MEL GIBSON - GIBSON TURNS DOWN RABBI'S OFFER

MEL GIBSON has turned down the offer to publicly apologise to Los Angeles Jews on holy day Yom Kippur for anti-Semitic comments he made last month (JUL06). RABBI DAVID BARON invited the disgraced star to address his congregation on the day of atonement - as a way to prove he isn't anti-Semitic following drunken comments he had made to a traffic cop during a drink-driving arrest last month (JUL06). But Baron has since been contacted by Gibson's publicist, who thanked him for his offer - and then declined it. The Temple Of The Arts rabbi tells website TMZ.com, "I was told Mr Gibson is deeply involved in personal work which includes rehab, therapy and counselling for alcoholism." Baron is still not willing to give up on the movie star and has now extended his offer to a later date. He has also volunteered to join with a group of Jewish leaders dedicated to educate Gibson about the dangers of anti-Semitism.