Psychedelics in Israel: A Brief History

Israel has become a global leader in the revival of psychedelic research and culture, hosting clinical trials, start-ups, and therapy training programs. This chapter traces the growth of Israeli psychedelic culture from 1960 to 2000, when psychedelics first appeared, and its rapid expansion after 2000. The authors argue that Israel's political, ethnic, and sociocultural dynamics—shaped by its shift from a conservative, socialist country to one open to global influences—produced a distinct psychedelic culture blending global and local trends. The work contributes to literature on global perspectives of psychedelics by showing how sociocultural contexts shape their reception.

Study at a glance

Abstract

As of 2021, Israel is positioned at the forefront of a global revival of psychedelic research and culture.The small Middle Eastern country hosts clinical trials with psychedelics, generates multiple psychedelic start-ups, and hosts a pioneering psychedelic therapy training program.Popu lar interest in psychedelics is surging throughout the country as well, with multiple conferences, podcasts, magazines, and online communities dedicated to the subject.This vibrant scene reflects the radical transformations underwent by the formerly conservative and socialist country over the past half-century as it grew increasingly receptive to global influences.This chapter examines the growth and evolution of psychedelic culture in Israel, showing how historical and sociocultural conditions molded the reception of psychedelics into Israeli society.It focuses on the period between 1960-2000, when psychedelics first appeared in Israel, concluding with the rapid evolution and growth of the psychedelic scene there since the turn of the millennium.This research contributes to a nascent but growing body of lit er a ture that provides global perspectives on psychedelics by portraying how the po liti cal, ethnic, and sociocultural dynamics of Israeli society produced a distinct psychedelic culture mixing both global and local trends.It thereby provides a compelling example for the sociocultural embeddedness of psychedelics.