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psychedelics

A Star of David mosaic. (Wikimedia / Creative Commons)
October 31, 2025, 1:44 am
After October 7, some seek healing from kabbalah-informed psychedelic retreats
Founded by California Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, Shefa Jewish Psychedelic Support turned from an education-only organization to an experiential one after seeing need following the Hamas-led massacre
By Kathryn Post
Family members visit the site of the Nova music festival massacre, six months after the October 7 Hamas terror assault, in Re'im forest, near the Gaza border, April 7, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
October 19, 2024, 11:27 am
Study: Nova survivors who drank alcohol before Hamas attack more likely to suffer PTSD
Sheba Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University researchers surprised to find alcohol caused more psychological problems than psychedelics on survivors of Hamas’s Oct. 7 rave massacre
By Diana Bletter
File - The site of the Supernova music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel is seen on October 12, 2023. At least 360 Israeli festival-goers were killed during the assault by Hamas terrorists on October 7. (Ohad Zwigenberg/ AP)
From the WebApril 12, 2024, 8:14 am
Haifa U scientists use Nova rave massacre to study affects of psychedelics on trauma
With drugs like LSD, MDMA and ketamine on cusp of entering psychiatric mainstream, tragedy provides rare opportunity to gauge their effects at moment of extreme distress, NYT reports
By Natan Odenheimer, Aaron Boxerman and Gal Koplewitz
Aminadav Shvat stands outside his restaurant in Pisac, next to an easel advertising some of the Israeli dishes he serves. (Jacob Kessler/ JTA)
June 15, 2023, 5:48 am
Israelis flock to this tiny town in Peru for vacation — and psychedelic spirituality
With Hebrew as common on the streets as the local language, Pisac is seeing an influx of sabras seeking a respite from the stresses of everyday life in Israel
By Jacob Kessler
Rabbi Ben Gorelick. (Twitter screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 13, 2022, 3:17 am
Denver drops charges against ‘mushroom rabbi’ preaching psychedelics
Ben Gorelick, founder of multifaith group that mixes hallucinogens with ideas rooted in Jewish tradition, won’t face prosecution after Colorado votes to legalize psilocybin
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Rabbi Zac Kamenetz is one of the organizers of the landmark Jewish Psychedelic Summit. (J. the Jewish News of Northern California; background courtesy of Shefa/Shannon Levin/ via JTA)
April 18, 2021, 5:34 am
Jewish psychedelics movement blasts off with first-ever conference
Rabbi Zac Kamenetz has visions of healing generations of Jewish trauma with psychedelic experiences, and after being laid off during the pandemic, he’s working to make them real
By David A.M. Wilensky
Rick Doblin is a leading advocate for the use of MDMA in psychotherapy. A clinical trial he championed produced favorable results this year. (Ben Harris/ illustration by Grace Yagel/ JTA)
November 29, 2020, 6:05 am
Jewish psychedelics reformer Rick Doblin wants to see therapeutic MDMA legalized
Head of nonprofit psychedelics research center MAPS celebrates phase 3 trial results showing Ecstasy can treat PTSD; says tripping was better rite of passage than his bar mitzvah
By Ben Harris
Sasha Lurje, left, leads the Yiddish rock band Forshpil. (Marlene Karpischek via JTA)
August 31, 2020, 8:13 am
Yiddish psychedelic rock band Forshpil brings electric guitar to the shtetl
As Latvian band releases second album, front-woman Sasha Lurje speaks about its inspirations, transition from klezmer, and its new album’s ‘dark love stories’
By Joe Baur
In an October 21, 1998, file photo, Ram Dass, best known for the 1971 bestseller 'Be Here Now,' smiles during an interview at his San Anselmo, California, home (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File)
December 23, 2019, 5:57 pm
Psychedelic drug pioneer Ram Dass – born Richard Alpert – dies at home aged 88
Jewish-born peer of LSD advocate Timothy Leary and poet Allen Ginsberg sought to bring Eastern philosophy to US, suffered a severe stroke in 1997 that left him partially paralyzed
By AP
Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir backstage in 1977. (Peter Simon)
May 22, 2017, 3:31 pm
A Jewish filmmaker’s long strange trip to documenting the Grateful Dead
Amir Bar-Lev’s four-hour homage to all things Dead is ambrosia for fans — and a good way to initiate as yet ungrateful nonbelievers
By Jordan Hoffman
Yaacov Behrman
November 19, 2016, 3:38 pm
Yaacov Behrman
The Rebbe never blessed LSD trips
A Times of Israel article on Jewish spirituality and drugs failed to address the dangers of taking psychedelics
A festival-goer of Hasidic background at a psy-trance festival in upstate New York. (Ahron Moeller)
November 4, 2016, 4:29 am
Was Moses tripping when he saw the burning bush? Should you try?
A growing number of Jews are using psychedelics to reach spiritual highs, and you might be surprised to learn some Orthodox don’t frown upon the practice
By Madison Margolin
'Magic mushrooms' containing psilocybin (Amanita77/Wikicommons)
February 21, 2016, 10:37 pm
Science seeks rabbis to do ‘shrooms
Johns Hopkins University study looks for religious leaders willing to imbibe psychedelic substance psilocybin
By Renee Ghert-Zand
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