Frequently Asked Questions

Program Questions

  • Some of this information is available on our website, but to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information, we encourage you to join Shefa’s online community platform Kli, our mailing list, and follow us on social media.

  • Rabbi Zac leads public informational salons several times a year that cover these topics and more. Please fill out this form if you’d like to be notified of upcoming Shefa salons.

  • Due to high demand, all of our 2026 retreats are full. We are excited to share that we are currently planning our 2027 retreat calendar, which will open for applications in Fall 2026. In the meantime, please join our waiting list here.

General Retreat Questions

  • Shefa retreats are containers for deep personal work–small sanctuaries in which participants can soften the roles they hold in public and turn toward inner needs: for healing, honesty, and reconnection with the Divine. Like many psychedelic traditions, our approach is structured around a journey that includes reflection and processing before and after the retreat. While the retreat itself can feel like the “purpose” of the experience, research shows that thoughtfully structured and held preparation and integration support are what truly allow participants to achieve deep and long-lasting insights, healing and growth.

  • Put simply, a Shefa retreat is an opportunity to experience psychedelic healing and self-discovery within a Jewish spiritual container. Our retreats are shaped by Jewish time and ritual, supported by evidence-based therapeutic care. They are held in partnership with a dedicated Indigenous facilitator at every retreat, as an act of reciprocity toward the lineages from which these medicines come. Our retreats welcome participants across the spectrum of Jewish belief, practice, and affiliation. All we ask is that you bring a sense of openness to engage with our tradition, like the medicine we are working with, as a living source of meaning-making. Jewish practices at our retreats include:

    • Framing each day with Jewish wisdom and ritual in a pluralistic context

    • Integrating sacred texts, and Hasidic and kabbalistic teachings

    • Creating a Shabbat-like atmosphere of resourcing and reflection

    • Respectful space for a diversity of Jewish practice and orientation, with room for all types of needs with regard to observance.

    • A “least-dogmatic” approach to Jewish practice and wisdom. Everything we offer is an invitation for deepening one’s experience. No belief required. 

    • Kosher meals (prepared with hekhshered items in a kashered kitchen)

    • Shefa does not engage in underground psychedelic work. To ensure compliance with existing state laws, Shefa operates retreats exclusively in Oregon and Colorado. Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act and Oregon’s Psilocybin Services Act create state-regulated frameworks for supervised adult psilocybin services. During retreats, all psilocybin sessions take place at state-licensed healing centers and are facilitated by the mandated number of trained, state-licensed professionals. 

    • Stay updated about the rapidly changing map of legalization and decriminalization efforts in the United States.

    • The word idra (from Aramaic, meaning “threshing floor” or “circle”) refers to the mystical gatherings described in the Zohar, where sacred truths were shared among an intimate group of seekers. The Idra Retreat humbly invokes this lineage of intimate, courageous inquiry in seeking personal and communal healing.

    • The word tzohar appears only once in the Torah, described as the light-source Noah is told to build within the ark. Jewish mystics read it as a teaching about inner life: we all need to bring personal illumination to the traditions we inherit in order to make them our own. The medicines we work with can be that kind of light – bringing new perspective and greater clarity into our lives as we have come to understand them.

  • At this time, participants receive a personalized serving of psilocybin-containing mushrooms within a shared group setting. Dosage and session intentions are explored with licensed facilitators during preparation.

    • For Idra: participants take part in two individual onboarding calls, as well as three group preparation sessions before the retreat. After the retreat, participants take part in three group integration sessions, plus ongoing access to Shefa’s integration resources on Kli - our online Jewish psychedelic community platform. 

    • For Tzohar: participants take part in one individual preparation session and one group preparation session before the retreat. After the retreat, participants take part in one group integration session, plus ongoing access to Shefa’s integration resources on Kli - our online Jewish psychedelic community platform.

  • You may find retreat information on The Idra Project page and the Tzohar: Jewish Psilocybin Retreats page. If all current retreats are full, you can sign up for our waiting list and will be notified as soon as upcoming dates are available.

Retreat Application & Participation Questions

  • No. Many participants are first-timers. Our retreats are designed for beginners and experienced journeyers alike. The key is openness and a sincere readiness to engage the process.

  • If you are interested in a Shefa retreat, please review the description on your preferred retreat page carefully. If the offering resonates with you, we invite you to fill out an application, which includes initial medical screening questions. If you seem like a good fit for a retreat cohort, our team will be in touch to conduct an initial interview and discuss the medical screening process. All participants must complete a medical and psychological screening before acceptance. Certain conditions are contraindicated (bipolar, pregnancy, certain cardiovascular issues). If you’re unsure whether you’re a good candidate, please reach out before applying and we’ll help you think it through.

  • Certain medications, including SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium, and some cardiovascular medications, may be contraindicated or require a washout period before participating. This is assessed during medical screening. Please do not adjust or discontinue any medication without consulting your prescribing physician. If you have questions before applying, please reach out and we will connect you with the right person on our team.

  • Participant safety shapes every decision we make. Medical and psychological screenings are conducted before acceptance to ensure this experience is appropriate for you. Licensed facilitators and Shefa’s spiritual care team are present throughout–trained to hold whatever arises with skill, steadiness, and care. The retreat environment is carefully prepared to be safe, trauma-informed, and nurturing. Shefa’s extensive preparation and integration processes before and after the retreat also support each participant’s outcomes and safety.

    • Idra: We are greatly appreciative of the Sheri Eckhart Foundation’s generous Community Leaders Resilience Fund scholarships which are making the Idra Project accessible to our community. At this time, we cannot provide additional subsidies to participants, as the program is already heavily subsidized.

    • Tzohar: Tzohar retreats are significantly underwritten in order to make participation as financially accessible as possible. In addition, a limited number of scholarships are available based on financial need and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If receiving scholarship support would make participation possible

  • To ensure the safety and integrity of the work, all participants are required to attend all preparation and integration sessions and commit to the full retreat schedule.

  • Out of respect for the privacy and safety of all participants, participants may discuss their own personal experience and insights from the entire journey (preparation, ceremony, integration), but participants and facilitators agree not to disclose the identity of, or attribute any specific statement, experience, or story to, any other participant without that person's express prior consent. No photography, recording, or social media posts that could identify attendees without their explicit permission are permitted.

  • We understand this concern deeply and we take it seriously. Our world and our Jewish community is deeply polarized right now.

    Shefa's retreats are not political spaces and we do not screen participants by their politics. In practice, that means you may be in a room with people you disagree with on issues that matter deeply to you. That's what it means for us to serve the entire Jewish community.

    This is a retreat for healing and self-exploration, not political debate. If tensions surface, our facilitators are trained to notice it and redirect the space back to its purpose. Every participant also agrees to shared community guidelines before arriving, so expectations are set going in.

    We can promise that every retreat is held by trained guides whose job includes protecting the container and safeguarding everyone's physical, psychological, and spiritual safety. But if you need a guarantee that everyone around you will already agree with you on the toughest issues, this may not be the right moment for you to apply – and that's okay. On the other hand, if you can show up with openness and humility even when someone sees things differently than you do, you're exactly who this space is for.

    If you have any questions about any of this, please reach out.

  • Retreat and medical screening fees are non-refundable due to the limited cohort sizes and depth of planning involved. Extenuating circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Retreat Logistics Questions

    • An Idra cohort consists of 6-8 participants, supported by a 4- 5 member facilitation team. 

    • A Tzohar cohort consists of 10-12 participants, supported by a 5-6 member facilitation team.

  • We are so grateful for the incredible partnership of our Oregon and Colorado-based retreat center partners. You can read more about Fernlove (near Portland, Oregon) and SANCTUM (Aspen, Colorado) on their websites: Fernlove and SANCTUM Aspen.

  • Shefa retreats are facilitated by a mix of licensed natural medicine facilitators certified under state frameworks and other support staff. Every Shefa facilitation team brings training in trauma-informed care, somatic practice, and depth psychology, alongside deep familiarity with Jewish spiritual life. Shefa’s spiritual care team is present throughout to hold the Jewish arc of the experience, offer one-on-one support, and guide the communal journey. To read more details about our facilitators, please see Our Facilitators.

  • Yes. All meals are kosher. We can accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and most other dietary restrictions. Please share details in your intake form.

  • Our retreat spaces have different levels of ADA access. Please let us know your needs. We are committed to making participation possible for as many people as we can.

  • We strongly encourage participants to unplug during the retreat. Emergency contact information will be provided to loved ones. You can choose to use your phone as needed, but the space is designed for deep presence and digital disconnection.

  • Participants are required to book and pay for their own travel to and from the closest major airport. Shefa typically handles transportation between the airport and the retreat lodging destination. 

  • Our curated archive of foundational texts, books and articles about Judaism and psychedelics can be found on Kli—a Jewish psychedelic community.  We are continuously expanding the Kli community with new expert information and resources.

    • Yes, you can read more about Shefa’s Trip Siddur and purchase a hardcover copy here.

    • Does Shefa offer any holiday ritual guides to deepen my Jewish experiences throughout the year? 

    • Yes. Shefa has published several holiday guides that can be found on Kli—a Jewish psychedelic community.

  • Yes, you can find our favorite Jewish psychedelic music here. 

  • Shefa’s Preparation & Integration Facilitator Directory, located on Kli—a Jewish psychedelic community, is a great place to find qualified integration guides who are recommended by Shefa. They are committed to our community of practice and peer supervision, and are in consultation with us regarding Jewish cultural and spiritual responsive care.

    • Shefa’s Preparation & Integration Facilitator Directory, located on Kli—a Jewish psychedelic community. is a great place to find qualified integration guides who are recommended by Shefa. They are committed to our community of practice and peer supervision, and are in consultation with us regarding Jewish cultural and spiritual responsive care.

    • NEST Harm Reduction: Offers support and integration for challenging altered state experiences, clinical intervention for triggered individuals and a wide range of other mental health and harm reduction services and resources. 

    • Fireside Project: Offers a 24/7 hotline that is available to support individuals experiencing a difficult psychedelic experience or seeking support for integrating psychedelic experiences.

Resource Questions

    • We rely on charitable contributions to support Shefa’s mission and are deeply grateful for gifts of every size. Here is where you can make an online gift and learn how your donation amount will support our work. 

    • For inquiries from foundations and larger individual gifts and grants, we’d love to set up a call with our leadership team to learn more about your priority areas and answer your questions.

Donor Questions

Volunteer Questions

  • You can read more about volunteering for Shefa here. 

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