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June 27, 2009 | 11:50 am

What happens to Michael Jackson’s Jewish kids?

Posted by Tom Tugend

Following the first wave of Michael Jackson mania, pundits are now speculating whether his two older children will be returned to the custody of their Jewish mother, Debbie Rowe, which, by extension, makes son Prince Michael I, 12, and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11, also Jewish.
After his divorce from Lisa Marie Presley, Jackson married Rowe, his former nurse specializing in dermatological problems, in 1996, when she was six months pregnant.
They divorced in 1999 and Rowe gave up her custody rights, but according to the LA Times, legal experts believe that as the children’s biological mother, she can probably reclaim the two.
The mother of Jackson’s third child, Prince Michael II, has been kept a secret.
As Adam Wills reported in The Journal in January 2004, Rowe was upset that the children were being exposed to the influence of the Nation of Islam through their nanny and Jackson’s siblings.
Wills also quoted Rabbi Shmuley Boteach as saying, “I was shocked to hear that [Rowe] was Jewish, but since Prince and Paris are Jewish, I think they should be raised Jewish.”

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The kids should stay where they are.  They don’t know much about their mother ands they were being raised with Michael’s parents.  They are surrounded with love.  Debbie should move on along with her wealthy,healthy, jewish life.

Comment by Deborah Mack on 6/27/09 at 12:18 pm

I do agree!!They shouldn’t move those kids nowhere.It doesn’t matter that she is biological mother of the kids,it was a deal and she signed that deal kids were Michael’s and and should remain among people they know like their nanny and the Jackson Family.They have no idea who is that Debbie Rowe she should let those kids be.

Comment by Daiva D. on 6/27/09 at 12:36 pm

this is what i think, the children should stay with the grandparents, because that all they know since they were babies and the love they have for there grandparents and the love there grndparents. i am a grandmther myself so let the children stay with Michael parents.

Comment by deborah on 6/27/09 at 1:02 pm

The children will have plenty of time to explore the Jewish side of their heritage as they grow older.  To be placed with a mother who, in essence, sold them to their father would further exacerbate this tragic situation.  The children should remain with their true family - the Jacksons.

Comment by Lisa S. on 6/27/09 at 1:03 pm

Micheals personal life was very private, how does anyone know if Ms. Rowe had contact with HER children.  Unless you think that his children should grow up in the same crazy mixed up life style he did, she should take those kids and disappear somewhere and try and live as normal a life as possible.

Comment by Penny on 6/27/09 at 1:05 pm

I think it is too early to make any decisions of who will get Michael’s 2 older children who do have a known mother, Debbie Rowe. None of us really know how much the children know about their mother or if they have spent any time with her throughout the years. Have they ever met their maternal grandparents, maybe those grandparents would like to know or spend time with their grandchildren too. We don’t have much information on any of those facts but I don’t think the children have had much time to even fathom that their father has died since they were whisked away so fast to the elder Jackson’s compound. So many opinions are being made with little or no information. Time will tell what Michael’s decisions were when the will is legally and properly brought out. As it has been told by other siblings, Michael and all the children were very afraid of their father growing up and one sister made a comment about some bad things that took place between the girls and their father.Whether true or not just watching the body language of Michael Jackson when his father was nearby showed a lot of distance between them. Of course, the will and wishes of Michael will be brought out in time.
I just pray the young children will be surrounded by true caring love and not just used for the wealth they may have inherited.

Comment by Deborah on 6/27/09 at 1:32 pm

Excuse me, Jackson children must stay where they are. They are little children change of environment may affect them. Since they are with their grandma why taking them around, they already at home or do we know whether the so called mother as remarry? Please i wouldnt want them to live with a stranger because to me she is a stranger to those children, she as left them for all this year and want to come back and claim them for what? Is it becuase of their wealth? Abeg let those children stay where they are. Adieu Micheal !!!

Comment by Bamigboye Dupe on 6/27/09 at 1:57 pm

The children of Michael’s should be in the environment or custody of whomever he chose in his will. Hopefully he had one. The best interest of the children is what’s important. Far as there mother Debbie Rose she gave up her parental rights for money so that means she didn’t want them from the beginning. The abuse I believe Michael and his siblings were subjected to as children is obvious. I am hoping that his will keeps them out of harms way and put them in a stable and loving environment. My blessing and prayers go out to his three children not just two.

Comment by Kim on 6/27/09 at 2:47 pm

Yes right now this is a horrible thing that his babies are having to deal with.  They need to stay close to his family because they are the only source of family they have ever known.  They will take very good care of these children.  Their best interest is at hand.  This is s strong family even though they have theri own lives, they are there for one another.  The faith of this family and the beliefs they live their lives by is what is going to get them all through this.  I pray to the same father and I know he is with them.  I can only hope when this is over with, the kids will be together with Michael’s family.  He would have wanted it this way.
Comment by Colleen 6/27/2009 4:09 pm

Comment by Colleen on 6/27/09 at 3:10 pm

I wish Debbie would adopt me I need the money

Comment by Jake Israel on 6/27/09 at 4:17 pm

The OU will fight Debbie’s Corner.

Comment by Aviv Hodis on 6/27/09 at 7:27 pm

No one killed michael other than the jew…god have mercy on his soul…

Comment by anonymous on 6/27/09 at 8:59 pm

The children of michael jackson should be with there mother especially the two children of debbie rowe.

Comment by Joy on 6/27/09 at 9:21 pm

I dont know why everyone cares where his kids are going to ??...i know maybe cause his wife was a jew thats why you like to talk about it here..still i think we should respect the dead man and not think about whats his heritage or his kids are going to go…

However i am not a racist or jewish hater…i just loved michael..

God blesses his soul….

Comment by anonymous on 6/27/09 at 10:01 pm

The children are Jewish? Did they tell you that? Regardless of any arbitrary traditions, which the children (or even their parents) may or may not believe in, what about the child’s right to decide what religion, if any, they practice/belong to? How can anyone dictate to another human being what religious faith they believe in? There is nothing more personal, except one’s sexuality. It’s long past time we abandoned ancient dictates and allowed human beings to decide for themselves what their religious beliefs are. If they choose Judaism, great…that’s their CHOICE.

Comment by arden on 6/27/09 at 11:46 pm

It is very disturbing that Michael sought to prevent the children from being visited regularly by their mother. Depriving children of a mother’s love is shameful! It is very sad that Debbie’s Jewish children were possibly indoctrinated by the nanny and Michael’s siblings to HATE Jews via Nation of Islam, Islamic teaching. The safety and happiness of the children is paramount. Whoever wants Michael and Debbie Rowe’s children to live with Michael’s parents, do not have the best interest of the children at heart. Growing up, Michael and his siblings were very frightened by their abusive father. Why be so cruel as to subject the grandchildren to life-destroying abuse-the radical life destroying effects witnessed so clearly in Michael.

Comment by Linda Rivera on 6/28/09 at 6:39 am

At this time I feel that these three beautiful souls should remain with Michael’s mother. Ms.Rowe should not be allowed to separate the children just because they are part Jewish and are biologically linked to her. The last thing these children need is to be thrust into a relationship with aperson that is virtually a stranger to them. Regardless of the circumstances Ms. Rowe was not in the dark when she entered Michael’s world and basically initially and amicably sold her priviledges over to Michael for the financial amount that would allow her to live out the life she wanted for herself, not her children.I pray for these children to remain loved and surrounded by stability always.By the way,Ms. Rowe has not conducted herself like the proud Jewish mothers’ that I have known.The rites to know and love there children would not have given over without a fight.

Comment by adriana handford on 6/28/09 at 8:07 am

Your information is incorrect regarding Debbie Rowe’s parental rights. She attempted to complete the sale of her genetics a few years ago by agreeing to severe her parental rights. However, the judge in the case decided to keep her on the hook, parentally. I guess he decided that even though she sold them to the circus, she might be needed later once they were eventually removed from the Jackson home. All of you who seem to think their grandparents are the best caretakers obviously haven’t read that he’s been estranged from them for years. Jackson said himself that his father Joseph, still alive physically and emotionally abused him. As to their Jewish roots, that’s an interesting problem: Jackson has shown himself to be an anti-Semite. The other group he obviously dispises is blacks. He’s bred a second generation of self-loathers.

Comment by Mike on 6/28/09 at 12:40 pm

to me i feel da kids need to stay where they are they never had any dealings with there mother Debbie Rowe there happy where they are with the JACKSON family

Comment by monica runnels on 6/28/09 at 6:15 pm

I wish all this will b over sooner.Just leave Micheal alone now hes gone…Enough interfering in his life now.
May he soul rests in peace now. Jz leave d kids alone too…they r too fragile n greiveing 8 this moment to all this mess.

Comment by gisele on 6/28/09 at 9:13 pm

I think children should be giving a chance to decide where they like to stay.The will of their father’s should also have to be respected.

Comment by Nthabiseng Sekoetja on 6/28/09 at 11:50 pm

I don’t think anyone can understand the Jewish perspective on this issue in the least, because in our day and age tradition is not respected. However, in the true Jewish world, Jewish law is the final deciding factor- not our free choice. Just because someone wants to eat pork doesnt mean they can- it’s forbidden by law. A Jew is suppouse to have knowledge of their ability to decide- that means knowing what a Jewish life is- not just culturally but on a day to day basis. How can these kids(or anyone else for that matter) make an informed decision unless they can see how a Jew lives?

Comment by Bastar96 on 6/29/09 at 1:49 am

I’m not saying the kids should be with the mother, neccesarily. I’m saying they need to be given the opportunity to explore Judaism. As such, if they stay with their grandparents, fine- but let the grandparents show them Judaism.

Comment by Bastar96 on 6/29/09 at 1:51 am

I think Michael’s wish for the children not to be with Rowe should be honored, the children seem very normal and smart as those who know them are reporting and have been in good hands and in close contact with the grandparents who they should stay with. Sending them off to a complete stranger for who money was worth more than her biological children is obviously not in the children’s best interest. It’s actually a no brainer.

Comment by Truth on 6/29/09 at 3:33 am

The children should be taken immediately to a yeshiva in Brooklyn to connect with their Jewish heritage.

Comment by Alex on 6/29/09 at 8:19 pm

I would like to say one things. No matter how good grandmother or Michael family, the children do need good nanny. Let them decide with who to stay, they do not need a public opinion

Comment by shafe on 6/30/09 at 2:38 pm

Why don’t John Public backoff a bit and stop focusing on who, what, when should Michael Jackson’s kids be placed with whom.  What is wrong here with all this hoopla about the kids.  Michael just passed.  We miss him and I am sure his children miss him more.  But, for God’s sake, let’s not start to screw up the children’s minds.  Leave them be!  It will all work out well for them.  My deepest sympathies go out to all the Jacksons during this time.  Michael was THE KING OF POP.  I grew up on his music and will truly remember him for as long as I live

Comment by Jen on 6/30/09 at 6:52 pm

Of course they’re going to Debbie Rowe and she is Jewish btw.  Most of the people here commenting are goys who are not Jewish.  Misguided goyishe fans who never read this paper.

Comment by Ms. Goldstein on 7/02/09 at 5:16 pm

To those who says Rowe gave up her rights to the kids or “sold” them to Michael, that’s not totally fair since he had the money and the power and influence.  She was just a nurse, a “nothing” socially or financially and who knows what pressure she was made to feel.  They never had a real marriage anyway, weren’t the kids artificially inseminated?  (The youngest was apparently the biological child of Michael’s doctor, BTW to someone who wonders, hence he’s so light.)  Rowe sounds uncertain what she wants now, both she and the kids and Michael’s mother need time to think, sort it out.  Michael’s family is profiting from his death and he feared his father, so is his mother really separate from his influence, as far as the kids are concerned?  Rowe has a legit fear of the kids being propagandized by the Nation of Islam - sadly both extreme blacks AND Jews (who call others “goyishe” in a derogatory way) are too extreme and unlikely to teach the kids the OTHER half of their heritage.  Giving them that opportunity and exposure should be part of a court order for whoever gets custody.

Comment by susan on 7/05/09 at 12:14 pm

Maybe Rowe is manipulated to bring those kids into a Jewish community.  There is a large amount of money involved.
It’s kind of strange, that so many powerful stars died by drug overdose.

Comment by Jerry on 7/06/09 at 6:42 am

The children should stay where their hearts are, figuratively speaking.  Why should they live with someone who gave them up in exchange for money in the first place?  And this woman even insinuated she didn’t like children. Besides, Michael’s will specifically stated his dire wish..katherine or diana ross.  This Debbie is scary.  One does not know what she’s capable of doing just for money. 
and she’s making joe jackson as an excuse for her reclaiming her parental rights….,c’mon…..

People analysing her were not born only yesterday.  Readers today are wiser and more sensitive.  Even if Michael used his power to make debbie waive her right, there are ways to express her own sincere love and hesitance legally right there and then.  Not after many years.  Another thing, she’s been inconsistent in her statements in her interviews. Her motives are questionable.

No, no, leave the kids where their father want them to be.  He knows something that we don’t.

Comment by gracep on 7/12/09 at 7:11 am

Right, Rowe is scary.  Can’t imagine the change in a lifestyle of those kids, going to her.
Latest rumors: Jackson: ‘Murdered for his money’ by La Toya
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090712/ten-jackson-murdered-for-his-money-ea4616c.html

Comment by Jerry on 7/12/09 at 8:17 am

I think the children should stay where their heart is….plus i think that they are already attached with d Jackson family n we should respect Nicheal will n decision tht his mother or diana ross will have the rights to take care of the kids.May he RIP.Really miss him now.

Comment by gisele on 7/12/09 at 6:40 pm

Michael bought some kids. Not his biological kids. Why would Peter Pan want to be a father? He wanted to remain a child. Wanting some kids by buying them was a way to legally have them in his home. The two older are jewish and letting Michaels mom take them to church and pray to Allah is wrong and should be stopped. The Jacksons are a very disfunctional family and “grandma” was just as responsible for Michael’s abuse growing up as Joe was since she did nothing to prevent it. Not a healthy environment for those kids

Comment by Shana on 7/25/09 at 8:09 pm

“The two older are jewish and letting Michaels mom take them to church and pray to Allah is wrong”
What a nonsense!
The kids are Jewish?  Their mother sold them so drop it.
Michael’s mom is not praying to Allah.
Since this country is a Melting Pot, what is wrong with praying to Allah anyway?
It should be up to the kids to chose who to live with. They are old enough. Michael’s mom or siblings are probably the best choice, Diana Ross also.

Comment by Jerry on 7/25/09 at 8:20 pm

What kind of nonsense is this “should be raised Jewish?”
Rowe is not in their life and if the Jacksons practice Christian faith or even nothing, there is no need to force jewishness on the kids. Let them decide, when they grow up.
Jews are not race but should be a religion. If a Jew gets converted to other faith, he is no longer Jew. The same is in reverse, when someone gets converted to Judaism, he becomes a Jew.

Comment by Jerry on 11/12/09 at 8:14 pm

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