Sacha Baron Cohen banned from UK synagogues?

That's what you would think if you had read the reports over at TMZ. They even went so far as to actually investigate the issue only to find out no one would answer.

Due to Yom Kippur, all parties involved were unavailable for comment or verification.

Here's the site where the article that the TMZ report was based on. Had TMZ done their research, they would have realized that
The Board of Guardians Of British Jews was a satirical site, similar to the Onion here in the states. As of matter of fact, on the website, it CLEARLY STATES:

Important Notice:
This is a satire site based on real life. "Ridicule is nothing to be scared of"
Rabbi Adam Ant

Here's the text of the actual article.

Board expels Sacha Baron Cohen

Following recent incidents, The Board of Guardians of British Jews has decided to remove entertainer Sacha Baron Cohen from its honorary executive as well as fining him £9,000 and banning him from visiting any UK synagogue for six months.

The decision which was decided by The Board’s Surrey Beth Din takes affect from November 23 2006. Mr Baron Cohen can appeal the decision and has until October 23 to do so.

“We gave Mr Baron Cohen an informal warning over six months ago about the Borat character and how it is causing problems with the Kazakhstan government and that this is bringing major embarrassment to the Jewish community,” said Harry Greenberg, president of The Board. “Mr Baron Cohen ignored our letters and phonecalls and therefore after consultation with our rabbis, we have taken steps to exclude Mr Baron Cohen and let people know he is not connected with The Board and has been banned from setting foot into any synagogue for six months.”

The Board had hoped Mr Baron Cohen would stop performing as Borat but has not. Indeed, since The Board contacted him, Mr Baron Cohen in an act of defiance has actually increased his awareness of the character.

“We can only assume that Mr Baron Cohen is doing this as a total mark of disrespect to The Board,” said Board external director Emily Rosen. “He insults not only people from Kazakhstan, but also members of his own community. This we cannot accept lightly and therefore the steps we have taken should ensure that Mr Baron Cohen ceases to insult anyone.”

The move by The Board was in response to recent comments the US-based Anti-Defamation League has made about the harm Mr Barn Cohen is causing to US Jews.

“We have been informed that number of Jews in America are outraged by the antics of a British Jew, therefore in response to this, we have assured our US counterparts that on no UK Jew can cause such incidents in America and are grateful to the ADL for their support in this matter,” Mr Greenberg added.

See YNETNEWS and Jewschool for more.