Eddy Portnoy: Am Yisrael High: Jews and Cannabis (Virtual on Zoom)

In Partnership with Congregation Beth El, Berkeley

Long before people like Abbie Hoffman and Allen Ginsberg began protesting in favor of the legalization of marijuana, this popular plant had been a part of Jewish life for millenia. From the Bible to the present day, Jews have been buying, selling, and using cannabis for religious and medicinal purposes and as an intoxicant.

This talk will detail the long history of Jews and cannabis – and will delve into aspects that range from religious texts to medieval manuscripts to contemporary artifacts, all of which reveal deep Jewish involvement in the science, the marketing, the legalization, and the usage of cannabis. Read Maya Mirsky’s article “‘Am Yisrael High’: Jewish cannabis connection examined in Berkeley” in The J Weekly.

Miss it? Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CtgKi2yFsI