Jews are central voices in the ongoing “psychedelic renaissance” shaping research, practice, and public conversation. What happens when psychedelic experiences are brought into dialogue with classical Jewish sources and visions of divine encounters, mystical ascent, and eschatological and messianic expectations?

In this webinar, we explore how apocalyptic imaginaries and psychedelic engagement intersect with Jewish thought, both in Israel and in the U.S. We consider how notions of aliyat ha-neshama (ascent of the soul), mystical revelation, and radical transformation resurface in contemporary Jewish psychedelic exploration – and what they might mean for Jewish theology, practice, and activism today.

The webinar will feature Sam S. B. Shonkoff, Leor Roseman, and Natalie Bloch as speakers.

PLEASE NOTE: Our protocols for webinar attendance have changed. You must register in advance to attend this webinar. Please fill out this very short form, and a link to the Zoom webinar will be emailed to you at the email address you supply about 24 hours before the webinar begins: https://forms.gle/z5vGtARJ1Fzd6shV6. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sam S. B. Shonkoff, is the Taube Family Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union. His scholarship focuses primarily on German-Jewish and Hasidic theologies, as well as integrations of Hasidic spirituality in relatively secular spheres.

Leor Roseman, is a Senior Lecturer and Psychedelic Researcher at the University of Exeter. His interdisciplinary research encompasses neuroscience, psychology, phenomenology, anthropology and conflict resolution.

Natalie Bloch is a researcher in Hebrew Bible Exegesis at the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University. Her research interests include Jewish apocalypticism across the ages as well as psychedelics and religion/spirituality.

Aaron James Goldman will chair the webinar. He is a research fellow in Philosophy of Religion at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies.

Image credit: Monozigote [Wikimedia user], Artistic representation of Abraham Abulafia's ecstatic Kabbalah. 2021. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abulafia_ecstatic-kabbalah.jpg License: CC-BY-SA 4.0.