We are living in a moment of deep unraveling — of systems, identities, existential assumptions, and inherited strategies for holding it all together. Rabbis, like so many others, are being asked to lead through this uncertainty, to hold complexity with care, and to sustain vision without clear maps. And they are often doing so without spaces for their own nourishment, grief, or inner reckoning.
To help support this critical moment in American Jewish life, we are honored to offer The Idra Project. This five-day, legal psilocybin retreat is for a small cohort (six individuals) of rabbis ready to open, reflect, and reweave connection — to self, to tradition, to one another, and to something larger than themselves. This leadership retreat is not a summit or a strategy session. It is a protected circle, an idra–a sacred space of discernment at a time when Jewish leaders must be better resourced for a world which desperately needs their presence, humility, and moral imagination.
Want to learn more? Join us for an information session on February 10th to hear from our founder Rabbi Zac Kamenetz and a former participant (a rabbi) about the Idra experience followed by a Q+A. Register here.
What Makes This Experience Unique
The Idra Project is Shefa’s programmatic offering accessing Oregon’s, legal statewide psilocybin service program, which was passed by voters in November 2020 and now regulated by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The two psilocybin ceremonies for this retreat will take place at the Fernlove, a licensed psilocybin service center located one hour outside Portland. Our ceremonies are guided by professionally licensed facilitators in collaboration with Shefa, providing the highest levels of medical safety, cultural and spiritual responsiveness, and ethical consideration.
Tucked away on 30 private acres of forest near Henry Hagg Lake, cohort participants will prepare for and integrate their psilocybin ceremonies together through shared spiritual practice, nourishing walks in nature, facilitated Jewish learning and conversation, kosher meals, and space for rest and recovery.
Because we are dedicated to having all of our offerings be data-driven, we may invite participants to complete optional, short, and anonymous surveys created by our scientific research advisory team before and after their experiences.
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from rabbis serving in various communal contexts, especially those who are:
Feeling a genuine need for this kind of space
Experiencing professional burnout
Facing financial constraints
Long drawn to this work but need a legal, structured setting to pursue it
Can meet the following criteria:
Fulfill the medical eligibility requirements set by our partner psilocybin service center
Feel a deep personal calling to explore psilocybin-supported self-exploration within a Jewish communal framework
Able to fully commit to the entire arc: preparation, retreat, and integration
You’ll need to:
Openness
Respect for confidentiality
Curiosity
Care — for themselves and the group
What is Involved?
1. Applications & Screening- Begin your application here.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply, the better.
While the deadline is February 22, space may fill before then. If that happens, your application may be considered for a future cohort. Applicants must complete written applications for Shefa, Fernlove, and CLRF to determine eligibility.
2. Preparation (Zoom)
June 22nd (4-5:30pm PT on Zoom)
June 29th (4-5:30pm PT on Zoom)
July 6th ((4-5:30pm PT on Zoom)
3. The Idra Retreat
July 13-17th
Cohort gathers outside of Portland for a five-day residential retreat, including two psilocybin journeys facilitated by Fernlove’s licensed team with support from onsite Shefa staff. The retreat includes daily opportunities to integrate, learn, grieve, celebrate, rest, and process together as Jewish leaders.
4. Integration (Zoom)
July 20th (4-5:30pm PT)
July 27th (4-5:30pm PT)
August 3rd(4-5:30pm PT)
Pricing & Commitment
In deep gratitude to The Sheri Eckert Foundation and the Community Leaders Resilience Fund we are able to offer this retreat at a significantly subsidized rate.
Retreat Fee of $1,800 includes:
Application and interview
Medical screening
Logistics and coordination
Shefa/Cora individual and group preparation sessions
All shared meals
Retreat activities in-between ceremonies
Group preparation integration sessions
*Retreat fee does NOT include plant medicine or airfare (see FAQ for more details)
Participants are required to book and pay for their own travel to and from Oregon.
Payment is due within seven days of acceptance to confirm your spot. Due to the limited number of participants and the depth of planning required, we are unable to offer refunds, though extenuating circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
This retreat is being co-curated by three organizations: Shefa as retreat provider, Fernlove as ceremony provider, and the Sheri Eckert Foundation as retreat sponsor. While working in unison, each has a separate application form to ensure compliance with their own processes. We thank you for your time and patience while going through each of these necessary steps.
We are now accepting applications for our July 2026 Retreat.
FAQ
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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.
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This is not a professional development seminar. It is not a summit or skills training. This is a container for deep personal work — a sanctuary in which Jewish leaders can soften the roles they hold in public and turn toward inner needs: for healing, honesty, and reconnection with Source.
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Oregon Measure 109 created a regulated framework for supervised adult psilocybin services. All psilocybin sessions take place at Fernlove, a state-licensed psilocybin service center, and are facilitated by trained, OHA-licensed professionals.
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Participants ingest a personalized dose of psilocybin-containing mushrooms in a group setting with individual support. Doses and session plans are discussed in advance with licensed facilitators during the preparation phase.
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Yes. Medical and psychological screenings are conducted to ensure safety and appropriateness for this work. Licensed psilocybin facilitators are present throughout each journey, along with Shefa’s spiritually grounded support team. The environment is carefully prepared to be safe, trauma-informed, and nurturing. We take your safety seriously.
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The retreat is shaped by Jewish time, ritual, and spiritual care. Practices include:
Framing each day with Jewish wisdom and ritual in a pluralistic context
Integrating sacred texts, Hasidic and kabbalistic teachings
Creating a Shabbat-like atmosphere of resourcing and reflection
Kosher meals
Respectful space for a diversity of Jewish practice and orientation
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We are making room for all types of needs with regard to observance. Communally, all food will be prepared with hekhshered items in a kashered kitchen. Individually, please reach out if there are particular issues you would like to discuss with our staff.
Application + Participation
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That’s okay. Many participants will be first-timers. This retreat is designed for beginners and experienced journeyers alike. The key is openness and a sincere readiness to engage the process.
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Before: A private onboarding call with a Shefa staff member, a 1:1 with a licensed facilitator, and 3 group preparation sessions
After: 3 group integration sessions, plus ongoing access to Shefa’s integration network.
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No. 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 five-day retreat.
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All participants, facilitators, and staff sign confidentiality agreements. Your participation will not be publicized. You may share your experience afterward if you choose, but the space is held in trust.
Cost + Commitment
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$1,800 covers everything except psilocybin itself and your airfare. The fee includes preparation, lodging, meals, and integration support.
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Oregon law requires that psilocybin be paid in cash by participants directly to the licensed service center. Instructions will be shared once accepted.
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We are greatly appreciative of the Sheri Eckhart Foundations generous Community Leaders Resilience Fund scholarships which are making the Idra Project accessible to our community. At this time, we cannot provide more subsidies to participants.
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Due to the small cohort size and depth of planning, the fee is non-refundable once accepted, except in extreme circumstances.
Logistics
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Participants will be housed on site at Fernlove. The environment is comfortable, serene, and conducive to rest and reflection.
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A typical day may include:
Morning prayer, meditation, movement, and singing
Kosher breakfast
Facilitated group learning and preparation/integration circles
Quiet time for reflection, journaling, or walking
Shared lunch and dinnerInformal offerings (songs, texts, poems etc.)
Evening group check-in or rest time
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We encourage participants to unplug as much as possible during the retreat. Emergency contact information will be provided to loved ones. You’ll have access to your phone as needed, but the space is designed for deep presence and digital disconnection.
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The home has stairs and limited ADA access. Please let us know your needs—we are committed to making participation possible for as many people as we can.
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All meals are kosher. We can accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, and other dietary restrictions. Please share details in your application.
Who is leading the retreat?
Rabbi Zac Kamenetz
Rabbi Zac Kamenetz is the founder and CEO of the non-profit Shefa, the first Jewish organization to create spaces for healing and self-discovery in community by integrating Jewish wisdom with psychedelic practices. He holds a BA in Jewish Studies from the University of Maryland, an MA in Biblical Languages from University of California at Berkeley, and received rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinical Authority of Jerusalem in 2012. Zac is trained in somatic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy by the Hakomi Institute of California. Zac lives on Ohlone land in the Strawberry Creek Watershed called Berkeley, California with his wife and two children.
Chloe Jacobs
Chloe has been on the Shefa team for 3 years managing programs and communications. She is passionate about bringing embodied approaches to Jewish spirituality to both individuals and communities. She utilizes a wide range of media to make connections, including music, dance, theater, connection to nature, and more.
Additional facilitator information coming soon.
Testimonials
“I have no words to describe my gratitude for this experience. It was indeed one of, if not the, most profound and meaningful experiences of my entire life. The amount of care and healing I got is indescribable. The combination of traditional indigenous South American and Jewish music and wisdom was beautiful and incredible and I was able to touch and heal some of my deepest wounds which were so in need of healing.”
—Idra 2026 Participant
“This was a perfect professional development opportunity. I came back to my rabbinate feeling refreshed and renewed and inspired. I came back with deep connections to colleagues I might never have interacted with that I know will be helpful to my work. Finally, I came back feeling so much gratitude for the amazing world we live in, wild adventures (even at my age), and the mysteries and miracles of The Eternal.”
—Idra 2025 Participant
“I don’t think I have ever experienced rest like this. The Shefa and Cora team held space with sacred intention and deep, profound meaning and kavanah that I was able to be present in my life and being in a way I have never encountered before. Thank you for this tremendous gift.”
—Idra 2026 Participant