The Jewish psychedelic movement takes flight J. – The Jewish News of Northern California

Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, while some people were starting new hobbies, Rabbi Zac Kamenetz was starting a groundbreaking new organization, one he has long fantasized about.

Kamenetz has a vision. He dreams of a world in which the trauma of the Jewish past can be healed through psychedelic experiences, a world in which chemically assisted mystical encounters are a normative part of Jewish spirituality.

Describing it to J. in 2019, he said, Someday, I see a space, maybe in the East Bay, where people can have safe and supported psychedelic experiences individually, and then integrate those experiences in a community that is invested in the application of mystical experiences with other people. This is total science fiction because it doesnt exist.

It does now. After losing his job at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco during a round of pandemic layoffs, Kamenetz decided to go for it. He founded Shefa, which means flow in Hebrew; the organizations tagline is Connect With Divine Flow.

In less than a year, Kamenetz has secured funding from Jewish donors, as well as Dr. Bronners Family Foundation (as in Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps, the earthy brand with fine print all over the bottle) and the Riverstyx Foundation, which funds a number of psycho-spiritual projects.

He also has begun to hold regular integration circles, support group-like gatherings in which fellow travelers discuss and come to terms with their psychedelic experiences.

On March 26, Kamenetz announced a two-day event this spring that promises to put Shefa on the map the first ever Jewish Psychedelic Summit. Its a collaboration between Kamenetz; Natalie Lyla Ginsberg, director of policy and advocacy at the preeminent Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies; and Madison Margolin, editor of the psychedelics magazine DoubleBlind.

To be held virtually with four sessions on May 2 and four more on May 3, the summit will bring together dozens of rabbis, scholars, artists and more for panels with topics such as Did Psychedelics Play a Role in Ancient Jewish Practice? What Draws so Many Jews to India? and Jewish Trauma and Psychedelic Therapy: What Is Culturally Informed Care?

Psychedelic substances whether organic, such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms) or synthetic (such as LSD) are illegal virtually everywhere in the country, although some have been decriminalized to varying degrees in Oakland, Santa Cruz, Denver, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the state of Oregon. But that hasnt stopped researchers and other practitioners from beginning to delve into the medical applications of these substances, such as treating PTSD, anxiety, depression and other conditions.

Kamenetz has had two experiences with psilocybin, and both were done legally as part of a Johns Hopkins University study of psychedelic experiences in clergy of various religions.

Those experiences were among the most powerful of his life, he said, and convinced him of the need for psychedelic-assisted healing in the Jewish community.

Im one of the very few people who can say theyve had a legal experience with psychedelics in this country, Kamenetz said. To be able to speak freely about it without the stigma because its not just people talking about doing illegal things its allowed people to start having a more open conversation about it. When theres the opportunity to hear from someone who did this in a legal environment, people will listen more.

And for Jews who have already been working with or using psychedelics, Kamenetz is proud to be creating a platform where they can talk about it more openly.

I think weve gotten ahead of the market, he said. If it wasnt me, it wouldve been someone else.

Ben, a 34-year-old graduate student who didnt want to use his full name, is one of the many Jews who have used psychedelic substances. Hes attended two Shefa integration circles, 90-minute affairs that can include some Jewish chanting, brief text study and discussion of personal psychedelic experiences.

He appreciates the open, nonhierarchical vibe. People are encouraged to share about their experiences, ask questions, receive feedback, Ben said.

I have a significant and long-standing psychedelic background, he added. I have had a lot of conversations about it with similarly inclined Jews.

Ben first heard about Shefa when Kamenetz was interviewed on the Judaism Unbound podcast. I knew right away this is a conversation I want to be part of, he said. And I sort of got the same sense from a lot of other people, a shared sense that it was important to talk about and do and explore this, to create spaces where we can talk about it.

When the Jewish Psychedelic Summit was announced, Ben didnt even bother looking at the list of speakers. I just saw the name [of the conference] and said sign me up, he said though he admits hes excited about hearing from Rodger Kamenetz, the poet and author of The Jew in The Lotus.

Rabbi Kamenetz (no relation) is excited, too. Weve got this big Jewish family of psychedelic enthusiasts who are coming and contributing to making this thing happen, he said. Thats why it feels so significant to me. Ive never been part of something that really felt like a movement.

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The Jewish psychedelic movement takes flight J. - The Jewish News of Northern California