December 13, 2003
Source: The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/13/national/13RELI.html?ex=1072328400&en=697bdff01189f88c&ei=5070
On December 13, 2003 The New York Times published an article on the rise of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, in American pop culture. Signals of an increase in popular interest in Kabbalah range from Britney Spears sporting a mystical bracelet to Madonna speaking openly about teachings at Kabbalah Centre International. Traditional scholars of Jewish mysticism, frustrated with mainstream interest, have dubbed the new phenomenom "McMysticism," and some rabbis have even called it heretical.