Yes, I also find this book thought provoking. Obviously provoking thoughts of much money for the Rabbi. And provoking me to have to make an angry remark here. Most people who know Michael want to be like Michael, and feel honored to have known him. But, there are those who can't see past the mighty dollar sign.What a pity that the Rabbi had to stoop this low.
Rabbi Schmuley's MJ Book Submitted on: 2009-11-22
I find it in really poor taste that the Rabbi released a book on, what I feel were, confidential conversations he had with someone who was sharing personal and intimate feelings. I feel it was inappropriate and opportunistic. MJ did not have anything to do with him for for more than 7 years as a result of the Rabbi's actions in another situation. For him to wait until MJ died and almost immediately put out this book does not help anyone but him especially with his ridiculous comments as part of the text. You made a boo-boo once again Rabbi.
Please be fair. Submitted on: 2009-11-21
If you read the ENTIRE book, including the introductory remarks, you learn that Michael and Rabbi Boteach made these tapes together with the express purpose of turning them into a book, so that Michael's motives and thought processes would be better understood by the outside world. The timing was, unfortunately, not right for its release during Michael's lifetime, due to circumstances we all know (and very capably explained by the author in the foreword). This isn't a case of someone "cashing in" on Michael's private thoughts, or his death, as some have suggested. That is a blatantly unfair characterization. This was a shelved project that has now been brought to light. I, for one, am glad of it.
As a die-hard MJ fan, and a writer myself, I found the book to be thought provoking and well presented. I felt comforted throughout, and often read and re-read particularly poignant or enlightening passages. If you are capable of accepting that Michael was a human being, flawed and imperfect, and in fact knew that about himself, then you probably will be moved and inspired by this book as I was. If you only want a 100% positive, reverential portrait of Michael as some sort of perfect, Messiah-like figure, then this probably isn't a book for you. I've read widely and deeply about Michael, in books, magazines and on the Internet, and "The Michael Jackson Tapes" is one of the best. (See also my review on "Conspiracy" by Aphrodite Jones, about the trial.)
In my opinion, the attacks on Rabbit Boteach here are unfounded, and quite frankly, deplorable. At no point in this book, or in his interviews with the media, has he ever been less than authentic and respectful in sharing his experiences and recollections of his time with Michael. Expressing frustration with the way Michael behaved at times -- behavior which ultimately led to his tragic early death -- is the mark of a friend: someone who loved Michael, got to know him personally, invited him into the bosom of his family, tried his hardest to help him, and feels a deep personal sense of loss (rightly or wrongly) for having failed in that effort. If Boteach has one failing, it's that he felt he could have, and should have, "saved" Michael. The rabbi, from what I could tell, had no training in working with people with addictions, who are notoriously difficult to reach.
Michael Dies... Boteach Cashes In... What Else Is New? Submitted on: 2009-11-21
Please don't line the pockets of these exploitive money-grubbers. If anyone is interested in the truth about Michael Jackson, please take the time to decipher the exploitive books from the truthful ones. Including Amazon's reviews, a good place to start is the official Michael Jackson Fan Club site. On the home page under the category "History" you will see "Books By MJ" and "Books About MJ". This link might bring you directly to the page:
[...]
Shmuley Boteach's latest book, "The Michael Jackson Tapes", belongs in the sewer. Boteach used to be considered a friend to Michael until he stole money from Michael's charity, "Heal the Kids". Here's a link that describes in some detail Boteach's character and this incident:
[...]
This is another article regarding Boteach's theft and character:
In May 23, 2001, Fox News revealed the truth about Boteach's charity organization which he supposedly started with Michael Jackson.
To this day there has no been no accounting for the money raised for their Time for Kids/Heal the World Foundation. Indeed, the event they held on Feb. 14, 2001, at Carnegie Hall -- a symposium on children -- has never turned up in tax returns. When the accounting for the event finally came in on a Form 990, it showed a total of $203,185 collected from direct public support. At the same time, the charity's expenses totaled $259,432. All but $20,000 of that was spent on staff salaries and office expenses. No money went to children of any kind.
London newspapers reported that Boteach was ousted from the L'Chaim Society of Oxford University for mismanagement of funds. (He allegedly used money from the charity to maintain a lavish home. Boteach insisted it was his right to do so.) He was also reportedly banned from having a pulpit in the U.K., although he has denied this. (end)
Michael, of course, ended their friendship after this incident (which was about 8 years ago). Before it ended, though, Michael and Boteach were working on a book regarding the Children's Initiative, which was tied into the charity. This is the book that Michael most likely and "enthusiastically" consented to. Now, 8 years after their friendship ended, and conveniently after Michael's death, Boteach suddenly appears with a book and tapes claiming that Michael enthusiastically consented to it. You don't have to buy the book to know that this rabbi slanders Michael throughout its pages. This fact is plastered all over the internet. So, why would Michael consent to such a book that demeans his own name? The answer is simple... he didn't. Boteach violated Michael by exposing private conversations in which, if you heard any of these recordings, were clearly not pertaining to the Children's Initiative. Michael speaks of Madonna and other celebrities and says he would never say these things publicly... does Boteach believe we are not picking up on those details in the recordings? And why was he recording Michael in the first place? I'll answer my own question... because he's a snake!
Here is a letter from another Rabbi regarding Boteach's exploitation of Michael:
Michael Jackson's 'rabbi'
As a rabbi of over 30 years experience, I was both appalled and disappointed in the story by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach concerning his friendship with and impressions of Michael Jackson. In so many ways, Rabbi Boteach crossed over the line of propriety and professional ethics.
Rabbis along with other clergy, along with the practitioners of all the helping professions, are bound by definite rules of confidentiality. It is precisely this rule which enables us to assist people who depend upon us to preserve the sacred bond of trust. What we discuss or experience with people who seek our assistance are meant to be kept absolutely private.
There are no exceptions. In fact, physicians and lawyers who violate this trust lose their licenses to practice should their breach of confidence be discovered. Even when those that we have counseled or befriended are no longer living, the same rule applies.
It is only because of this assurance of total confidence that people feel they can be open with us. All of us in these professions also understand that there is no real difference between professional and personal connections. The things we learn or observe in our personal relations are just as sacrosanct.
I have had numerous experiences with well known people but I have never spoken and certainly would never write about these experiences for two reasons. First, it would violate the trust of these individuals who believed they could be open and candid with me. Second, it would severely curtail my ability to be of help to others since they would feel that I was not trustworthy.
When Rabbi Boteach spoke publicly and also wrote about his experiences with Michael Jackson, he did serious harm to all rabbis and other clergy as well. No doubt Rabbi Boteach felt he was advancing his own career and public profile as the "rabbi to the stars."
Perhaps he has, but at the expense of his own trustworthiness and also that of other rabbis. I also must wonder what kind of friend he really was for him now to exploit Mr. Jackson's tragic death with grandstanding.
Rabbi Boteach should have given more thought to the serious damage he was doing. As he must know, he also violated several of the sacred principles of our Jewish religion which specifically prohibit tale-bearing (even when the tales may be true), gossip, and "lashon ha-ra" (meaning evil speech).
Rabbi Michael Sternfield, Chicago Sinai Congregation (end)
I included all this info on Boteach so that people are aware of his character. I hope you all decide NOT to financially support this disgrace of a man, who has the gall to call himself a Rabbi... the "Rabid Rabbi" is more fitting.
Mixed Feelings Submitted on: 2009-11-20
I have mixed feelings about this book. While it's certainly interesting and hard to put down, I'm really uncomfortable with the strong possibility that these were private conversations between Michael and the author and not meant to be released. Many of the "interviews" appear to be COUNSELING SESSIONS. That bothers me. On top of that, Boteach is annoying with his holier-than-thou commentary and, quite frequently, his comments are so off-the-mark that it's evident he just doesn't "get" what Michael was saying. So will you learn anything from this book? Yes, you will learn more about Michael as a person, there's no doubt about that. Just be aware that you might feel like a peeping tom afterward.
Thought Provoking
Please be fair.
Mixed Feelings