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Porn star passionate about Jews

Porn star Benedict Garrett is learning Hebrew, loves Israel and has a dog called Simcha.

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A porn star and naked butler, who lost his job teaching sex education when pupils discovered his website, has spoken of his real passion - for "Hebrew, Israel and all things Jewish".

Benedict Garrett, 30, who goes by the stage name Johnny Anglais, has made films such as European Honeyz 4 and is in demand for hen parties nationwide for his services as a naked butler, clad in just a bow tie and a smile.

Mr Garrett, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, lists "Hebrew" as a language skill on his website.

But his proficiency in Ivrit is just part of his longstanding love for Jewish culture.

During his time as a personal, social, health and economic education teacher at Beal High School in Ilford, Essex, he began a Jewish society for pupils, invited rabbis to speak to students and prepared kosher snacks.

He is a regular at hen nights in north west London

Mr Garrett was fired from his teaching post after pupils discovered the website where he advertises his stripping services. His teaching job had included promoting safe sex to pupils.

He told the JC: "I have a long-time fascination and affiliation with the Jewish people, their history and their culture, visited shul, been to Israel, learnt Hebrew - but, alas, I am still a gentile."

Although he has never dated a Jewish girl, Mr Garrett is a regular at hen nights in north-west London Jewish suburbs.

He said: "I have very interesting chats with people when I go to Jewish hen nights, and at the Adonis Cabaret where I work on Saturdays I get very excited when I see crowds of Jewish women. I go up to them and say something in Hebrew and they say: 'Are you Jewish?' I have to smile and say no."

Mr Garrett owns a dog called Simcha and has two menorahs on top of his television. He said: "I don't quite have a mezuzah on the door yet."

His fascination with all things Jewish began as a teenager when he learnt about the Holocaust at his Church of England Primary School. He said: "I had a very Christian upbringing but I became intrigued by the history of the Jewish people, and I began reading more and more about it. I had never even met anyone Jewish before I came to live in London."

Mr Garrett said that his passion has grown in the past few years. On his Facebook profile, Mr Garrett lists his favourite music as klezmer and his favourite film is Steven Spielberg's Holocaust epic Schindler's List.

He visited Israel two years ago, on a solo visit. He said: "I really fell in love with the country. I began to look into studying Hebrew in anticipation of returning there one day."

He began taking Hebrew classes at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, and visited Bet Tikvah Synagogue in Newbury Park and South West Essex Reform Synagogue.

Despite his devotion to the faith, he is not looking at converting in the near future. He said: "It has been a consideration in the past, but the interest I have is in Israel, in Jewish culture, in the history. I am not a particularly religious person. I did find it a cathartic experience going to shul. I have never experienced that at church. I felt a deep connection - whether it was spiritual or not, I don't know. But conversion not something I could do at this point in my life, I may still consider it later. I am still wondering about the existence of God."

Mr Garrett, who accepts that he is unlikely to find another teaching post, said he now hopes to become a sex and fitness guru, and to promote safer sex in the porn industry.

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