“ Indeed, many Jewish people, when hearing that we had become friends, wrote to me and told me that Michael was an anti-Semite. But with all the flaws I admit existed in Michael’s life, being an anti-S

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emite was simply not one of them. If anything, I believe Michael had an intuitive affinity with Jewish people. He greatly respected the fact that I was a rabbi and did much to learn from the wisdom I had as a scholar of Jewish texts. And yes, I am well aware that in 2006 Michael left a voice message on a recording machine disparaging Jews. But while I’m not here to defend such a repulsive action it has to be remembered that by that time Michael was often stoned out of his mind on prescription medication and who knows who was feeding him these lines. Michael always demonstrated the highest respect for Jews and Judaism in my presence.

Shmuley Boteach: So you have been the voice for a lot of the people who have been left out. Like in the song “They Don’t Care About Us,” the main message being they don’t care about who?

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