Shmuley Boteach: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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'''Jacob Shmuel Boteach'''<ref name=":5"/> (born November 19, 1966)<ref>https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/boteach-shmuley-1966-pseudonym-shmuel-boteach</ref>, known as '''Shmuley Boteach''', is an American [[rabbi]], author, and media host.

He is the author of 31 books, including the best-seller ''Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy'' (1999) and ''[[Kosher Jesus]]'' (2012).<ref name="auto8">{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/the-morning-show/rabbi-shmuley-explains-how-couples-can-reignite-their-sexual-chemistry-during-coronavirus-lockdown-c-986318|title=Rabbi Shmuley explains how couples can reignite their sexual chemistry during coronavirus lockdown|first1=Rodney|last1=Pratt|first2=Jenny|last2=Ky|date=April 20, 2020|website=7NEWS.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://shmuley.com/sample-page-2/|title=Rabbi Shmuley - About|publisher=www.shmuley.com|access-date=September 4, 2015|archive-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416234926/https://shmuley.com/sample-page-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="koshersex">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bNsaAAAAYAAJ |title=Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy |last=Boteach |first=Shmuley|year=1999 |publisher=Doubleday |location=New York |isbn= 0-385-49465-3}}</ref>

He hosted two seasons of the reality television series ''[[Shalom in the Home]]'' on [[TLC (TV network)|TLC]].<ref name="auto42">{{Cite web |author=Sherri Day |date=February 13, 2007 |title=Reality TV gets religion |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/07/23/reality-tv-gets-religion/ |website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref>

''[[Newsweek]]'' named him one of the 10 most influential rabbis in the United States, and ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' named him one of the 50fifty most influential ~~Jews~~rabbis in the world.<ref name="2010 top rabbis">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/06/28/the-50-most-influential-rabbis-in-america.html|title=The 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America|last=Lynton|first=Michael|date=June 28, 2010|work=Newsweek|access-date=March 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=http://ajn.timesofisrael.com/boteach-yom-haatzmaut/|title=Boteach at Yom Ha'atzmaut|first=Peter|last=Kohn|website=Australian Jewish News|date=April 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2009/04/03/50-influential-rabbis.html |title=50 Influential Rabbis |author-link=Michael Lynton |last1=Lynton |first1=Michael |author-link2=Gary Ginsberg |last2=Ginsberg |first2=Gary |last3= Sanderson |first3=Jay |date=April 4, 2009 |work=Newsweek |access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref>

==Early and personal life==

Boteach was born in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], the youngest of five children;.<ref name="auto" /> heHe also spent part of his early years in [[Miami|Miami, Florida]].<ref name="auto30"/><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |author=Roxanne Roberts; ''The Washington Post'' |date=June 7, 1999 |title=Orthodox Rabbi has Unorthodox Approach to Sex; Shmuley Boteach, the Author of "Kosher Sex" is Dr. Ruth with a Yarmulke. |url=https://greensboro.com/orthodox-rabbi-has-unorthodox-approach-to-sex-shmuley-boteach-the-author-of-kosher-sex-is/article_42fd10e9-b808-51e9-a224-b0d3b0367acd.html |website=Greensboro News & Record}}</ref><ref name="slate2001" /> His father {{Text|Yoav Botach}} (1932–2020) was an [[Persian Jews|Iranian Jew]] who left [[Isfahan]] with his family of 13 to settle in [[Israel]].<ref>Rabbi Shmuley (May 24, 2020). [https://twitter.com/rabbishmuley/status/1264480088814489603?lang=en "My father Yoav Ben Eshrat Botach passed away tonight ..."], Twitter.</ref><ref name="auto32">{{Cite web |last=Boteach |first=Shmuley |date=June 1, 2020 |title=A prayer for my late father: Eulogy for Yoav Botach |url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/a-prayer-for-my-late-father-eulogy-for-yoav-botach-629967 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> His mother Eleanor (1942–2023) was an [[American ~~Jews|American~~Ashkenazi Jew]] who met his father in [[Beersheba|Beersheba, Israel]], where she was visiting as a tourist. Shortly after their marriage, the couple relocated with their children to [[New York City|New York]] and then to Los Angeles. Boteach's parents divorced when he was eight years old; on his [[Bar and bat mitzvah|bar mitzvah]], he told his parents ~~that~~ he wanted them to reunite.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/>

In 1977, he joined the [[Miami Boys Choir]] (then known as the Miami Choir Boys). His most notable solo was in the hit song 'Boruch Hashem' in 1979.

Boteach attended a [[Chabad|Chabad-Lubavitch]] ~~(Lubavitch)~~ camp, and fell in love with Judaism.<ref name="auto" /> The [[Lubavitcher Rebbe]] became his patron, and at age 13, Boteach joined the Chabad movement (a [[Hasidic]] philosophy that traces back 250 years to [[Lyubavichi, Rudnyansky District, Smolensk Oblast|Lubavitch, Russia]]).<ref name="auto22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/6/21/20503688/popular-author-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-seeks-to-become-first-rabbi-in-congress|title=Popular author Rabbi Shmuley Boteach seeks to become first rabbi in Congress|first=Matthew|last=Brown|date=June 21, 2012|website=Deseret News}}</ref><ref name="auto" /> At age 14, he decided he wanted to become a [[rabbi]], to help heartbroken people.<ref name="auto2" /> He studied at [[Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy]]<ref>Rabbi Shmuley (May 1, 2017). [https://twitter.com/RabbiShmuley/status/859187066562859008 "#IsraelIndependenceDay celebrations at my alma mater The Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach,"] Twitter.</ref> and at a series of [[yeshiva]]s in Los Angeles, New York, and Jerusalem (for three years at Torat Emet Yeshiva).<ref name="auto30">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wpFxDwAAQBAJ&q=%22+Encyclopedia+of+Jewish+American+Popular+Culture%22+%22boteach%22&pg=PA31|title=Encyclopedia of Jewish American Popular Culture|first=Jack R.|last=Fischel|date= 2008|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0313087349}}</ref>

Boteach was ultimately chosen ~~to be~~as one of ten Chabad students sent to [[Sydney, Australia]], to start a yeshiva.<ref name="auto"/> In Sydney, he met the parents of his future wife, Debbie.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/> Boteach met her when he was 21 years old, and they married in Sydney in 1988.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/judaism/could-the-bibles-prohibition-on-eating-bats-have-prevented-coronavirus-625901|title=Could the Bible's prohibition on eating bats have prevented coronavirus?|website=The Jerusalem Post|first=Shmuley|last=Boteach|date= April 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ff0ya61LZiYC&q=boteach+married+1988+debbie&pg=PA181|title=The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation|first=Rabbi Schmuel|last=Boteach|date= 2010|publisher=ReadHowYouWant.com|isbn=9781458780614}}</ref> He then returned to New York, and took ''[[semicha]]'' (rabbinical ordination) in 1988.<ref name="auto22"/><ref name="auto"/>

By 2019, Boteach and his Australian wife Debbie had nine children; six of them were born in England.<ref name="auto"/><ref>Naomi Firsht (January 4, 2016). [https://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/features/it-s-very-hard-to-be-a-proud-jew-here-1.56759 "It's very hard to be a proud Jew here,"] ''The Jewish Chronicle''.</ref> They resided in [[Englewood, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/campaign-2012/candidates/shmuel-shmuley-boteach-62052/|title=Shmuley Boteach; Candidacy|work=The Washington Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011042/http://www.washingtontimes.com/campaign-2012/candidates/shmuel-shmuley-boteach-62052/|archive-date=May 13, 2014}}</ref>

==Rabbinical career==

In 1988, Boteach was sent at age 22 by Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Schneerson]], as a [[Chabad|Chabad-Lubavitch]] ''[[Shaliach (Chabad)|shaliach]]'' (emissary), to [[Oxford]], England, where he served as rabbi to [[Oxford University]]'s students for 11 years.<ref name=slate2001>{{cite news|title=Who is Shumuley Boteach?; He's the Jewish missionary in the A-list position.|url=http://www.slate.com/id/103323 |last=Soskis |first=Benjamin |work=Slate |date=March 29, 2001 |access-date=February 13, 2015}}</ref> During that time, he founded the [[Oxford University L'Chaim Society]] (in Hebrew, ''[[Haim#L'Chaim toast|L'Chaim]]'' means "To Life").<ref name="auto7">{{Cite web|url=https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/23/a-rabbi-a-mormon-and-a-black-christian-mayor-walk-into-a-room/|work=CNN|title=A rabbi, a Mormon and a black Christian mayor walk into a room...|first=Jessica|last=Ravitz|date=June 23, 2012|access-date=February 3, 2021|archive-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124224418/https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/23/a-rabbi-a-mormon-and-a-black-christian-mayor-walk-into-a-room/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=shmuley>{{cite web|title=Rabbi Shmuley: America's Rabbi|url=http://shmuley.com/sample-page-2/|publisher=Rabbi Shmuley official website|access-date=February 3, 2015|archive-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416234926/https://shmuley.com/sample-page-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The society grew to be the second-biggest student organization ever in Oxford, with a membership that included over 5,000 non-Jews.<ref name="auto"/><ref name=vice/> It attracted star speakers from politics, arts, and culture, including six [[Israeli prime minister]]s, the former Australian prime minister [[Bob Hawke]], the former Soviet Union leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], the theoretical physicist [[Stephen Hawking]], the singer [[Boy George]], the football player [[Diego Maradona]], and the actor [[Jon Voight]].<ref name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6636050.sex-book-rabbi-reveals-new-plan/|title=Sex book rabbi reveals new plan; Shmuley Boteach, the Oxford rabbi who struck literary gold with his book Kosher Sex, is moving back to the United States to continue his teachings.|website=Oxford Mail|date=May 15, 1999}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref name=vice>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/read/a-conversation-with-the-worlds-most-controversial-jew-182|title=A Conversation with the 'World's Most Controversial Jew'|last=Rippingale|first=James|date=December 2, 2014|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|access-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name=slate2001/>

The society's members included [[Cory Booker]], [[Maurizio Giuliano]], [[Michael T. Benson|Michael Benson]], and [[Eric Garcetti]]<ref name="auto7"/><ref name="auto"/><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Kevin|title=Cory Booker and the Orthodox rabbi were like brothers. Now they don't speak.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/31/cory-booker-orthodox-rabbi-were-like-brothers-now-they-dont-speak/|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=2021-01-01|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-fg-israel-garcetti-20190517-story.html|title=Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in Jerusalem: 'I support the embassy being here'|date=May 17, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|first= Noga |last= Tarnopolsky }}</ref> Some [[Orthodox Jewish|Orthodox]] patrons became concerned about the percentage of non-Jewish members, and after Schneerson died in 1994, Chabad UK leadership asked Boteach to remove non-Jewish students from the society; others wanted Boteach to exclude gay students.<ref name=godly/><ref name="auto"/> Boteach refused on both counts, saying the Rebbe had loved non-Jews and regularly reached out to them; Boteach then changed the L'Chaim Society from a student society into an independent organization.<ref name=godly/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/cover_story/page2/shmuley_boteachs_18-hour_day_20100615/ |title=Shmuley Boteach's 18-Hour Day |last=Berrin |first=Danielle |date=June 15, 2010 |work=Jewish Journal |access-date=March 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719222840/http://www.jewishjournal.com/cover_story/page2/shmuley_boteachs_18-hour_day_20100615/ |archive-date=July 19, 2013 }}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Later in 1994, after Boteach refused to cancel a speaking event featuring Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]], he and Chabad split over the issue.<ref name="auto30"/> Lubavitch leadership objected to the ~~Prime~~prime ~~Minister~~minister speaking, because Schneerson before he died had opposed Rabin's [[Oslo I Accord|peace deal proposal]].<ref name=godly/> After Boteach defied the suspension order, he was summoned to attend a [[beth din]] hearing at the [[770 Eastern Parkway|Lubavitch World Headquarters]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-10-23|title=Oxford rabbi suspended|first1=Jim|last1=White|first2=Keren|last2=David|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/oxford-rabbi-suspended-1442975.html|access-date=2020-12-31|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref name=slate2001/> Boteach later confirmed that he was involuntarily terminated by Chabad—but said he still loved Chabad, and was raising his children in the Chabad tradition.<ref name=godly>{{Cite web|last=Boteach|first=Shmuley|date=August 3, 2009|title=No holds barred: Godly is as godly does|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/columnists/no-holds-barred-godly-is-as-godly-does|access-date=2021-01-05|website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Popper|first=Nathaniel|date=August 4, 2009|title=Boteach Unloads on Chabad|url=https://forward.com/life/111388/boteach-unloads-on-chabad/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=The Forward|language=en-US}}</ref>

Excerpts from his best -seller ''Kosher Sex'' were serialized in ''[[Playboy]]'' in 1998.<ref>[https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/shmuley-boteach.html "Books by Shmuley Boteach and Complete Book Reviews,"] ''Publishers Weekly''.</ref><ref name="auto30"/> Boteach at the time was the leader of [[Shabbat]] services at an Orthodox [[Willesden]] synagogue in north London, where attendance had more than doubled after his arrival.<ref name="auto28"/><ref name=":2" /><ref name=pop/> He resigned from his role at the synagogue.<ref name="auto28">{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/old_stories/1531/|title=Judaism Between the Sheets|date=March 18, 1999|first=Diane|last=Arieff|website=Jewish Journal}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=pop>{{Cite news|date=March 6, 2001|title=The rabbi, the psychic and the pop star|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1205442.stm|access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref> While he had received the support of [[List of Chief Rabbis of the United Kingdom|England's Chief Rabbi]], whose office issued a statement saying Boteach was an "imaginative talent... prepared to take risks in order to communicate an authentic Jewish message to a new generation," Boteach wanted to "spare Chief Rabbi [[Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks|Jonathan Sacks]] problems with his rabbinate and the London Beit Din" according to media reports.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name=":2" /><ref name="auto28"/>

In 1999, the British government's [[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]] raised concerns over payments made by the L'Chaim Society.<ref name="Foxnews20012">{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Friedman|author-link=Roger Friedman|date=May 23, 2001|title=Jacko's Rabbi Gets Meshugah on Court TV|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/jackos-rabbi-gets-meshugah-on-court-tv-plus-pearl-harbor-bombs-away|access-date=28 February 2011|work=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title= The curious story of the rabbi and the popstar|date=March 2, 2001|first=Hadley|last=Freeman|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/mar/02/voluntarysector.fashion|access-date=2020-12-17|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In September, the Charity Commission temporarily froze the Society's bank accounts as a "temporary and protective measure", citing concerns about "the application and control" of the charity's funds—however, the Charity Commission released the funds three months later, in December.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/03/18/jews-unable-to-ignore-the-sex-book-rabbi/|title=Jews unable to ignore the "Sex Book Rabbi'|website=Tampa Bay Times|first=Carrie|last=Stetler|date=September 26, 2005}}</ref><ref name="auto29">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/1999/09/08/default/kosher-sex-rabbis-organization-probed-by-british-charity-officials|title=Kosher Sex' rabbi's organization probed by British charity officials|date=September 8, 1999|publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=|date=September 7, 1999|title=No: 1476 Shmuel Boteach|url=http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/sep/07/features11.g23|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=September 5, 1999|title=Sex guru rabbi gets passed over|first= Mark |last= Honigsbaum |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/sep/05/theobserver.uknews1|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The Society had made payments on a north London home in which Boteach lived.<ref name="auto31">{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2012/04/run-rabbi-run-shmuley-boteach-goes-from-neverland-to-capital-hill/|title=Run, Rabbi, Run! Shmuley Boteach Goes From Neverland to Capitol Hill|work=Observer|first=Hunter|last=Walker|date=April 11, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Foxnews20012" /><ref name=":0" /> L'Chaim Society officials explained that the payments had been made only after the Society had consulted with and followed the legal advice of charity experts at a top London law firm.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="auto29"/> The rabbi said: "This is a [[Clergy housing allowance|totally normal process]] in the United States."<ref name=pop/> In the immediate wake of the announcement, he was banned from speaking at the [[New West End Synagogue]] by Chief Rabbi Sacks.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2014-07-23|title=Celebrity Rabbi, Heal Thyself: The Trials of Shmuley Boteach|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/shmuley-boteach|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Tablet Magazine|language=en}}</ref> The Charity Commission later found no evidence of wrongdoing, but determined that the mortgage payments were "difficult, if not impossible, to justify" under British law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/an-unorthodox-couple-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-and-michael-jackson-are-friends-with-a-misison-to-change-what-they-believe-to-be-america-s-harmful-attitudes-about-children-1.410389|title=An Unorthodox Couple / Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Michael Jackson are friends with a mission - to change what they believe to be America's harmful attitudes about children.|first=Bob|last=Keeler|date=February 12, 2001|website=Newsday|access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020183526/https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/an-unorthodox-couple-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-and-michael-jackson-are-friends-with-a-misison-to-change-what-they-believe-to-be-america-s-harmful-attitudes-about-children-1.410389|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":2"/><ref name="Channel">{{Cite web|first=Josh|last=Nathan-Kazis|title=Mulling Run for Congress, Boteach May Face Questions About His Charity|url=https://forward.com/news/151832/mulling-run-for-congress-boteach-may-face-question/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=The Forward|language=en-US|date=February 23, 2012}}</ref> Boteach reportedly repaid the £150,000 to the trustees, and the issue was resolved with Boteach being cleared.<ref name="Channel" /><ref name=":2"/><ref name="auto31"/>

In 2000, Boteach won the "Preacher of the Year" Award, out of all faiths in Britain, from ''[[The Times]]'' in London.<ref name="auto6">{{Cite web|first=Cole|last=Moreton|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/shmuley-boteach-sex-sainsbury-s-celebrity-and-anti-semitism-9908455.html|title=Shmuley Boteach: Sex, Sainsbury's, celebrity... and anti-Semitism|date=December 6, 2014|website=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="slate2001" /><ref>[[Morton Weinfeld|Weinfeld, Morton]] (2003). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=oZPmjch1je8C Continuity, Commitment, and Survival: Jewish Communities in the Diaspora]'', Greenwood Publishing Group, 2p. 64</ref> ''[[The Jewish Chronicle]]'' described him as "the United Kingdom's most high-profile rabbi".<ref name="auto5"/> Boteach was listed in the top 10 on ''[[Newsweek]]''{{'}}s "Top 50 Rabbis in America" in 2007 (when it described him as "the most famous rabbi in America"), ninth in 2008, seventh in 2009, and sixth in 2010.<ref name="auto30"/><ref name="top 50 rabbis">{{cite news |last1=Lynton |first1=Michael |author-link=Michael Lynton |last2=Ginsberg |first2=Gary |author-link2=Gary Ginsberg |last3=Sanderson |first3=Jay |date=April 4, 2009 |title=50 Influential Rabbis |work=Newsweek |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2009/04/03/50-influential-rabbis.html |access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref><ref name="2010 top rabbis"/> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' referred to him as "the most famous rabbi in America," and ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' named him one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world.<ref name="auto3"/><ref name="auto6"/>

In 2013, Boteach was the [[commencement speaker]] for [[Southern Utah University]], which granted him an honorary [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2013/4/12/20517885/rabbi-schmuley-selected-as-suu-commencement-speaker|title=Rabbi Schmuley selected as SUU commencement speaker|date=April 12, 2013|website=Deseret News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.suu.edu/news/2013/04/114th-commencement-to-celebrate-class-of-2013.html|title=114th Commencement to Celebrate Class of 2013|website=SUU}}</ref>

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==Media career==

In 2006 and 2007, Boteach hosted the one-hour [[prime time|prime-time]] television series ''[[Shalom in the Home]]''.<ref name=":2"/><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/09/16/161239178/rabbi-shmuley-wants-to-bring-shalom-to-the-house|title=Rabbi Shmuley Wants To Bring Shalom To The House|website=NPR|date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> The series, which ran for two seasons on the [[TLC (TV channel)|TLC]] network, was a [[reality show]] in which Boteach counseled dysfunctional families and gave advice to struggling couples about their relationships and parenting.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/rabbi-shmuley-boteach-name-dropped-on-snl-659046|title=Rabbi Shmuley Boteach name-dropped on SNL|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=February 15, 2021|first=Gadi |last=Zaig }}</ref> ''Shalom in the Home'' attracted almost 700,000 viewers per episode, and was one of the cable network's highest-rated shows.<ref name="auto4a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/07/23/reality-tv-gets-religion/|title=Reality TV gets religion|first=Sherri|last=Day|website=Tampa Bay Times|date=February 13, 2007}}</ref> In 2007 he wrote a book with the same name, based on the TV series.<ref name="auto30"/> That year, The [[National Fatherhood Initiative]] gave him its highest award for his efforts in the television series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/23/why-is-shmuley-boteach-running-for-congress-as-a-republican.html|title=Why Is Shmuley Boteach Running for Congress as a Republican?|first=Michelle|last=Goldberg|date= March 23, 2012|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref> After the series ended, Boteach remained in contact with the families, counseling them, and having them over to his home.<ref name=":2"/> In 2022, the ''[[Jewish Journal]]'' named Boteach one of "The Top 10 Jewish Reality TV Stars of All Time."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/television/354530/the-top-10-jewish-reality-tv-stars-of-all-time/|title=The Top 10 Jewish Reality TV Stars of All Time|first1=Alan|last1=Zeitlin|date=December 23, 2022|website=Jewish Journal}}</ref>

In 2014, Boteach was featured in an episode of the [[Sundance TV|Sundance Channel]]'s ''[[Dream School]]'' reality television series.<ref name="sundance.tv">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundance.tv/series/dream-school/cast/rabbi-shmuley-boteach|title=Rabbi Shmuley Boteach|website=Sundancetv}}</ref> It was a non-fiction original series, which introduced troubled teen high school dropouts to mentors, in order to inspire the teenagers to turn their lives around.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/sundance-tv-picks-up-season-2-of-dream-school-733028/|title=Sundance TV Picks Up Season 2 Of 'Dream School'|date=May 19, 2014|work= Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-xpm-2014-05-19-chi-tca-variety-dream-school-season-2-20140519-story.html|title=50 Cent, Johnny Weir, Gloria Allred among 'Dream School' Season 2 instructors|first=Laura|last=Prudom|website=The Chicago Tribune|date=May 19, 2014}}</ref>

On television, he has also made guest appearances on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]],'' ''[[The Dr. Phil Show]]'', ''[[Larry King Live]]'', ''[[Dateline NBC]]'', ''[[The Today Show]]'', ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]'', ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'', ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'', ''[[The Dr. Oz Show]]'', and ''[[Piers Morgan Uncensored]]''.<ref name="auto30"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2000/03/02/rabbi_2/|title=The love rabbi|first= Sarah|last= Blustain|date=March 2, 2000 |website=Salon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/09/29/shabbat-shalom-michael-jackson|title=Michael Jackson's Rabbi|first=Nicole|last=LaPorte|date=September 29, 2009|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rabbi-and-pop-culture-star-shmuley-boteach-adds-political-candidate-to-resume/2012/10/31/8d6ef540-2303-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html|title=Rabbi and pop-culture star Shmuley Boteach adds political candidate to résumé|first=Michelle|last=Boorstein|date=October 31, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV9ptC_VE-E|title= YouTube|website=DrPhilShow}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/08/rabbi_shmuley_boteach_is_banking_on_sheldon_adelson_s_super_pac_to_help_him_become_a_new_jersey_congressman_.html|title=The Kosher Candidate; Rabbi Shmuley Boteach writes sex therapy books and advised Michael Jackson on spirituality. Now will he represent New Jersey? |first=David|last=Weigel|date= August 21, 2012|work=Slate}}</ref>

On radio, Boteach hosted a weekly nationally [[syndicated radio program]] on [[WABC (AM)|WABC]] called ''The Shmuley Show''. It aired on Sunday evenings from 7-9 p.m.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/connecticut/westport/ev--kosher-love-shmuley-boteach|title=Kosher Love - Shmuley Boteach|date=March 29, 2011|website=Westport, CT Patch}}</ref><ref name="autozdw"/> He was also host of his own daily [[talk radio]] show on the "[[Oprah and Friends]]" network on her [[XM radio]] channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/05/08/o.moms.cant.say.no/index.html|title=Mom's gift to kids: 'No!'|website=CNN|date=May 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oprah-facing-heat-over-gi_n_82430|title=Oprah Facing Heat Over Giving Rudy-Supporting Rabbi Radio Show|date=March 28, 2008|website=HuffPost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishaz.com/rabbi-shmuley-explains-away-fear/article_1cad3d2d-d794-5c61-865d-2f76cc2e939b.html|title=Rabbi Shmuley explains away fear|author=Deborah Sussman Susser|website=Jewish News|date=October 9, 2004}}</ref><ref name="auto22"/><ref name="autozdw">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/71375/wabc-adds-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-for-weekend-show|title=WABC Adds Rabbi Shmuley Boteach For Weekend Show|date=February 25, 2010|website=All Access}}</ref>

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===Conflict with Candace Owens===

In March 2024 Boteach engaged in a public feud with the conservative commentator [[Candace Owens]] over her alleged antisemitic remarks and her support for Palestinians in the [[Israel-Hamas war]]. In response to Owens's remarks, Boteach dressed up as a "Candace Owens Jew", invoking antisemitic stereotypes like [[blood libel]] and a [[Jewish nose|hooknose]] for the Jewish holiday of [[Purim]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/rabbi-shmuley-candace-owens-jew-purim-costume/ |title=Rabbi Shmuley Dresses as 'Candace Owens Jew' for Purim |first=Stephanie |last=Kaloi |date=March 24, 2024|website=The Wrap |accessdate=April 2, 2024}}</ref>

==Relationship with Michael Jackson==

In the late 1990s, Boteach became a friend, close confidant, and ~~unofficial~~ spiritual advisor toof the singer [[Michael Jackson]].<ref name=not/><ref name=slate2001/><ref name="auto34">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-us-michael-jackson-tapes-092509-2009sep25-story.html|title='Michael Jackson Tapes' details star's obsessions|date=September 25, 2009|first=Victor|last=Epstein|website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref> Jackson and his children joined the Boteach family at their home on many Friday nights for [[Shabbat|Sabbath]] dinner, and Jackson gave the family a dog as a present.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32987303|title=Children 'saved me,' Michael Jackson said|website=NBC News|date=September 25, 2009|first= Meredith|last= Vieira}}</ref> Boteach was a vocal supporter of Jackson and was initially "dismissive of suggestions that Jackson's relationships with children have been anything other than wholesome. "Why would anyone believe those charges? They said anyone who spends that amount of time with kids has to be sick. Well, that's not an indictment of Michael Jackson, that's an indictment of our society!"<ref name="Guardian values">{{cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |title=Family values |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/mar/02/voluntarysector.fashion |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=March 1, 2001 |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> He said further: "I was friendly with Michael for a year before anyone knew about it. I did my own investigation. He never had sex with the child he made the settlement with, and there are no others."<ref name="Foxnews20012"/>

Boteach served as president for the Heal the Kids offshoot (established by Boteach and Jackson in 2000) of the [[Heal the World Foundation]] charity founded by Jackson to encourage parents to spend more time with their children, and to help children threatened by war and disease by providing them with medicine and food.<ref name=":Combo3">• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180928102204/http://www.mtv.com/news/1439431/devotees-greet-michael-jackson-at-new-york-appearance/]• [http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/UK/03/06/michael.jackson.03/index.html]• [https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/an-unorthodox-couple-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-and-michael-jackson-are-friends-with-a-misison-to-change-what-they-believe-to-be-america-s-harmful-attitudes-about-children-1.410389] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020183526/https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/an-unorthodox-couple-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-and-michael-jackson-are-friends-with-a-misison-to-change-what-they-believe-to-be-america-s-harmful-attitudes-about-children-1.410389|date=October 20, 2021}}• [https://www.today.com/popculture/jacksons-foundation-now-virtually-defunct-wbna4601265] {{cite news |date=March 25, 2004 |title=Jackson's foundation now virtually defunct |url=~~http~~https://~~today~~www.~~msnbc.msn~~nbcnews.com/id/~~4601265/ns/today-entertainment/~~wbna4601265 |url-status=~~dead~~live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927185520/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/4601265/ns/today-entertainment/ |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2011 |publisher=MSNBC}}• {{cite web |last=Bullock |first=Penn |date=February 5, 2009 |title=Armed Again |url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/content/printVersion/711120/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320014940/http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/content/printVersion/711120/ |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2011 |newspaper=Broward Palm Beach NewTimes}}</ref> Jackson said: "Our goal is simple: to recreate the parent-child bond, renew its promise, and light the way forward for all the beautiful children who are destined one day to walk this earth."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/UK/03/06/michael.jackson.03/index.html|title= Tearful Jackson mourns lost youth |date= March 7, 2001|website=CNN}}</ref> Heal the Kids was linked to the L'Chaim Society.<ref name="auto30"/> ~~Gossip~~The blogger [[Roger Friedman]] claimed that donations to Heal the Kids were actually going to L’Chaim Society, and that [[Denise Eisenberg Rich|Denise Rich]] who donated $100,000 by check to the L'Chaim Society was unaware that the funds would go to Boteach's organization; Rich declined to comment.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Friedman|first=Roger|date=2015-03-25|title=Jacko's 'Ex-Rabbi': Did $100,000 Go to Charity?|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/jackos-ex-rabbi-did-100000-go-to-charity|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="auto31"/> Responding to the claims, Boteach accused Friedman, who was fired from Fox News in 2009, of holding a bias against Jackson, and having poor [[Journalism ethics and standards|journalism ethics]], saying: "Roger Friedman is the foremost Michael Jackson hater on planet earth. He was fired by Fox News for being an unscrupulous reporter."<ref name="auto31"/>

Boteach later disavowed his relationship with Jackson.<ref name="auto30"/> The two had a falling-out in 2002, after Jackson did not stick to the recovery programs they had worked out, which included his waking up at a reasonable hour and not being alone with children other than Jackson's own kids, and after Jackson's second arrest on charges of sexually abusing a child.<ref name=ene>{{cite news |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/114443/#ixzz1F7n3g1WJ |title=Report: Shmuley Boteach, Uri Geller on Michael Jackson's 'Enemy List' |date=September 18, 2009 |work=The Forward|access-date= March 15, 2011}}</ref><ref name="auto34"/> According to an article in the British [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] ''[[The Sun (UK)|The Sun]]'', Jackson ~~reportedly~~allegedly kept an "enemy list" after their relationship ended on which Boteach appeared, along with [[Uri Geller]] (who differed with Jackson about his drug habits), attorney [[Gloria Allred]], ~~[[Tommy~~district ~~Mottola]],~~attorney [[Thomas W. Sneddon Jr.|Tom Sneddon]], music executive [[Tommy Mottola]], and [[Janet Arvizo]] (the mother of a Jackson accuser).<ref name=ene/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5476786|title=Uri Geller, Shmuley Boteach are on Michael Jackson's 'list of enemies'|website=Haaretz|date=September 18, 2009}}</ref>{{rs|date=September 2024}}

After Jackson died of acute [[propofol]] intoxication in 2009, Boteach published ''The Michael Jackson Tapes''.<ref name=":2"/><ref name="jacksontapes">{{cite book |title=The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation |url=https://archive.org/details/michaeljacksonta00bote |url-access=registration |last= Boteach |first=Shmuley |year=2009 |publisher=Vanguard Press |location=New York |isbn= 978-1-59315-602-2}}</ref> The book was drawn from 30 hours of interviews Boteach had with Jackson that were taped with Jackson's approval, and that Jackson intended to be ~~for~~used in a book.<ref name="auto33">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna33027557|title=Michael Jackson: 'I am scared of my father'|website=NBC News|date=September 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/michael-jackson-wanted-to-meet-james-bulgers-killers-26568863.html|title=Michael Jackson wanted to meet James Bulger's killers|first=Murray|last=Wardrop|date=September 25, 2009|website=Independent.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/michael-jackson-thought-he-could-cure-hitler-20090928-g80s.html|title=Michael Jackson thought he could 'cure' Hitler|date=September 27, 2009|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>Natalie Finn (June 27, 2018). [https://www.eonline.com/news/946572/inside-joe-jackson-s-complicated-relationship-with-michael-and-janet-jackson-and-the-rest-of-the-music-dynasty-patriarch-s-huge-family "Inside Joe Jackson's Complicated Relationship With Michael and Janet Jackson and the Rest of the Music Dynasty Patriarch's Huge Family,"] ''E Online''.</ref> In the tapes, Jackson spoke of his childhood scars and demanding father, the price of fame, his friendships with [[Madonna]] and [[Brooke Shields]], married life, his relationship with children, his shyness, his fear of growing old, spirituality, and racism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/25/michael.jackson.tapes/index.html|title=Michael Jackson tapes reveal his soul, former adviser says|website=CNN|first=Alan |last=Duke |date=September 25, 2009}}</ref><ref name="auto33"/> Boteach wrote in the prologue: "This book is being published because it was Michael Jackson's desperate wish that it be so".<ref name="Tapes-Prologue">{{cite book |last1=Boteach |first1=Shmuley |url=http://www.michaeljacksontapes.com/prologue.php|date=2009 |title=The Michael Jackson Tapes |chapter=Prologue |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128175053/http://www.michaeljacksontapes.com/prologue.php |archive-date=2009-11-28 |access-date=2016-09-28 }}</ref> ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' wrote: "It's perhaps Michael's most lucid look at the man in the mirror," and ''[[The San Diego Tribune]]'' wrote: "''The Michael Jackson Tapes'' breaks little in the way of new ground but the book ... provides firsthand detail about the performer's excesses and obsessions."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2009/09/king-pop-revealed-michael-jackson-tapes|title=King of Pop Revealed in The Michael Jackson Tapes|first=John|last=Kennedy|date=September 26, 2009|website=Vibe}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="auto34"/> At the same time, the publication was criticized by [[Nathan Rabin]], writing for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', who opined that the book was the "worst kind of posthumous cash-in".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Michael Jackson Tapes by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach|date=December 15, 2009|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-michael-jackson-tapes-by-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-1798218779|access-date=2020-12-17|website=The A.V. Club|language=en-us}}</ref> Boteach published a second related book in 2010, entitled: ''Honoring the Child Spirit: Inspiration and Learning from Our Children, in conversation with Michael Jackson''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6kTnBAAAQBAJ|title=Honoring the Child Spirit: Inspiration and Learning from Our Children|first1=Shmuley|last1=Boteach|date= 2011|publisher=Vanguard Press|isbn=9781593156541}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/book-recounts-rabbis-talkswith-fallen-pop-icon-michael-jackson/|title=Book recounts rabbi's talks with fallen pop icon Michael Jackson|first=Justin|last=Jacobs|website=The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle|date=January 28, 2011}}</ref>

== The World Values Network and Zionist activism ==

Boteach is the founder and executive director of ''The World Values Network'' (also known as "This World: The Values Network"), a Jewish and Zionist [[non-profit organization]] that he established in 2007.<ref name=will>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-06|title=Billionaire Sheldon Adelson finally says he will support Trump|first=Max|last=Kutner|url=https://www.newsweek.com/sheldon-adelson-support-trump-israel-456643|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto26">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5065897,00.html|title=Jews must wake up, says rabbi who called Lorde a 'bigot'|date=January 3, 2018|first=Amir|last=Bogen|newspaper=Ynetnews}}</ref><ref name="auto25">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/lorde-bigot-chose-putins-russia-over-israel-rabbi-shmuley-769170|title=Lorde is a 'bigot' who 'chose Putin's Russia over Israel,' Rabbi Shmuley says|first=Stav|last=Ziv| date=January 3, 2018|website=Newsweek}}</ref> The mission of the organization is to "disseminate universal [[Jewish values]] in politics, culture, and media".<ref name="auto27">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2vJJDwAAQBAJ&q=%22boteach%22+%22World+Values+Network%22&pg=PA495|title=American Jewish Year Book 2017: The Annual Record of the North American Jewish Communities|first1=Arnold|last1=Dashefsky|first2=Ira M.|last2=Sheskin|date=2018|publisher=Springer|isbn=9783319706634}}</ref> The organization is founded on the belief that Judaism, with its emphasis on [[Tikkun olam#Improving the world|perfecting the world]] and celebrating life, can help America address some of its greatest challenges, such as high divorce rates, teenager alienation, depression, and increasing ignorance and materialism.<ref name="auto27"/>

The organization holds an annual ''Champions of Jewish Values International Awards'' gala. The gala has honored figures across the fields of politics, business, journalism and entertainment who have promoted Israel and [[Jewish values]].<ref name=":Combo">• *{{Cite web|url=https://pl.usembassy.gov/ambassador_award/|title=Ambassador Receives Award for Advancing Holocaust Memory|date=March 10, 2020|website=U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Poland}}• {{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2016/01/breaking-yoko-ono-iranian-prince-and-others-to-be-honored-for-promoting-peace/|title=Breaking: Yoko Ono, Iranian Prince and Others to Be Honored for Promoting Peace; Contributions to peace and "universal Jewish values" to be awarded by pro-Israel group|date=January 29, 2016|first=Parker|last=Richards|work=Observer}}• {{Cite web|url=https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/robert-f-smith-honored-at-world-values-networks-international-champions-of-jewish-values-awards-gala-2020/|title=Robert F. Smith Honored At World Values Network's International Champions Of Jewish Values Awards Gala 2020|work=Harlem World Magazine|date=March 5, 2020}}• {{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/black-history-month-we-must-renew-black-jewish-brotherhood-opinion-657469|title=Black History Month: We must renew black-Jewish brotherhood|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=February 1, 2021}}• {{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2015/12/sean-penn-trip-to-israel-a-victory-for-the-jewish-state/|title=Sean Penn Trip to Israel a Victory for the Jewish State; More celebrities need the courage to stand up against anti-Semitism and the bullying of BDS|date=December 2, 2015|work=Observer}}• {{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/caitlyn-jenner-receives-jewish-groups-champion-of-israel-award-at-ny-gala/|title=Caitlyn Jenner receives Jewish group's 'Champion of Israel' award at NY gala|first=Danielle|last=Ziri|website=Times of Israel|date=March 9, 2018}}• {{Cite web|date=January 29, 2016|title=Breaking: Yoko Ono, Iranian Prince and Others to Be Honored for Promoting Peace; Contributions to peace and "universal Jewish values" to be awarded by pro-Israel group|first=Parker|last=Richards|url=https://observer.com/2016/01/breaking-yoko-ono-iranian-prince-and-others-to-be-honored-for-promoting-peace/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Observer|language=en-US}}• {{Cite magazine|last=Weaver|first=Hilary|title=Sean Spicer Knows It's Never Too Early to Promote Your Book|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/03/sean-spicer-at-the-champions-of-jewish-values-international-awards-gala|date=March 9, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2021|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en-us}}• {{Cite web|url=http://jewishlinknj.com//community-news/bergen/13189-boteach-jewish-values-gala-draws-hundreds-of-community-leaders|title=Boteach Jewish Values Gala Draws Hundreds of Community Leaders|first=Tzvi Allen|last=Fishman|website=Jewish Link New Jersey|date=May 19, 2016 }}• {{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2014/02/rabbi-shmuley-a-jewish-group-honors-sean-penn/|title=Rabbi Shmuley: A Jewish Group Honors Sean Penn|date=February 28, 2014 |work=Observer}}</ref>

The organization collects donations<ref>{{Cite web|title=Donate – The World Values Network|url=https://worldvalues.us/donate/|access-date=2021-05-26|language=en-US}}</ref> and has funded newspaper advertisements about [[~~Antisemitism|anti-Semitism~~antisemitism]] and [[anti-Zionism]]. It has placed ads condemning celebrities that criticize Israel or support Palestinians including [[Lorde]],<ref name="auto24" /> [[Natalie Portman]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=McGreal|first=Chris|date=2018-06-08|title=Sheldon Adelson: the casino mogul driving Trump's Middle East policy|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/08/sheldon-adelson-trump-middle-east-policy|access-date=2021-01-06|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Dua Lipa]], [[Bella Hadid]] and [[Gigi Hadid]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-23 |title=Dua Lipa criticizes Shmuley Boteach's org for calling her antisemitic |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/dua-lipa-criticizes-shmuely-boteachs-org-for-calling-her-antisemitic-668904 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}</ref> Secretary of State [[John Kerry]]'s work towards the 2015 [[Iran nuclear deal framework|Iran nuclear deal]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Siegman|first=Henry|date=2015-11-24|title=Violence, Moral Equivalence, and the End of a Two-State Solution in Israel-Palestine|work=The Nation|language=en-US|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/violence-moral-equivalence-and-the-end-of-a-two-state-solution-in-israel-palestine/|access-date=2021-01-02|issn=0027-8378}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 28, 2015|title=Boteach Fundraising for NYT Ad Against Kerry|url=https://jewishinsider.com/2015/10/boteach-fundraising-for-nyt-ad-against-kerry/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Jewish Insider}}</ref> Congresswoman [[Rashida Tlaib]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boteach's NYT ad skewered on Twitter for attacking Rashida Tlaib|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/boteachs-nyt-ad-skewered-on-twitter-for-attacking-rashida-tlaib-591612|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=The Jerusalem Post|first= Shaked |last= Karabelnicoff |date=June 5, 2019|language=en-US}}</ref> and U.S. Representative [[Ilhan Omar]] for her ~~Anti~~anti-Zionist remarks.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McKay|first=Hollie|date=2019-05-01|title=Photographer threatens lawsuit against Jewish group over the 'unauthorized' use of Rep. Ilhan Omar image|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/photographer-threatens-lawsuit-against-jewish-group-over-the-unauthorized-use-of-rep-ilhan-omar-image|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2015, US National Security Advisor [[Susan Rice]] criticized Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] for agreeing to speak to [[United States Congress|Congress]] about [[Nuclear program of Iran|Iran's nuclear program]] without coordinating with the Obama administration.<ref name="Times of Israel">{{cite web|date= March 1, 2015|title=Jewish groups condemn Boteach 'genocide' ad on Susan Rice|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-groups-roundly-condemn-boteach-ad-on-susan-rice/|work=Times of Israel}}</ref> The World Values Network placed an ad in ''[[The New York Times]]'' in response that read "Susan Rice has a blind spot: Genocide", and said that her action had "injected a degree of partisanship" that is "destructive of the fabric of the relationship" between the US and Israel. The ad faced widespread criticism by Jewish organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-03-01|title=Jewish groups slam Boteach ad on Susan Rice|url=https://www.jta.org/2015/02/28/united-states/slam-boteach-ad-on-susan-rice|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}}</ref> In an article for ''[[The Washington Post|]]''~~The Washington Post'']]~~, rabbi [[Jill Jacobs (rabbi)|Jill Jacobs]] also criticized Boteach for the ad and labeling himself "America's rabbi," as no such position exists. Jacobs wrote "Rabbi Boteach may claim to be America’s rabbi. But America’s real rabbis are the ones who reject cowardly attacks and take the risk of standing up for the rights of all people."<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Jill |date=March 4, 2015 |title=Shmuley Boteach isn't 'America's rabbi' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/03/04/shmuley-boteach-isnt-americas-rabbi/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> After continued backlash, Boteach apologized, saying that the disagreement was over policy, and he did not intend to make a personal attack.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/03/10/dear-susan-rice-im-sorry/|title=Dear Susan Rice, I'm sorry|first=Shmuley|last=Boteach|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=March 6, 2015|title=Rabbi apologizes for ad accusing Susan Rice of being blind to genocide|work=124 News|url=http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/63393-150306-rabbi-apologizes-for-ad-accusing-susan-rice-of-being-blind-to-genocide|access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref> Speaking to [[CNN]], he said the purpose of the ad was to bring attention to his perception that the United States government has ignored genocides in the past, and continues to do so.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ben-Gedalyahu|first=Tzvi|date=March 2, 2015|title=Rabbi Boteach Shoots Back at Critics and Calls Susan Rice a 'Bully'|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/rabbi-boteach-shoots-back-at-critics-and-call-susan-rice-a-bully-video/2015/03/02/|access-date=March 3, 2015|work=The Jewish Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/11/29/ted-cruz-s-favorite-rabbi|title=Ted Cruz's Favorite Rabbi; Ted Cruz and rabbi to the stars Shmuley Boteach have forged an unlikely friendship over an unusual issue: the release of a convicted spy.|first=Betsy|last=Swan|date=November 29, 2015|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref>

In 2018, the New ~~Zealander~~Zealand singer [[Lorde]] cancelled a [[Tel Aviv]] concert in support of the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions]] movement.<ref name="auto25"/><ref name="auto24">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/proisrael-group-calls-lorde-a-bigot-in-fullpage-ad-in-washington-post-20180101-h0bycw.html|title=Pro-Israel group calls Lorde a 'bigot' in full-page ad in Washington Post|date=January 1, 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/02/lorde-labeled-a-bigot-for-canceling-israel-concert-in-full-page-ad.html|title=Singer Lorde cancels Israel concert, labeled a 'bigot' in full-page Washington Post ad|first=Lucy|last=Handley|date=January 2, 2018|website=CNBC}}</ref><ref name=lou>{{Cite news|last1=Kershner|first1=Isabel|last2=Specia|first2=Megan|date=2018-04-20|title=Natalie Portman Backs Out of Israeli Award Ceremony |language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/world/middleeast/natalie-portman-genesis-prize.html|access-date=January 2, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The World Values Network placed an ad in response, calling her a "bigot". The criticism was one of several denunciations from well-known Israelis and Zionist leaders of her cancellation, and the Zionist Federation of New Zealand and the Jewish Council of New Zealand were also critical of her, though the ad itself was met with a distancing by the council.<ref name="auto24"/><ref name=lou/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jewish Council distances itself from Lorde ad|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jewish-council-distances-itself-from-lorde-ad/S6VEKYP4BINVEDZK7JOBT5CFQU/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=NZ Herald|date=December 24, 2017 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ziv|first=Stav|date=January 3, 2018|title=Lorde is a 'bigot' who 'chose Putin's Russia over Israel,' Rabbi Shmuley says|url=https://www.newsweek.com/lorde-bigot-chose-putins-russia-over-israel-rabbi-shmuley-769170|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref>

On May 23, 2021, the organization ran a full-page ''New York Times'' ad calling on [[Dua Lipa]], ~~and~~ [[Gigi Hadid]], and [[Bella Hadid]], to condemn [[Hamas]], claiming the group "calls for a [[second Holocaust]]."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Minsker|first=Evan|title=Dua Lipa Condemns Organization's NYT Ad That Accused Her of Antisemitism|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/dua-lipa-condemns-organizations-nyt-ad-that-accused-her-of-antisemitism/|access-date=2021-05-26|date=May 23, 2021|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="auto36">{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/news/337030/nyt-ad-slams-dua-lipa-hadid-sisters-for-anti-israel-rhetoric/|title=NYT Ad Slams Dua Lipa, Hadid Sisters for Anti-Israel Rhetoric; The ad, which was written by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, calls on Lipa and the Hadid sisters to condemn Hamas, claiming the group "calls for a second Holocaust".|first=Aaron|last=Bandler|date=May 25, 2021|website=Jewish Journal}}</ref> Lipa and the Hadids' comments came after reporting by [[Human Rights Watch]] and [[B'Tselem]]. Boteach wrote that Lipa and Bella Hadid accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing, even as millions of Jews in Israel descend from Holocaust survivors, refugees savagely forced out of every Arab land and Jews living in pre-state Israel who were subjected to multiple [[Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries|Arab massacres and pogroms]]," and accused them of ~~anti-Semitism~~antisemitism for having "vilified the Jewish state".<ref name="auto36"/> He called for them to consider condemning Hamas instead of Israel, for its [[Human rights in the State of Palestine#Status of women|brutality toward women]], tolerance for [[honor killings]] of young Palestinian girls, use of children as [[human shield]]s for military stockpiles and rocket launch-pads, [[LGBT rights in the State of Palestine|murders]] of [[~~LGBTQ~~LGBT]] Palestinians, and avoidance of fair elections "after fourteen autocratic years."<ref name="auto36"/> Lipa rejected what she characterized as "the false and appalling allegations" and said that WVN used her name "shamelessly" to "advance their ugly campaign with falsehoods and blatant misrepresentations."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Dua Lipa blasts group that condemned her for Mideast stance|first=Mark|last=Kennedy|date=May 22, 2021|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/dua-lipa-blasts-group-that-condemned-her-for-mideast-stance/2021/05/22/fc456622-bb50-11eb-bc4a-62849cf6cca9_story.html|access-date=2021-05-26|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

The ''[[New York Daily News]]'' reported on the organization's tax filing in 2009, two years after the organization's founding, and noted that it raised $651,000, and paid $638,000 in operating and administrative expenses combined (including a $229,000 salary for Boteach—up from $59,000 the prior year, and $70,000 in charitable disbursements).<ref name="auto26"/><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=October 9, 2011|last=Gatecrasher|title=Michael Jackson's former spiritual guru rakes in more cash than he dishes out from own nonprofit|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/michael-jackson-spiritual-guru-rakes-cash-dishes-nonprofit-article-1.961438|access-date=2021-01-06|website=The New York Daily News}}</ref> The organization paid Boteach a director salary of $330,371 in 2015.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=2017-05-19|title=Michael Jackson's Rabbi Shmuley Is Back, Throwing a Charity Gala for Where Charity Begins: At Home|url=https://www.showbiz411.com/2017/05/18/michael-jacksons-rabbi-shmuley-is-back-throwing-a-charity-gala-for-where-charity-begins-at-home|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Showbiz411|language=en-US|first=Roger|last=Friedman|author-link=Roger Friedman}}</ref> In 2018, [[Charity Navigator]], a [[charity assessment]] organization that evaluates [[charitable organization]]s in the United States, evaluated the stability, efficiency, sustainability, accountability, and transparency policies of World Values Network to measure the charity's good governance and integrity, and gave World Values Network a score of 100 out of 100.<ref name="auto23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/113483906|title=The World Values Network | Rating by Charity Navigator|website=[[Charity Navigator]]}}</ref> At the time World Values Network had $1.3 million in total revenue, 76.11% of its revenue in 2016-18 was spent on program expenses (for a passing score, Charity Navigator looks for a ratio of 70% or more), only 22.9% on administrative expenses (Charity Navigator looks for administrative expenses to be under 30%), three of its four [[Independent director|board of director members were independent]] (Charity Navigator looks for at least 50% independent directors), and it had an annual independent [[audit]].<ref name="auto23"/>

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He also says that the essence of lust and desire is "chosen," and that a woman - in particular - wants to feel chosen.<ref name="auto15"/> He in addition is of the view that when men don't speak to their wives, which happens for a variety of reasons, that causes their wives to feel a great deal of pain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/jewish-valentine-tips-how-to-speak-kindness-with-your-spouse-617635|title=Jewish Valentine tips: How to speak kindness with your spouse; According to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, many women feel their husbands are shutting them out of their lives.|first=Hagay|last=Hacohen|date=February 15, 2020|website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>

~~[[File:Egon Tschirch- Hohelied Nr. 11 (high resolution).jpg|thumb|200px|[[Song of Songs (Egon Tschirch)|''Song of Solomon'']] ([[Egon Tschirch]], 1923)]]~~

As to underpinnings of his views in Judaism, Boteach opines that all of the notable marriages in the [[Bible]] are lust relationships, rather than love relationships.<ref name="auto14">{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2014/05/03/love-is-not-the-answer-the-sex-secrets-of-a-rabbi/|title='Love is not the answer': The sex secrets of a rabbi|work=The New York Post|first=Doree|last=Lewak|date=May 3, 2014}}</ref> He points out that [[Jacob]] waits seven years for [[Rachel]] but for Jacob it feels like just a few days, and that the first thing [[Rebecca]] does when she meets [[Isaac]] is put a veil over her face.”<ref name="auto14"/>

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===Sexuality===

Boteach's book ''Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy'' (1999) was a best seller.<ref name="auto8"/><ref name="auto5"/><ref name="koshersex">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bNsaAAAAYAAJ |title=Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy |last=Boteach |first=Shmuley|year=1999 |publisher=Doubleday |location=New York |isbn= 0-385-49465-3}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' referred to him as "[[Dr. Ruth]] with a yarmulke," and the British media called the book the "kosher [[Kamasutra]]".<ref name="auto2"/> His philosophy is that "passionate lovemaking ... leads to intimacy" and is the foundation of a relationship.<ref name=":2" /> He opined: "Only sex has the capacity to bring in its wake an overwhelming tidal wave of positive emotion which makes us feel intensely good about each other ... which conversation can't do, which friendship can't do, which shared experiences can't do."<ref name="auto2"/> He is also of the view that while one does not have to be religious to love sex, it helps, and while one does not have to be married to have great sex, it helps.<ref name="auto2"/> He opined: "Couples should have the dirtiest sex where they can't control themselves, where the beast within is awakened. That's what passion is all about. In order to have that, you need a modest exterior. That is eroticism." To achieve that, he is in favor of anything that fans the spark between a married couple, including (when he is asked) [[oral sex]] and [[sex toy]]s.<ref name="auto2"/> At the same time, because he believes they distract or dull one's sexual edge, he is against the lights being on and [[masturbation]].<ref name="auto2"/> He is also ofbelieves ~~the~~that ~~view~~people ~~that~~ought ~~we should~~to refrain from sex before marriage, because it's is "bad sex".<ref name="auto2"/>

Backstage at ''[[The Today Show]]'', he ran into the former [[U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Henry Kissinger]], who asked for a signed copy of the book.<ref name="auto2"/> At the same time, the book caused a stir in the Orthodox community—even so, in the summer of 2012 it was the most checked-out non-fiction book in [[Crown Heights, Brooklyn]], which houses the center for Chabad Jewry in America.<ref name="auto8"/><ref name="auto5"/>

[[File:Kosher Sex shop in Jerusalem, Israel.jpg|thumb|260px|Kosher Sex boutique in Jerusalem]]

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==== Homosexuality ====

Boteach wrote in a 2010 ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' op-ed column on [[homosexuality]] that he does not deny that there is a biblical prohibition on male [[same-sex ~~relationships~~relationship]]s, and a commandment for men and women to marry and have children.<ref name="auto11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704361504575552203494330686|title=My Jewish Perspective on Homosexuality; I tell gay couples they still have 611 of the Torah's 613 rules to keep them busy.|author=Boteach, Shmuley|date=October 15, 2010|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Still, he understands those in context.<ref name="auto11"/> "There are [[613 commandments]] in the Torah... So when Jewish gay couples tell me they have never been attracted to members of the opposite sex and are desperate [and] alone, I tell them "'You have 611 commandments left. That should keep you busy. Now, go create a [[kosher]] home ... you are His beloved children.'"<ref name="auto11"/> Five years later he wrote that he believed in the equality of all of God's children, and has seen too much [[homophobia]] in his life.<ref name="auto13">{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2015/07/gay-marriage-and-the-end-of-days/|work=The Observer|title=Gay Marriage and the End of Days|first=Shmuley |last= Boteach |date=July 1, 2015}}</ref> He believes that the biggest threat to marriage doesn't come from gay marriage, but heterosexual divorce, which he says afflicts half of marriages.<ref name="auto13"/> He opposes government involvement at all in recognizing marriage, but supports state-sanctioned [[civil union]]s for all.<ref name="auto11"/><ref name="auto31"/><ref name="auto13"/>

===COVID-19 pandemic===

Speaking about the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Boteach said "I utterly reject and find it sickening when people believe that this is some kind of punishment from God - that really upsets me."<ref name="auto8"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/life/2020/04/06/passover-2020-likely-have-special-resonance-time-coronavirus-nj/2889712001/|title=The Passover story has new relevance in the age of coronavirus|date=April 6, 2020|first=Jim|last=Beckerman|website=North Jersey Media Group}}</ref> He also said that he found it: "very upsetting when religious leaders don't shut down their synagogues, churches, or mosques because they believe that prayer is more important than preserving life."<ref name="auto8"/> ~~At the same time, as~~As his father died during the pandemic and his brother became sick with COVID-19, he wrote about the difficulty of dealing with those tragedies during the pandemic.<ref name="auto10">{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/pandemic-times/320237/death-of-a-parent-during-coronavirus/|first=Shmuley|last=Boteach|title=Death of a Parent During Coronavirus|date=August 12, 2020|website=Jewish Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/coronavirus-lockdown-is-denying-people-the-chance-to-mourn-properly-638159|title=Coronavirus lockdown is denying people the chance to mourn properly|author=Boteach, Shmuley|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=August 10, 2020}}</ref>

=== Outreach to non-Jews ===

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===Jesus and Christianity===

In his 2012 book ''[[Kosher Jesus]]'', Boteach takes the position that Jesus was a wise and learned [[Torah]]-observant rabbi, and a beloved member of the Jewish community.<ref name="Rosen">{{cite web|url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2011/12/26/book-review-kosher-jesus/|title=Book Review: Kosher Jesus|date=December 26, 2011|accessdate=April 28, 2013|work=The Algemeiner|last=Rosen|first=Jeremy}}</ref> At the same time, he writes Jesus despised the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] for their cruelty, and fought them courageously. He states that the Jews had nothing whatsoever to do with the murder of Jesus, but rather that blame for his trial and killing lies with the Romans and [[Pontius Pilate]].<ref name="v"/> Boteach states that he does not believe in Jesus as the Jewish [[Messiah]].<ref name="auto1a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/features/2/1870/jesus-and-the-jews|title=Jesus and the Jews|first= Edward |last= Kessler |website=The Tablet|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Kosher Jesus|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=wv7OGNUpIHsC |last=Boteach |first=Shmuley |authorlink=Shmuley Boteach |year=2012 |publisher=[[Gefen Publishing House]] |location=Jerusalem |isbn=978-9652295781 |page=47}}</ref> At the same time, Boteach argues that "Jews have much to learn from Jesus — and from Christianity as a whole — without accepting Jesus' divinity. There are many reasons for accepting Jesus as a man of great wisdom, beautiful ethical teachings, and profound Jewish patriotism."<ref name="auto3a">{{Cite web|url=https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/05/jews-reclaim-jesus-as-one-of-their-own/|title=Jews reclaim Jesus as one of their own|date=April 5, 2012|website=CNN|author=Richard Allen Greene|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226195211/https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/05/jews-reclaim-jesus-as-one-of-their-own/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He concludes by writing, as to [[Judeo-Christian ethics|Judeo-Christian values]], that "the hyphen between Jewish and Christian values is Jesus himself."<ref name=mores>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/koshering-jesus-more-an-evangelical-review-of-shmuley-boteachs-kosher-jesus.html|title=Koshering Jesus More: An Evangelical Review of Shmuley Boteach's 'Kosher Jesus'|author=Paul de Vries|date=March 23, 2012|website=[[Christian Post]]}}</ref>

==== Presbyterian Church ====

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=== Israel–Palestine conflict ===

Boteach is aan outspoken Zionist. He was critical of Obama-era American policy towards the country. Boteach argued that the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]] bullied Israel, and that U.S. [[Middle Eastern]] policy was "scandalous" and "disgusting".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/obamas-bullying-of-israel_b_504291.html |first=Shmuley |last=Boteach |title=Obama's Bullying of Israel|work=The Huffington Post|date=May 18, 2010|access-date=March 5, 2024}}</ref> He is also supportive of [[Israeli settlement]]s in the [[Palestinian territories]], which have been [[International law and Israeli settlements|condemned as illegal]] by the [[United Nations]], [[International Court of Justice]], and the rest of the [[international community]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/case/131 |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.icj-cij.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2016 |title=Israel's Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute Flagrant Violation of International Law, Security Council Reaffirms {{!}} Meetings Coverage and Press Releases |url=https://press.un.org/en/2016/sc12657.doc.htm |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=press.un.org}}</ref> Boteach described the [[Hebron]] settlement as "warmth, friendliness and hospitality" and "liberated from hatred".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boteach |first=Shmuley |date=2010-10-06 |title=A Spiritual Night In Hebron |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/a-spiritual-night-in-hebron/2010/10/06/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=[[The Jewish Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The community has received sustained criticism for maintaining a shrine to [[Baruch Goldstein]], the [[Mass murder|mass murderer]] who perpetrated the [[Cave of the Patriarchs massacre]]. It also serves as a pilgrimage site for [[Extremism|extremists]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Berger |first1=Yotam |last2=Lis |first2=Jonathan |date=2019-02-26 |title=25 years after Hebron massacre, debate sparked over burial site of murderer Baruch Goldstein |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-02-26/ty-article/.premium/25-years-after-hebron-massacre-debate-sparked-over-baruch-goldsteins-grave/0000017f-deee-df9c-a17f-fefe72c20000 |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=[[Haaretz]] |language=en}}</ref>

Boteach was supportive of President [[Donald Trump]]'s Israel policies, and called him "the most pro-Israel president in history".<ref name=":1" /> Two of his children had served as soldiers in the [[Israel Defense Forces]].<ref name="auto10" />

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=== Pornography ===

Boteach has been critical of [[pornography]]. In 2016, he co-authored a viral ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' opinion piece with actress and former ''[[Playboy]]'' model [[Pamela Anderson]], in which they called [[online pornography]] a "public hazard of unprecedented seriousness".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/take-the-pledge-no-more-indulging-porn-1472684658|title=Take the Pledge: No More Indulging Porn|first1=Shmuley|last1=Boteach|first2=Pamela|last2=Anderson|date=August 31, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2016/09/talking-porn-with-pamela-anderson-and-rabbi-shmuley/|work=The Observer|first= Ken|last= Kurson|title=Talking Porn With Pamela Anderson and Rabbi Shmuley|date=September 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name="auto12">Daniel Sugarman (September 2, 2016). [https://www.thejc.com/news/world/shmuley-boteach-and-pamela-anderson-in-joint-warning-on-dangers-of-pornography-1.63911 "Shmuley Boteach and Pamela Anderson in joint warning on dangers of pornography,"] ''The Jewish Chronicle''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 14, 2016|title=The playmate and the rabbi: unlikely bedfellows fighting internet porn|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/oct/14/pamela-anderson-and-the-rabbi-unlikely-bedfellows-fighting-internet-porn|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=The Guardian|first=Emine|last=Saner|language=en}}</ref> Boteach observed: "It can be intimidating to talk about pornography and eroticism alongside an international sex symbol, but I think Pamela has handled it extremely well."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/rabbi-boteach-and-pam-anderson-address-oxford-about-porn/|title=Rabbi Boteach and Pam Anderson address Oxford about porn|website=Times of Israel|date=October 17, 2016}}</ref> The two also wrote a book together, ''Lust for Love'' (2018), about how meaningful, passionate sex has been declining, and calling for a new sensual revolution that emphasizes partners connecting in the bedroom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/porn-is-ravishing-a-generation-of-good-men-564759|title=Porn is ravishing a generation of good men|website=The Jerusalem Post|date= August 13, 2018|first=Shmuley |last=Boteach }}</ref> In 2001, he publicly debated pornography with Jewish [[Playboy Playmate|Playmate]] [[Lindsey Vuolo]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Rabbi and the Playmate|date=December 24, 2001|first=Craig|last=Horowitz|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/5534/|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=New York Magazine|language=en-us}}</ref>

===Racism===

In November 2016, Boteach wrote a piece in [[The Hill (newspaper)|''The Hill'']] defending ''[[Breitbart News|]]''~~Breitbart News'']]~~ executive chairman [[Steve Bannon]] after his appointment to the [[White House]] was condemned by the [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boteach |first=Shmuley |date=2016-11-15 |title='America's rabbi' rises to defend Steve Bannon |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/306035-letter-to-anti-defamation-leagues-jonathan/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2022, in response to increasing instances of [[Racism in the United States|racism]] and [[Antisemitism in the United States|antisemitism]] in the United States, Boteach, Reverends [[Al Sharpton]] and [[Conrad Tillard]], New York City Mayor [[Eric Adams]], [[Carnegie Hall]] Chairman [[Robert F. Smith (investor)|Robert F. Smith]], and [[Elisha Wiesel]] joined to host 15 Days of Light, celebrating [[Hanukkah]] and [[Kwanzaa]] in a unifying holiday ceremony at Carnegie Hall.<ref name="autoaa">{{Cite web|url=http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2022/12/21/mayor-eric-adams-the-rev-al-sharpton-others-gather-for-joint-kwanzaa-hanukkah-celebration/|title=Mayor Eric Adams, Rev. Al Sharpton, others gather for joint Kwanzaa, Hanukkah celebration|date=December 21, 2022|website=New York Amsterdam News}}</ref><ref name="auto11a">{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/news/529652/kwanzakkah-a-way-to-celebrate-dual-heritage-and-combat-hate/|title=Kwanzakkah: A way to celebrate dual heritage, and combat hate|date=December 23, 2022|author= Stewart Ain and TaRessa Stovall|website=The Forward}}</ref><ref name="auto1as">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jns.org/wire/mayor-eric-adams-rev-al-sharpton-robert-f-smith-robert-f-smith-rev-conrad-tillard-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-and-elisha-wiesel-join-together-to-host-15-days-of-light-celebrating-hanukkah-and/|title=Mayor Eric Adams, Rev. Al Sharpton, Robert F. Smith, Robert F. Smith, Rev. Conrad Tillard, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Elisha Wiesel join together to host '15 Days of Light,' celebrating Hanukkah and Kwanzaa|website=JNS|date=December 22, 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto13a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/black-jewish-leaders-gather-carnegie-032200862.html|title=Black and Jewish Leaders Gather at Carnegie Hall to Take a Stand Against Antisemitism and Racism|website=Yahoo|date=December 20, 2022|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-date=December 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225013742/https://www.yahoo.com/now/black-jewish-leaders-gather-carnegie-032200862.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Boteach said: "This is the way it should be. Blacks and Jews united to promote human dignity and fight the haters."<ref name="auto11a" /><ref name="auto1as" />

==2012 Congressional elections==

Boteach, a self-described social moderate, ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in [[northern New Jersey]] in the [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections|2012 elections]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/despite-reports-boteach-is-not-running-for-congress-yet/|title=Despite reports, Boteach is not running for Congress – yet|website=Jewish Standard|date=February 3, 2012}}</ref> He became the first rabbi ever to run for the U.S. Congress as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], and had he won he would have been the first rabbi in Congress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsherald.com/news/20171021/could-this-rabbi-be-first-in-congress|title=Could this rabbi be a first in Congress?|date=October 21, 2017|author=Mark Oppenheimer | Special to ''The Washington Post''|website=Panama City News Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2012/03/14/politics/shmuley-boteach-announces-run-for-congress|title=Shmuley Boteach announces run for Congress|date=March 14, 2012|first=Daniel|last=Treiman|publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/boteach-to-run-citing-marriage-drugs|title=Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Announces Run for Congress from New Jersey As Republican|date=March 14, 2012|first=Dan|last=Klein|website=Tablet Magazine}}</ref> Referring to the 50% [[Divorce in the United States|divorce rate in the United States]] as "an American tragedy that no one talks about," he supported making marriage and family counseling tax-deductible to help strengthen marriages and lower the nation's divorce rate.<ref name="auto19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.njspotlight.com/2012/05/12-0530-2026/|title=Candidates: U.S. Congress Republicans District 9|date=May 31, 2012|first=Joe |last=Malinconico |website=NJ Spotlight News}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite news |url= http://observer.com/2012/04/run-rabbi-run-shmuley-boteach-goes-from-neverland-to-capital-hill/?show=all |title=Run, Rabbi, Run! Shmuley Boteach Goes From Neverland to Capitol Hill |first=Walker |last= Hunter |work=The Observer |date=April 11, 2012 |access-date=May 31, 2012}}</ref> He also supported a federal [[school voucher]] system, lower [[Taxation in the United States|taxes]], a [[flat tax]] and simplification of the tax code, smaller government, and preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon.<ref name=":Combo2">• {{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/popular-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-making-run-congress-162228155.html|title=Is Popular Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Making a Run for Congress?|website=Yahoo|date=February 7, 2012 }}•{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2012/03/republican-rabbi-formally-launches-cd9-bid/|title=Republican Rabbi formally launches CD9 bid|date=March 14, 2012|first=Max |last=Pizarro |work=Observer}}•{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/congressman-shmuley/|title=Congressman Shmuley?|first=Ari Ben|last=Goldberg|website=Times of Israel|date= May 8, 2012}}•{{Cite web|url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-03-14/kosher-sex-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-running-congress-new-jersey|title=Kosher Sex: Rabbi Shmuley Boteach running for Congress in New Jersey|website=The World from PRX|date=March 14, 2012}}</ref> He was staunchly Zionist, and anti-terrorism and [[Hamas]].<ref name="auto21">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4290612,00.html|title=NJ Democrat faces 'America's Rabbi'; Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, reality show star and author of books including 'Kosher Sex', is running for Congress in New Jersey's ninth District|date=October 23, 2012|newspaper=Ynetnews}}</ref> He received the endorsement of then-[[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Majority Leader]] [[Eric Cantor]] (R-Va.).<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/12/america-s-rabbi-shmuley-boteach-scores-eric-cantor-s-endorsement.html |title=America's Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Scores Eric Cantor's Endorsement |first=Allison |last=Yarrow |work=The Daily Beast |date=April 12, 2012|access-date=May 31, 2012}}</ref><ref name="auto18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/jewish-world/jewish-features/50-most-influential-jews-places-31-40|title=50 most influential Jews: Places 31-40|website=The Jerusalem Post |first1= Steve|last1=Linde|first2=A.|last2=Spiro|first3=G.|last3=Hoffman|date=May 25, 2012}}</ref>

Boteach won the [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey#District 9|Republican primary]] for [[New Jersey's 9th congressional district]] seat in a three-way race on June 5.<ref name="auto20">[https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2012congresults.pdf "Official Election Results for the United States; 2012,"] [[Federal Election Commission]], 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.njspotlight.com/2012/05/12-0522-1138/|title=U.S. Congressional Race: District 9|date=May 23, 2012|website=NJ Spotlight News|first=Joe|last=Malinconico}}</ref> He received 57.9% of the vote, defeating Hector Castillo with 28.3% of the vote, and Blase Billack with 13.8% of the vote.<ref name="auto20"/>

In the [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey#District 9|November general election]] he faced eight-term [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[New Jersey's 8th congressional district|8th District]] Representative and former mayor of [[Paterson, New Jersey]], [[Bill Pascrell]].<ref name="auto21">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4290612,00.html|title=NJ Democrat faces 'America's Rabbi'; Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, reality show star and author of books including 'Kosher Sex', is running for Congress in New Jersey's ninth District|date=October 23, 2012|newspaper=Ynetnews}}</ref><ref name="auto18"/> Boteach gave a $250 donation to his opponent, because he wanted them to have a Friday night [[Shabbat]] dinner date together at his home to get to know each other as people before they were opponents, and he was hoping his donation would get Pascrell's attention after several unsuccessful attempts to arrange the dinner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2012/06/rabbi-shmuley-donates-250-to-his-opponent-in-the-hopes-of-securing-a-dinner-date/|title=Rabbi Shmuley Donates $250 To His Opponent In The Hopes Of Securing a 'Dinner Date'|date=June 29, 2012|first= Hunter |last= Walker |work=Observer}}</ref> Pascrell raised more money than any other congressional candidate in the state in 2012, $2.6 million, 10x what Boteach raised.<ref name="auto17">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2012/11/nj_9th_congressional_district.html|title=N.J. 9th Congressional District winner: Bill Pascrell|first=Salvador |last=Rizzo |work= The Star-Ledger|date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> Boteach lost in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, where Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 3-to-1, by a margin of 73.6% to 25.4%.<ref name="auto17"/><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-05/new-jersey-s-pascrell-beats-rothman-in-u-dot-s-dot-house-primary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608225134/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-05/new-jersey-s-pascrell-beats-rothman-in-u-dot-s-dot-house-primary |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 8, 2012 |title=Pascrell Wins U.S. House Primary, Faces Boteach in N.J.|first=Elise |last=Young |work=Business Week|date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Dickter 2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/breaking-news/pascrell-defeats-shmuley-boteach-northern-nj-race|title=Pascrell Defeats Shmuley Boteach In Northern NJ Race|last=Dickter|first=Adam|date=November 6, 2012|work=[[The Jewish Week]]|publisher=[[Gary Rosenblatt]]|access-date=November 7, 2012|archive-date=November 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105035656/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/breaking-news/pascrell-defeats-shmuley-boteach-northern-nj-race|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.politico.com/2012-election/results/house/new-jersey/ 2012 House Races], ''[[Politico]]'', November 19, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2015.</ref> In his concession speech Boteach said: "He is now my Congressman. I pledge my complete support to him."<ref name="auto17"/>

== Selected bibliography ==

*{{cite book |last=Boteach |first=Shmuley |date=1999 |title=Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy|publisher=Doubleday|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bNsaAAAAYAAJ|isbn=0385494653}}<ref name="koshersex" />