Muslim declaration of belief.” Mikaeel is the name of one of Allah’s angels.

“Jacko rejected an alternative name, Mustafa — meaning “the chosen one”.

Brit singer Yousef Islam, 60 — who was called Cat Stevens until he famously converted — turned up to help Jacko celebrate.

It was his pals David Wharnsby — a Canadian songwriter — and producer Phillip Bubal who counselled Jacko.

The pair’s new names are Dawud Wharnsby Ali and Idris Phillips.

Jacko now prays to Mecca after the ceremony at the Hollywood Hills home of Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro, 51, who composed music on the singer’s Thriller album.

Jacko, who rarely ventures out without a mask, is due to give evidence on Monday in a £4.7million lawsuit brought by Prince Abdulla Al-Khalif of Bahrain.

The sheik claims he bankrolled the singer’s lavish lifestyle in exchange for an exclusive recording contract. The billionaire sent songs for him to record but claims he was blanked.

He told the court yesterday: “Many times he confirmed to me he would pay me back.”

Mikaeel? Sounds more like he has converted to Russian mob boss.

In any event, I will take this with a grain of salt, especially considering there were reports about Jackson’s supposed conversion almost two years ago (as reported on Israellycool). And we are talking about The Sun here.

But if it turns out that Jackson did convert to Islam, I wonder if he will adapt some of his old songs to conform with his new beliefs. I am guessing Beat It may be a prime contender.