Breaking Taboos: Rabbi Leads Research On Psychedelics And Jewish Identity
A new study is shedding light on how Jewish Americans view psychedelics and their potential for both healing and spiritual connection. As eJewishPhilantropy reported, Jewish Journeys is a national survey designed to understand Jewish perspectives on substances like psilocybin, LSD, MDMA and ayahuasca. Conducted by Emory University in partnership with the nonprofit Shefa, the study seeks insights into how psychedelics intersect with Jewish identity, spirituality and mental health.
The Need For Cultural Sensitivity
The growing interest in psychedelics across the U.S., particularly as potential treatments for mental health issues, has prompted religious communities to consider how these substances fit into their faith. Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, the CEO of Shefa, saw a gap in how the Jewish community was engaging with this trend. A former “D.A.R.E. kid” who was initially wary of psychedelics, Kamenetz had a transformative experience with psilocybin in 2017, during a study at Johns Hopkins University. He realized that while the Jewish community was embracing more spiritual practices, the conversation about psychedelics was largely absent.
“If psychedelics were going to become more accessible, the Jewish community wasn’t ready to handle the implications they might have on Jewish theology, community and creativity,” Kamenetz says.