Madonna in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM -- Clapping and singing, Madonna joined in a Kabbalah conference Friday in Tel Aviv to celebrate the Jewish New Year.

Madonna was singing Jewish songs with the crowd of hundreds at the David Intercontinental Hotel, site of the conference on Jewish mysticism. At one point she pressed another participant -- apparently a friend of hers -- up to the front where he danced excitedly, making the singer and the crowd giggle and clap enthusiastically.

The 49-year-old pop star wore a black jacket with elbow-length sleeves that was held at the waist with a belt with a large buckle. She also donned a baseball-type, red-and-black plaid hat with her hair in a ponytail.

Madonna, who is on a private visit to the Holy Land, arrived Wednesday night. She didn't speak to the media, and the conference was closed to TV cameras.

Demi Moore and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, were also attending the conference in Tel Aviv, and were seen out on the city streets Thursday night.

Madonna was raised a Roman Catholic but has become a follower of Jewish mysticism in recent years.

She has taken the Hebrew name Esther and has been seen wearing a red thread on her wrist to ward off the evil eye.

Madonna made her first trip to Israel in 2004.

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