Seeing as I have not watched a single episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8, I never thought I would be writing about its starring characters, but Jon Gosselin seems to refuse to go away. Being a daily fixture in mainstream entertainment news is at least somewhat understandable, after all he is a celebrity by-product of reality TV, and we all know they seem to be rather fond of the attention. What I can't get over is the amount of Jewish press Mr. Gosselin has been generating, thanks in part to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, otherwise known as Rabbi Shmuley, Rabbi to the stars.  In fact, Rabbi Shmuley has been a source of 'spiritual guidance' and 'parental advice' for the fallen reality star during the past month.

Sure, there's also the Jewish (ex? Not ex?) girlfriend, 22-year-old Hailey Glassman, the daughter of his ex-wife's plastic surgeon who was probably the initial inspiration behind his very public declaration of his new found love for all things Jewish. And yes, maybe 'celebrating' the Jewish holydays this year lit a fire beneath him, causing the excited proclamation "I'm half Korean, half Jewish!" (Not so simple, Jon.)

Hot off the Jewish presses this week, we learn that Jon Gosselin decided to make a public apology at a synagogue in New York, and that he and his Jewish girlfriend have decided to 'take a break.' Now I am in no hurry to mock anyone who has the nerve to make a public apology, and assuming this is coming from a sincere place, I think it is probably the best thing that Jon could have done under the circumstances. I cannot help thinking however, that this is all just a little bit strange. Would a public statement released to the press not have been enough? Was it really necessary to book interviews with leading media outlets following his statement? Is that even appropriate in a synagogue? (Ok, so maybe reformed...) And charging $20 a head, what was that about? Not cool guys.

Jon made a point of stating that his sole intention here is to "publicly apologize in a sacred space to those whom I have hurt."

Ah. Well Mr. Gosselin by all means, use our religious institution to do so! Just do us a favor: could you at least mean it?

The entertainment news has been buzzing with statement after emotional statement released by Jon over the past week. He has told us about his endeavors to reconnect with his "deeper, more spiritual, more altruistic self" by means of regular study sessions and counseling with Rabbi Shmuley who Jon apparently respects beyond measure. Instead of complaining about Kate and the show that changed his life, he is now insisting in a more subdued tone that he has "always endeavored to be a loving father and a devoted parent who serves as a moral exemplar to his eight children."

Really? Always? Even when you brought a 22 year old woman home to your children and disrespected their mother in every media outlet that would give you a forum?

Jon asks for a chance to prove himself to those who are as skeptical as I am.  "Rabbi Shmuley, as someone who has counseled others in similar circumstances, has impressed upon me the moral obligations inherent in celebrity and I understand that if a spotlight is shined on me...I have to inspire others to do the right thing always."

Rabbi Shmuley sits down with Jon Gosselin at a NY synagogue.

I am not so cold hearted as to suggest that we should not give him a chance. But even the mushiest among us would have to admit this would be easier to swallow if it was not paraded across the media, and if they did not make tickets available to the public to see this apology in person, live and on stage at the synagogue for $20 a head! Truth be told, that kind of weirds me out. I mean what's next? A hot dog stand?

Rabbi Boteach has released multiple statements regarding Mr. Gosselin to the media, saying that despite Jon's professing to be newly half Jewish, he still considers him to be Christian.  "Christianity is a beautiful faith [but] If he thinks he's half-Jewish, God bless him." While not outright suggesting that Jon break up with Hailey, he did recommend that he stop having sex outside of wedlock and spend more time focusing on his children.

These were some of the topics of discussion when Rabbi Shmuley and Jon sat down at the synagogue on Sunday night in New York. "The Ethical Challenges and Moral Responsibility of Celebrity" was the main focus of the evening, with Rabbi Shmuley praising Jon's courage and humility and saying that he hopes he will in turn encourage other husbands in the same situation to do the right thing.

Um, yes. All the other reality show husbands who have eight children and a messy divorce that is under the spotlight of the media should leave their Jewish girlfriends who made them half-Jewish by default and find a synagogue where they can make a public apology that is covered by Entertainment Tonight. That sounds like a great plan.

I realize I sound mean. I do not particularly enjoy sounding mean. In fact, I am generally a very nice person. But I cannot help but be suspicious at the very strange goings-on that surround this media circus. I genuinely hope that for the sake of the eight innocent children stuck in the middle of all this that Mr. Gosselin is sincere, and will indeed turn his life around. But as he said himself: "I am going to change, but my actions will [have to] speak louder than words."

Well Mr. Gosselin, the world is watching. Don't let us down.

by T. Litvin