The story of Jews and cannabis begins in ancient times and connects to religion, science, medicine and law.
Many Jewish texts, including the Bible and the Talmud, reference cannabis. Prominent rabbis have discussed it in their writings, and it has been used by Jews in religious rituals and for medicinal purposes. Many Jews are at the forefront of scientific research and medical applications of cannabis. They have been heavily involved in counterculture and legalization movements, as well as the commercial aspects of the modern cannabis industry, from horticulture to distribution to phernalia.
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research's latest exhibit, Am Yisrael High: The Story of Jews and Cannabis, will look at the contributions Jews have made to the field of cannabis and showcase materials from medieval documents to contemporary artifacts.
The panel will be moderated by exhibition curator Eddy Portnoy about the many connections of Jews to cannabis, religious and spiritual, historical, scientific and more, from May 5, 2022 to December 2022 at the YIVO Institute for Jewish ResearchYIVO Institute for Jewish Research, located in the Center for Jewish History Building 15 West 16 Street, New York, New York.
The panel will take place on May 5 at 7: 00 pm ET on YIVO and will be live streamed on Zoom. According to Eddy Portnoy, YIVO's academic advisor and exhibitions curator, told Benzinga Jews have made significant contributions to the culture of cannabis in a number of areas, including business, science and medicine, and the legalization movements.