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26 MAY 2003
Madonna has splashed out £3.5 million on an opulent new home in London, but this time the purchase is not for her and her family. Because the iconic singer has bought the Grade II listed building to house a centre for Kabbalah – the esoteric form of Judaism of which she is a follower.
She and husband Guy Ritchie visited the building in London's Stratford Place four times before deciding to go ahead with the purchase. It will be the Kabbalah Centre's second base in London, as it already has offices in Grosvenor Street.
Madonna has become Kabbalah's most famous proponent since crediting it with helping her make the album Ray of Light. "I think Kabbalah is very punk rock," she said. "It teaches you that you are responsible for everything. We don't realise there is a bigger system at work. Everything that comes to you is for a reason – and I think that's pretty revolutionary."
And Madge is not the only famous figure to espouse the discipline's mystic teachings. Other celebrity followers include Liz Taylor, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Demi Moore and Mick Jagger. Kabbalah offers a modern interpretation of Judaism's ancient texts, and devotees say its scriptures hold the key to happiness and fulfilment.
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