With the psychedelic renaissance thoroughly underway in the wider culture, this series will focus on interweaving the fields of psychedelics and Jewish spiritual wisdom. We will travel together through a threefold path of preparation, immersion, and integration accompanied by voices from the rabbinic tradition and beyond in the hope of arriving at the end with more resources and perspectives on how to proceed and/or not proceed. We will also investigate how the lessons and best practices around psychedelics emerging from the realms of neuroscience, medicine and therapy can inform how we approach our religious and spiritual lives. Texts will be provided in Hebrew with English translation. No previous experience with psychedelics is necessary to participate in this series.

Session 3: The saying goes “After the ecstasy, the laundry.” When we have psychedelic experiences, be they exhilarating, challenging, confusing, or healing, there may still be more work to do in order to feel complete or whole. In the psychedelic field, this practice is commonly referred to as integration, a process “in which a person revisits and actively engages in making sense of, working through, translating, and processing the content of their psychedelic experience.” In this final session in our series we will think together about ways of talking out what remains present after a psychedelic experience and how that can help fully harvest any meaningful insights which can be tangibly brought into day-to-day life and consciousness.

Beni Summers is in his final year of rabbinical school at Hebrew College. He has focused his efforts on becoming a highly proficient teacher of Jewish mysticism, dedicated to inspiring seekers of all generations to live their Judaism as a spiritual practice through a neo-Hasidic lens. He served as the first rabbinic intern at Shefa: Jewish Psychedelic Support for three years, developing into a budding thought leader at the intersection of Judaism and psychedelics. He has also taught Jewish approaches to mindfulness meditation for many years, and convenes a weekly community for contemplative practice in Cambridge.

Who are these classes for?

Our classes are for everyone—whether you’re brand new to the topic or have been engaging with it for years, we encourage participation from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels. Unless otherwise noted, no prior knowledge or experience is needed. Not sure if a class is for you? Email us at Learning@Lehr.haus!

Why are there tickets at different prices?

Our tickets utilize a Pay-What-You-Can model so attendees can pay a range of prices based on what they are able to pay to allow for greater accessibility. Please select the price point that feels right for you.

Can I eat during class?

While we do not serve food in the study, you are welcome to order and enjoy drinks during class and join us for a meal before or after class. We highly recommend making a reservation if you know you'll be dining with us. Visit www.lehr.haus/reservation to check availability and book a table.