Pop star Madonna, in Israel on the final leg of her world tour, celebrated the welcoming of the Jewish Sabbath with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his family on Friday night. “The singer Madonna and her Israeli manager were hosted Friday evening in the Prime Minister’s Residence for the welcoming of the Sabbath. Mrs. Netanyahu and Madonna performed together the lighting and blessing of the ceremonial candles,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement to the press.

During her concert last Tuesday night, Madonna declared Israel to be “the energy center of the world” and draped herself in an Israeli flag handed her by an audience member.

On Thursday, Madonna travelled north to Safed to visit the tomb of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, known by the acronym "Arizal", the famous 16th century kabbalist. Madonna was accompanied in her visit by Michael Berg, her own rabbi's brother, as well as her partner Jesus. She also sang the Sabbath song Lecha Dodi, which was written by Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, a mystical rabbi who is buried next to the Arizal.

During her visit, the "material girl" also visited Judaism’s holiest site, the Western Wall.