MADONNA - KABBALAH EXPERTS SHUN MADONNA

Top Kabbalah experts in Israel have slammed MADONNA's attempts to follow the offshoot of Judaism - because only men and born-Jews can practice it.

The MATERIAL GIRL is planning to tour holy sites of the troubled Middle Eastern country in September (04) and celebrate the Jewish New Year there, just days after her RE-INVENTION world tour concludes.

But RABBI YITZHAK KEDURI, one of the country's most respected Kabbalist, has dashed the superstar's hopes of meeting him.

Rabbi Keduri told local newspaper MAARIV, "I don't know her, I don't know of her and I won't see her."

The religious leader added the study of Kabbalah was not open to women or non-Jews - making the singer ineligible on both conditions of her sex and the fact she was raised a Catholic.

RABBI SHLOMO RIFKIN, chief rabbi of the Efrat settlement in the southern West Bank, explains, "Kabbalah is an added mystical tier to Judaism which comes after there is a total acceptance of a religious lifestyle and a religious value system.

"The traditional idea is that anyone studying Kabbalah must first be a mature, practicing Jew.

"Maturity is important because some people can get wrapped up in the esoteric spirituality which can sometimes be cheapened into general love fests, or debauchery.

"In the Hollywood sense, the people who are accepting Kabbalah with such alacrity, such as Madonna, are taking many of the mystical concepts but not necessarily the unique lifestyle."

While Rabbi Rifkin acknowledges Madonna may be seeking a more meaningful life through the Kabbalah, he does see evidence of it in her sexy image.

Rabbi Rifkin adds, "As an actress and a singer, if the quality of her shows has changed fundamentally since she's found Kabbalah, and if sex is not paraded publicly then I would say its positive.

"If it hasn't influenced these things, then it's just a Hollywood fad that is meaningless in terms of Judaism."

Madonna has been studying the Kabbalah since 1997 and has converted her director husband GUY RITCHIE and introduced her famous pal BRITNEY SPEARS, who has demonstrated an on/off interest it.

In the past year (begs03) DEMI MOORE, ASHTON KUTCHER, LINDSAY LOHAN, WILMER VALDERRAMA and PARIS HILTON have all expressed varying degrees of interest in the Kabbalah.