Atlanta ( CNN ) -- Bishop Eddie Long has apologized to the Anti-Defamation League over an incident in which he was wrapped in a Torah scroll and crowned `` king . '' As shown in a video that went viral , the televangelist was wrapped in a `` Holocaust Torah '' and crowned king during a recent ceremony at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church , his suburban Atlanta congregation . `` The ceremony was not my suggestion , nor was it my intent , to participate in any ritual that is offensive in any manner to the Jewish community , or any group . Furthermore , I sincerely denounce any action that depicts me as a King , for I am merely just a servant of the Lord , '' Long wrote in a letter dated Saturday . The letter was addressed to Bill Nigut , southeast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League -- a Jewish group that fights anti-Semitism . `` While I believe that Rabbi Ralph Messer has good intentions during his message at New Birth , I understand that the ceremony he performed on Sunday , January 29th , caused harm to the Jewish community , for which I am deeply sorry , '' Long wrote . On Sunday , Nigut acknowledged the apology and said he was grateful for it . `` I thought it was a very heartfelt , sincere , humble apology , '' he told CNN . `` I was very gratified by Bishop Long apparently recognizing what our concern was . '' Nigut said he was deeply offended by the `` fake ritual , '' and by how the Torah was handled during it . Video from the ceremony showed Messer wrapping Long in the Torah scroll , which he said was recovered during the Holocaust . He then directed four men to lift a seated Long in his chair and parade him before the New Birth congregation . `` He is a king . God 's blessed him . He 's a humble man , but in him is kingship , royalty , '' Messer shouted . He said during the ceremony that the Torah was a `` priceless '' 312-year-old scroll that had been recovered from the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II . He said he wanted to honor Long `` on behalf of Jewish people , and the land of Israel . '' Rabbi Hillel Norry of Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta said last week the ceremony was `` ridiculous . '' There 's no Jewish coronation ceremony where someone is wrapped in a Torah and made a king , he said . `` We just do n't do that . We treat it with deference , '' Norry said of the Torah . `` It 's not a shawl , not a crown . Do n't treat it that way . '' Norry said Messer does n't appear to be an ordained rabbi in the Jewish faith . He also doubts that the Torah scroll that Long was wrapped in is actually 312 years old , and had somehow escaped detection in a concentration camp . Long is one of the most well-known televangelists in America . At its peak , New Birth had around 25,000 members , and Long 's sermons were broadcast around the globe . Two years ago , Long 's public image took a hit when four young men accused him of misusing his spiritual authority to coerce them into sexual relations . He settled out of court . Long 's wife , Vanessa , filed for divorce last year . CNN 's Dana Ford contributed to this report .
' Long writes a letter of apology to the Anti - Defamation League . In a ceremony , Long was wrapped in a Torah scroll and a ` ` king '' He says the recent fire at his church was not his fault . ` ` I am deeply sorry , '' Long writes . Jewish leader says apology ` ` heartfelt , sincere , humble ''