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Public Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley and Rick Sanchez regarding his firing from CNN after ...

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01/17/11
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion

Public Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley and Rick Sanchez regarding his firing from CNN after comments made that were seen as offensive to the Jewish Community… The discussion takes place at the Carlebach Shul In NYC…

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Raising Spiritual Children

Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley, rev. Charles Gilmore, and Felicia Stoler at West Side Presbyterian Church in Englewood, NJ.

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Larchmony NY Female Depression and its Cure
Larchmony NY Female Depression and its Cure

Lecture in Larchmont NY

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Rabbi Shmuley warns MJ’s life in “Serious Decline” - CNN 2004

The Orthodox rabbi who was once one of Michael
Jackson’s closest spiritual advisers told CNN Thursday that he worries
the pop star’s life is rapidly deteriorating and could be “cut short” 
like Elvis Presley or Janis Joplin.

Interviewed by CNN’s “American Morning” a day after a California grand
jury indicted Jackson, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said, “Michael’s life is
in serious decline even without this indictment. He has not sort of
gotten that there has to be major changes.” (Jackson indicted)

Boteach said he does not believe Jackson is guilty of child
molestation charges the district attorney filed last year. (Background)

In January, the singer pleaded not guilty to seven counts of child
molestation charges. (Full story)

“My criticism of Michael is his self-absorption—the whole celebrity
thing where he needs to feel like he’s worshipped,” Boteach said
Thursday.

Boteach has not spoken to Jackson since 2001, and he has come under
heavy criticism from Jackson supporters for some of his public
comments. Jackson’s spokespeople and family members have repeatedly
condemned those who are no longer in touch with the pop star but still
discuss him in the media.

Jackson’s family has also denied suggestions that the pop star’s life
is unhealthy, insisting he is doing very well, particularly for
someone who faces his unique pressures.

Boteach said he and Jackson were “extremely close,” but he couldn’t
“stand by and watch someone I care about so deteriorate. My influence
was totally negated. ... if he’s not going to seek counsel and really
make changes, he will discredit anyone who’s in his circle. And I
couldn’t let that happen.”

“My great fear, and why I felt I had to be distanced from Michael ... 
was that he would not live long. My fear was that Michael’s life would
be cut short,” he said. “When you have no ingredients of a healthy
life, when you are totally detached from that which is normal, and
when you are a super-celebrity you, God forbid, end up like Janis
Joplin like Elvis… Michael is headed in that direction.”

Jackson has good legal counsel, but others in his inner circle are
giving him “terrible” guidance, Boteach said. “Why didn’t someone say
to him… ‘What are you doing outside a courtroom egging on your fans
as if you have contempt for the whole legal process? What are you
doing going on TV, on ‘60 Minutes,’ defending sharing a bed with
children?’

“Michael’s gotten rid of anyone who has given him sound advice because
he hates being challenged. He buys his own PR that he is the king of
pop and therefore he’s immune to criticism. But you know, when you are
immune to criticism you cannot shape your life. You can’t remold it
once it’s begun to deteriorate.”

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