Tory MP Proposes 'Kosher Jesus' Author For Chief Rabbi

A Conservative MP has called for the controversial Jewish leader who wrote ‘The Kosher Jesus’ which claimed Jesus was a kosher observant Jew, to be appointed Chief Rabbi.

Louise Mensch, MP for Corby, is backing the American Rabbi Shmuley Boteach to take over from Lord Sacks as the UK’s Chief Rabbi.

Mrs Mensch, 40, has given her backing to Rabbi Boteach, saying he would: "would add immensely to a vibrant debate within the UK as to the challenges and opportunities faced by British Judaism".

But the flamboyant Rabbi, whose latest book was written to repudiate claims by Christians keen to seek Jewish converts has joked that the post would be a step down for him, as he is already "Intergalactic Chief Rabbi of the Milky Way".

Former Chick-Lit author Mrs Mensch, who was the first non-Jewish member of Oxford University’s Jewish Society said in a letter to the Jewish Chronicle that the Rabbi would be a "strong challenge to the virulent bias against Israel, and the at times antisemitic minimising of Jewish suffering from terror attacks, that is perhaps the strongest challenge to the UK's Jewish community."

Rabbi Boteach, who ran Chabad in Oxford for 11 years, is one of many names who have been tipped for the post when Lord Sacks retires next year.

As well as his book about Jesus, Rabbi Boteach has also written books called ‘Kosher Sex’, ‘Kosher Adultery’ and the ‘Kosher Sutra’ leading many to call him ‘the sex Rabbi’. He was also well known for being a close friend and unofficial spiritual advisor to pop star Michael Jackson.