BRENTWOOD - Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish celebration about the miracle oil that lasted seven days longer than it should have, will begin on December 4th. And while most Southland Jews will spend the holiday exchanging gifts and feasting, and Habib Burkakkah and his followers will also include daily readings of the Koran and prayer five times a day. 

Habib, formerly Jeremy Berkowitz, is a Jew and a Muslim, and is the leader of a new organization: Jews for Mohammed. Burkakkah started the religion last year after he had a revelation that Mohammed is the messiah.

“My mother was pretty upset by all of this,” said the bearded Habib. “And then I sacrificed a goat in her kitchen for Rammadon and she told me to never speak to her again. She, of course, called a few days later complaining that I never call her, we're talking but…she’s still pretty upset.”

Habib, however, is pressing on in spite of his mother's objections as he believes that his mingling of the two religions is the answer to the centuries-old conflict between Muslims and Jews. But some are questioning his motivation, specifically his ex-wife Sasha. The former Mrs. Berkowitz claims that Habib is a sex addict with a fetish for burka-clad woman. “The only revelation about Mohammed he had was one where he was surrounded by a harem of women giving him pleasure,” said the excited Sashsa. “He’s a real sicko, this one is. He tried to get me to a wear a burka one night and feed him grapes, but I refused. He only wants Jews and Muslims to get together so he has more screwing options.”

Burkakkah does admit that he likes Muslim women, but he claims that it has nothing to do with sex. “Islam celebrates women. Relations between the sexes are complementary rather than equal which frees women up to devote their time to their family and husband - especially pleasing the husband - instead of having to worry about getting a job. I find that Muslim women complain less. The religion also allows you to have more than one wife, which is great, because we all know that one is too much and two is not enough.”

Habib ended our interview with one final plea for understanding during Hanukkah this year. "Make friends with a Muslim this Hanukkah. If we Jews can spend more time connecting with Muslims then great things can happen...really amazing things...if you know what I mean."