Madonna Toasts New Year With Israeli Prez

Singer flip-flops between Christianity, Kabbalah, Hinduism...

(NEWSER) - Britney Spears was raised a Baptist, but her latest accessory—a Star of David necklace—led the New York Daily News to take a look back at the religions she’s tried out:

• In 2003, it looked as though she would be one of Madonna’s Kabbalah converts, and she started sporting a red string bracelet believed to ward off the “evil eye.”

Facebook page asks government to hold off until after concert

(NEWSER) - Madonna is coming to Israel, and her hardcore fans there are begging the government to please hold off on a potential war with Iran, just at least until after Madonna's concert. The Israeli Madonna nuts are spreading the word through a Facebook group called "Bibi don't star a war with Iran until after Madonna's show on May 29," reports the New York Daily News . (Bibi, of course, is Benjamin Netanyahu's nickname.) If President Obama's recent comments are a guide, the show should be safe. More»

Drew Barrymore, converting to Judaism, is the latest

(NEWSER) - Drew Barrymore is getting married , but first she's—reportedly—converting to Judaism, the religion fiance Will Kopelman practices. She follows the tradition of these seven other celebrity spouses (or not-quite-spouses) who did the same thing, notes The Frisky :

• Isla Fisher: Converted to Judaism for Sacha Baron Cohen.
• Jesus Luz: Started following Kabbalah for Madonna.

Ex-CFO aims to 'bring down' operation

(NEWSER) - The Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles is taking center stage as details emerge on a federal probe involving two of Madonna’s charities . The IRS is investigating whether the family in charge of the organization used its nonprofit dollars for personal gain, sources tell the Los Angeles Times . The Berg family, the Centre, and the singer’s Raising Malawi charity all face a grand jury probe. More»

Another nonprofit investigated as the Daily Beast takes a closer look

(NEWSER) - Not a good couple of weeks for Madonna: After a scandal late last month involving her Raising Malawi charity, another one of the Material Girl's nonprofits is under fire. The FBI is looking into "irregularities and suspicious activity" involving Success for Kids, an educational charity, the Daily reports. The organization has raised $33 million in contributions since 2001, and claims to have helped 60,000 kids in seven countries. Raising Malawi split from Success for Kids in 2008. More»