A rabbi has poured scorn on Madonna's newly-released children's book, which she says was inspired by a mystical branch of Judaism.

Rabbi Yitchak Schochet, of Mill Hill United Synagogue, spoke out after Monday's release of The English Roses, Madonna's first foray in the literary world.

The ‘not-so material girl’ has drawn on the Jewish Kabbala to provide a new burst of morality into a children's literary world she believes is devoid of guidance for her own offspring.

The first of five tales to be released before the end of 2004, The English Roses deals with ‘envy, jealously and being covetous of what other people have’.

Kabbala is a philosophical system which draws parallels between the creation of the universe and the Hebraic alphabet, and uses science and mathematics to explain the nature of God, angels, souls and the universe.

Madonna's mystical dabbling has led her to donate a reported £3.5 million to the Kabbala Centre in Mayfair which she attends regularly, but among Orthodox Jews, the study of Kabbala is often frowned upon unless the student is over 40 and well versed in the Torah.

"She will be insulting herself and all of the Jewish community," said Rabbi Schochet.

"She should stick with singing — what she is good at. I certainly wouldn't take to the stage with a microphone. You can only understand Kabbala if you are Jewish. If she thinks she can talk about Kabbala then she is making a fool out of herself."

Kabbala operates within a system were science and philosophy intertwine, but Rabbi Schochet believes the pop star, and many of her Hollywood buddies, have transformed faith into a fashion fad.

"If she purports to be explaining Kabbala then she has obviously lost the plot.

"Kabbala is an integral part of the Jewish faith which is esoteric and theocratic. You need years of study to understand it," he said.

The publisher, Puffin, refused to comment on Mr Schochet's remarks.