What is the reason Jews should take drugs in terms of our collective mission of rebuilding the 3rd temple. And when and where should it be used and for what purposes?
This article ended up in my feed randomly. Interesting that you mention Zalman and then go ahead and write an article right out of the sixties that might have been penned by anyone in the Jewish renewal movement. Having personally been well acquainted with many people involved in Zalman’s havura and Jewish renewal lluminaries like Arthur Green I can tell you exactly why Jewish Renewal failed and hence Jewish Psychedelics is most certainly not the future: because most of the people involved just happened to be Jewish & liked the Jewish vibe but had no moorings in actual Jewish life. And those like Zalman who did, got lost in the Pardes & went off the deep end. That’s why the Jewish renewal movement morphed into JVP & lost any ties or relevance to the vast majority of Jews. In any case if Jewish consciousness expansion is what you want, join the Bretslov. I’m pretty sure those guys do drugs but at least they have serious Jewish roots. Btw I’m currently reading Michaelson’s book on Nonduality. The latter might have deep Jewish roots, is definitely fascinating but has nothing to do with drugs.
One has to wonder why cannabis,magic mushrooms and peyote exist at all in the natural world.From a religious point of view,why did God make these flora?
Grapes to make wine goes through a process and is unnatural yet it plays a significant part in Jewish and Christian ritual yet it is prohibited in Islam.
"Natural" religions like those that use peyote and mushrooms in religious ceremonies are far more connected with the earth.
I have found that cannabis use does not produce good art.On the other hand mushrooms have had a profound effect on the way I think about myself and art.It definitely focuses the mind.
In my opinion the 3 Abrahamic relegions have strayed too far from the natural world.How is it that pollution is not deemed unkosher.?
Why has halachic law not addressed the poison in the rivers in Israel?
Why has Islamic law not condemned oil production
Why has Christianity not condemned industrial pollution.
It is my belief that these 3 religions are in dire need of a major change or there will be no one left to worship them
What a fascinating article! Thanks for writing it. I think (modern) Judaism is a lot less hierarchical than Christianity and Islam, which makes what those at “the top” say a lot less powerful. And one of the hardest things about anyone claiming to say it’s “not our hashkafa” (I don’t think most will really claim there are strong halachic reasons to outlaw psychedelics) is that they’d have to try it first to even know what they are talking about, which would render any subsequent allowances suspect… Anyways, quite curious where this leads.
I think the reason there's little halakhic discussion is that the classical sources don't deal with this. When dealing with intoxicating substances, they most often deal with wine. There are no specific laws I know of for beer and whiskey besides "they're chametz," for example. We know that ancient Israelites had access to cannabis, partially because of Tel Arad, and partially because the Mishna and Talmud actually use the word "cannabos" to describe a plant that can be used for fabric making. Rambam describes cannabis being used as a medicine. Yet the classical sources neither require or forbid the recreational usage of substances such as "cannabos," meaning that all arguments that they are forbidden that modern rabbis can make are on shaky ground.
Really, absolutely no talk of halakha at all?? Not even a passing reference to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's prohibition on cannabis, even just to comment on its cultural assumptions?
David, your article intrigues me but the notion of subjecting my mind to such an experience scares me. Can you describe what that experience would be like?
There are many, many possibilities, depending on both the substance and the context. I'd recommend reading Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind as a way to learn about the range. If you're looking for a firsthand report, Huxley's Doors of Perception is popular for a reason.
If psychadelic Judaism wins, it will be at the expense of people whose familial and/or medical history and/or economic abilities exclude them. If that's where you think Jewish futurism is going. I'm out.
I don't think it is to the exclusion of other forms of Judaism, and certainly not everyone should be using psychedelics. It's simply a powerful modality.
Excellent post. Although I am an artist/illustrator, and have never used psychoactive chemicals because I rely on my imagination and readingsfor inspiration. Much of my work, both written and visual encompasses Judaic themes infused with colorful depictions of our sages’ (chazal)encounters with the divine such as Ezekiel’s vision of the chariot.
However, if the use of psychedelics inspired those visions, our own imaginations certainly benefit from them. That said, I firmly believe that if such drugs are used that it should be done with medical supervision.
What is the reason Jews should take drugs in terms of our collective mission of rebuilding the 3rd temple. And when and where should it be used and for what purposes?
Oh wow. Like you can really look at your hand.
https://open.substack.com/pub/marlowe1/p/the-bella-lingua-the-stories-of-john?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=sllf3
No hippie. It's not going to win. Because drugs are for children.
https://open.substack.com/pub/marlowe1/p/the-bella-lingua-the-stories-of-john?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=sllf3
This article ended up in my feed randomly. Interesting that you mention Zalman and then go ahead and write an article right out of the sixties that might have been penned by anyone in the Jewish renewal movement. Having personally been well acquainted with many people involved in Zalman’s havura and Jewish renewal lluminaries like Arthur Green I can tell you exactly why Jewish Renewal failed and hence Jewish Psychedelics is most certainly not the future: because most of the people involved just happened to be Jewish & liked the Jewish vibe but had no moorings in actual Jewish life. And those like Zalman who did, got lost in the Pardes & went off the deep end. That’s why the Jewish renewal movement morphed into JVP & lost any ties or relevance to the vast majority of Jews. In any case if Jewish consciousness expansion is what you want, join the Bretslov. I’m pretty sure those guys do drugs but at least they have serious Jewish roots. Btw I’m currently reading Michaelson’s book on Nonduality. The latter might have deep Jewish roots, is definitely fascinating but has nothing to do with drugs.
Interesting article.
One has to wonder why cannabis,magic mushrooms and peyote exist at all in the natural world.From a religious point of view,why did God make these flora?
Grapes to make wine goes through a process and is unnatural yet it plays a significant part in Jewish and Christian ritual yet it is prohibited in Islam.
"Natural" religions like those that use peyote and mushrooms in religious ceremonies are far more connected with the earth.
I have found that cannabis use does not produce good art.On the other hand mushrooms have had a profound effect on the way I think about myself and art.It definitely focuses the mind.
In my opinion the 3 Abrahamic relegions have strayed too far from the natural world.How is it that pollution is not deemed unkosher.?
Why has halachic law not addressed the poison in the rivers in Israel?
Why has Islamic law not condemned oil production
Why has Christianity not condemned industrial pollution.
It is my belief that these 3 religions are in dire need of a major change or there will be no one left to worship them
What a fascinating article! Thanks for writing it. I think (modern) Judaism is a lot less hierarchical than Christianity and Islam, which makes what those at “the top” say a lot less powerful. And one of the hardest things about anyone claiming to say it’s “not our hashkafa” (I don’t think most will really claim there are strong halachic reasons to outlaw psychedelics) is that they’d have to try it first to even know what they are talking about, which would render any subsequent allowances suspect… Anyways, quite curious where this leads.
I think the reason there's little halakhic discussion is that the classical sources don't deal with this. When dealing with intoxicating substances, they most often deal with wine. There are no specific laws I know of for beer and whiskey besides "they're chametz," for example. We know that ancient Israelites had access to cannabis, partially because of Tel Arad, and partially because the Mishna and Talmud actually use the word "cannabos" to describe a plant that can be used for fabric making. Rambam describes cannabis being used as a medicine. Yet the classical sources neither require or forbid the recreational usage of substances such as "cannabos," meaning that all arguments that they are forbidden that modern rabbis can make are on shaky ground.
No dude. Drugs are only fun on vacation, not on a regular basis.
https://open.substack.com/pub/marlowe1/p/bloodbath-at-landsdale-towers-by?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=sllf3
Really, absolutely no talk of halakha at all?? Not even a passing reference to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's prohibition on cannabis, even just to comment on its cultural assumptions?
Rav Moshe's teshuva doesn't seem to have had a major influence on Jewish practice over the last 50 years.
David, your article intrigues me but the notion of subjecting my mind to such an experience scares me. Can you describe what that experience would be like?
There are many, many possibilities, depending on both the substance and the context. I'd recommend reading Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind as a way to learn about the range. If you're looking for a firsthand report, Huxley's Doors of Perception is popular for a reason.
If psychadelic Judaism wins, it will be at the expense of people whose familial and/or medical history and/or economic abilities exclude them. If that's where you think Jewish futurism is going. I'm out.
I don't think it is to the exclusion of other forms of Judaism, and certainly not everyone should be using psychedelics. It's simply a powerful modality.
Excellent post. Although I am an artist/illustrator, and have never used psychoactive chemicals because I rely on my imagination and readingsfor inspiration. Much of my work, both written and visual encompasses Judaic themes infused with colorful depictions of our sages’ (chazal)encounters with the divine such as Ezekiel’s vision of the chariot.
However, if the use of psychedelics inspired those visions, our own imaginations certainly benefit from them. That said, I firmly believe that if such drugs are used that it should be done with medical supervision.