Tzohar

“Make an opening—tzohar—for daylight…" (Bereishit 6:16)

Our ancestral story teaches that even when preparing for a journey into the unknown, we are called to make space for the light to enter. Facing flood and upheaval, Noah builds an ark—a protected vessel for what matters most—and into it he places a tzohar, an opening, to receive illumination. That wisdom lives in us still.

Many of us are moving through the world with full hearts and busy lives, hungry for something we can't quite name—deeper connection, renewed purpose, real time to remember who we are beneath the noise. Tzohar is Shefa's three-night psilocybin retreat experience in Colorado for Jews ready to build that opening: to be held in community, to journey inward, and to emerge with more spaciousness than they arrived with.

Tzohar is a spiritual immersion for healing and self-discovery—for Jews ready to do this work together.

INTEREST FORM

What makes this experience unique?

Tzohar operates within Colorado's legal natural medicine program, passed by voters as Proposition 122 in November 2022 and regulated by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Tzohar retreats take place in partnership with Sanctum, a licensed natural medicine healing center in Aspen. On each retreat, the ceremony is facilitated by a team of professionally licensed facilitators working in partnership with Sanctum and Shefa, with the highest standards of medical safety, cultural responsiveness, and ethical care.

Set against the Rocky Mountains, participants prepare for and integrate their ceremony together through embodied Jewish practice, walks in nature, kosher meals, and time for rest and reflection.

Tzohar is also a contribution to the growing body of knowledge about Jewish psychedelic experience. We may invite participants to complete optional, brief, and anonymous surveys before and after the experience as part of our ongoing research.

Who Should Apply?

Tzohar is open to any Jewish adult 21 or older – affiliated or unaffiliated, practicing or culturally connected, however you hold that inheritance. No particular level of observance or background is required. If you're unsure whether this includes you, please reach out.

We especially welcome 
those who are:

  • Called toward deeper connection—to self, to community, to something larger

  • Drawn to this work but in need of a supported and Jewishly grounded setting within a statewide legal framework

Participation requires a willingness to commit fully to the arc—preparation, retreat, and integration—and to meet the medical eligibility requirements set by our partner healing center. What you bring matters most: openness, care for yourself and the group, and a genuine readiness to be present.

What is involved?

1 — Applications & Screening

Applications open on a rolling basis for each new cohort—fill out our interest form here to be notified about upcoming retreats.

We'll review your submission and if we feel you may be a fit for the cohort, we will be in touch about an interview. Please respond promptly.

For applicants who move forward following an interview with the Shefa team, a medical screening and assessment is required prior to being offered a retreat spot. The medical screening fee is $300.

Applicants invited to continue will be sent a payment link for the medical screening. Once payment is submitted, applicants can expect to be contacted by our medical screening partners within 1–3 business days to begin the screening process.

Please note that payment of the screening fee does not guarantee retreat acceptance or placement. Medical screening must be completed and approved before a retreat spot can be formally offered.

The medical screening fee becomes non-refundable once the screening process has begun, regardless of participation outcome.

If offered a retreat spot following screening approval, applicants will have 3 days to submit the $1,950 retreat fee before the space may be offered to another applicant.

We recommend applying as soon as possible, as space is limited.

2 — Group Preparation Calls (on Zoom)

Each cohort holds a group preparation call ahead of the retreat. Exact dates are confirmed with each accepted cohort.

3 — The Tzohar Retreat in Aspen, Colorado

Tzohar is offered across multiple retreat dates each year. Each cohort follows the same overall structure, preparation process, ceremony experience, and integration support. Throughout, participants gather for embodied Jewish practice, shared meals, learning, and time to rest and process together.

View Program Schedule →

4. Integration (Zoom)

Each cohort holds a group integration call following the retreat. Exact dates are confirmed with each accepted cohort.

5. Ongoing Connection

The cohort doesn't end when the retreat does. Participants are invited to continue gathering monthly in optional integration circles as the experience unfolds over time.

Where You’ll Stay

Participants stay at Aspen Meadows Resort, a 98-suite property set on 40 acres in the West End of Aspen, rooted in the history of the Aspen Institute and designed by Bauhaus artist Herbert Bayer. The resort is minutes from Sanctum and within walking distance of Aspen's trails, shops, and restaurants.

Standard accommodations are shared suites with single-gendered room assignments. Private room upgrades are available upon request for an additional fee.

Lodging and ground transportation if flying into Aspen are included in your retreat fee and arranged by Shefa. The closest airports are Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE, approximately 70 miles), and Denver International Airport (DEN, approximately 225 miles). Detailed logistics information—including packing guidance—will be sent upon acceptance.

Pricing & Commitment

Tzohar retreats are underwritten by generous supporters to keep the experience as accessible as possible.

Retreat Fee: $1,950 + $300*

❋ What’s included:

  • Application and screening

  • Logistics and coordination

  • Individual and group preparation and integration sessions

  • Ground transportation in and out of Aspen Airport only

  • Lodging

  • One group psilocybin journey

  • All shared meals

  • Retreat activities before and after the ceremony

Airfare to and from Aspen is not included.

*$300 Medical Screening Fee: As stated above, there is a required medical screening and assessment and is only required for applicants who move forward after interviews with the Shefa team. Medical screening must be completed and approved before a retreat spot can be formally offered.

❋ Payment & Cancellation Policy

Payment is due within three days of acceptance. Medical fees are non-refundable, regardless of participation outcome & retreat fees are non-refundable with extenuating circumstances considered on a case-by-case basis—please reach out as early as possible if your situation changes.


❋ Our Collaborative Process

This retreat is co-curated by two organizations: Shefa as retreat provider, and Sanctum as ceremony provider. While working in unison, each has separate medical clearance forms to ensure compliance with their own processes. We thank you for your time and patience while going through each of these necessary steps.

Take the first step toward your Tzohar experience

APPLY TO JOIN
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For more information and to see answers to commonly asked questions, please see our FAQs.