Judaism and Mary Jane: A Lit Combination

Yo, what’s good, fam? It’s your boy Dan here, and with autumn in full swing, we gotta talk about the Jewish high holy season. It’s a time of reflection, celebration, and giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives. It’s all about honoring the history of the Jewish people, a tradition that’s been held down around the world for mad long, touching the hearts and souls of millions.

We start off this lit season with Rosh Hashanah, which is like a burst of celebration for the New Year. And then we reach the peak with Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. During these holidays, fasting, family time, prayers, and more are all part of the vibe. It’s a time when the faithful chill out and contemplate life to find that true meaning, ya feel me?

But hold up, I gotta ask: What’s the deal with the Jewish faith and marijuana? Well, in the US, it seems like the Jewish population is repping hard in the recreational cannabis game. Some peeps think it’s because Jewish folks tend to live in urban areas, where they’re surrounded by that urban avant-garde culture. Plus, there’s a strong presence of Jewish residents in academia, so you know they’re down for that intellectual experimentation.

And let me tell you about Canada, especially Toronto. They did some surveys among high school students and found that Jewish students were getting lit on cannabis way more than their Catholic counterparts. Talk about a major difference in attitudes towards that green goodness!

Now here’s a little something you might not expect. One of the biggest players in the marijuana product game is Wana Brands, based outta Colorado. And get this: their edibles are certified kosher by Whole Kosher Services from Houston. They ain’t playin’ around when it comes to keeping things legit during this high holiday season. You already know that smoking ain’t gonna fly during the fasting, so they gotta make sure their edibles are kosher to avoid any impurities. That’s how they keep it real, my friends.

Speaking of keeping it real, let’s talk about the ancient roots of this plant. The Hebrew Bible, which is like a major part of Jewish culture, doesn’t really mention cannabis. Some researchers believe that cannabis wasn’t documented or mentioned in early Judaism based on archaeology, lexicography, and paleobotany. But there’s one advocate, Sula Benet, who thought otherwise. She claimed that the plant mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, called kaneh bosem, was actually cannabis. It was even used in the holy anointing oil in the Book of Exodus. But not everyone is convinced, y’know? Some scholars are skeptical or just straight-up disagree.

Now let’s get into some religious opinions on this matter. In 1973, Orthodox rabbi Moshe Feinstein said that cannabis wasn’t permitted under Jewish law because of its harmful effects. But then in 2013, Orthodox rabbi Efraim Zalmanovich came through and said that medical cannabis is cool, but recreational use ain’t allowed. It seems like the population has mixed feelings about it though. They’re out here using cannabis despite what the rabbis are saying.

And just to show you how serious this topic is, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York City recently had an exhibition called “Am Yisrael High: The Story of Jews and Cannabis.” They’re sparking some intellectual discussion and keeping the conversation going.

So there you have it, fam. The Jewish high holy season is a time for reflection and celebration, but it’s also got us thinking about the relationship between the Jewish faith and marijuana. It’s a complex topic with different opinions and views. But one thing’s for sure, peeps are still getting lit and showing love to that green goodness. Stay blessed, stay high, and keep it real. Peace out!