Source: The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2003/09/28ky/wir-front-services0928-12863.html

On September 28, 2003 The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) reported that "amid local and national worries that the Jewish population is stagnating, aging, tuning out to religion and intermarrying with non-Jews at high rates,...synagogues are offering broader menus of worship styles. The Temple and Adath Jeshurun, for example, offered services during this weekend's New Year's celebrations, or Rosh Hashana, that ranged from Hebrew chants to contemporary music, moments of meditation and hands-on spiritual lessons for children involving a visit from Louisville Zoo animals." The article highlighted the controversey such practices have sparked: "Citing such programs such as "Torah yoga," adopted in some synagogues around the country, critics question whether the initiatives are rejuvenating ancient Judaism, or are just replacing it with New Age fads. 'A Jew who can't show up for a Shabbat (the weekly Sabbath worship) service but gets a kick out of Torah yoga is probably a Jew the community doesn't need,' wrote Bradford R. Pilcher, a columnist for the online Jewsweek Magazine. 'The longer we keep funneling resources into programs that cater to the barely-Jewish in ways that barely represent Judaism,' his column said, 'the longer we'll foster a version of our religion that includes Buddhism and your local Cineplex.'"