'Just bored and reading Hebrew': Britney Spears shares Jewish prayer books in Instagram post

Spears did not explain why she was reading Hebrew, where she had obtained the religious texts, or whom she was addressing in the final portion of her caption.

Pop star Britney Spears shared a photograph of Jewish religious books on Instagram on Sunday, revealing that she was reading Hebrew and drawing renewed attention to her longstanding interest in Jewish traditions and mysticism.

"Just bored and reading Hebrew!!!" Spears wrote alongside a photograph featuring a Hebrew Book of Psalms and another religious text. "Reading from right to left!!!"

The 44-year-old singer concluded her message with an affectionate remark: "God speed little man!!! I love you!!!"

The photograph showed two books, including a copy of Tehillim, the Hebrew Book of Psalms, and a Jewish prayer book, positioned upside down.

Spears did not explain why she was reading Hebrew, where she had obtained the religious texts, or whom she was addressing in the final portion of her caption.

However, the unexpected post is far from the first time the singer has publicly expressed an interest in Jewish culture and religious practices.

From Madonna to Kabbalah: Britney Spears' history with Judaism

Spears' connection to Jewish mysticism dates back to 2003, when fellow pop star Madonna introduced her to Kabbalah, a tradition of Jewish mystical teachings that gained popularity among several Hollywood celebrities during the early 2000s.

At the time, Spears credited the practice with helping her navigate a difficult period in her personal life.

"Madonna first introduced Kabbalah to me at a time in my life when it was much needed," Spears wrote on her website.

"It has helped me get rid of a lot of negative influences that were guiding me down the wrong path," she added.

By 2006, however, Spears had announced that she was no longer practicing Kabbalah, writing on her website, "I no longer study Kabbalah. My baby is my religion."

In 2007, Spears briefly dated Jewish model Isaac Cohen, with reports at the time suggesting she had considered converting to Judaism. Similar speculation emerged in 2009, when she was photographed wearing a Star of David necklace while dating Jason Trawick.

She was photographed wearing the Jewish symbol again in 2017 while visiting the Eiffel Tower with her sons.

In June 2021, Spears drew attention to a Hebrew tattoo on the back of her neck, consisting of the letters Mem, Hey and Shin.

"It says Mem Hey Shin and means healing," she explained in an Instagram post.

Although the letters do not directly translate to the Hebrew word for healing, they are associated with a mystical name of God connected to healing in Kabbalistic traditions.

In March 2022, Spears again sparked discussion about her connection to Judaism after sharing an image of a Star of David alongside photographs of the Sistine Chapel and Australia.

She subsequently clarified that the religious imagery was intended to convey a broader message about freedom and equality.