Madonna has joined the Israeli prime minister and his family in the traditional ritual that welcomes the Jewish Sabbath, lighting candles and reciting a blessing together with Benjamin Netanyahu's wife Sarah.

A statement from Netanyahu's office says the singer spent two hours at the Netanyahu home on Friday evening.

Although not Jewish, the 51-year-old pop star claims a special bond with Israel and Jewish tradition.

She's been exploring Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, for more than a decade and has taken the Hebrew name, Esther.

She arrived in Israel on Sunday and performed in Tel Aviv on Tuesday and Wednesday.

She was wearing a short-sleeved black dress as she left the heavily guarded Netanyahu home Friday.

Source: AP