Dr. Oz is off to see the Holy Land

Talk about a Yiddishe mama’s dream: A rabbi to the stars and the US’s most popular TV doctor are heading to the Holy Land to learn about Judaism.

Shmuley Boteach, a popular rabbi and author (who also blogs for The Times of Israel) will travel to Israel with Dr. Mehmet Oz — one of the best-known doctors in America — whose popular “Dr. Oz Show” followed his many appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey show.”

This is the first visit to Israel for Oz, who is due to arrive in the country, along with his wife, Lisa, his four children and his son-in-law, on July 28 for a one-week stay. They are being hosted by Boteach and This World: The Jewish Values Network. The trip is being sponsored by casino magnate and American billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who is lending them his private jet for their travels.

The trip is being touted as a “journey of Jewish values” for the Turkish-born Oz and his family, and will include stops at the Western Wall, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum, the Dead Sea, and Safed. Oz is also scheduled to make a personal visit to the tomb of medieval Jewish doctor Maimonides.

Oz, who serves as professor of surgery at NY Presbyterian/Columbia University and whose “Dr. Oz Show” racked up its third consecutive Emmy in 2013, and Boteach — whose 29 published books include “Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy” — will make two public appearances together during the trip: the first, at the Jerusalem Press Club and Mishkenot Sha’ananim, will be a panel discussion on the values needed for a Middle East renaissance; and the second, due to be held at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, will be a panel discussion on the civic leadership duties of physicians and clerics.