- NEWS & COMMENTARY
Kerry says Israelis, Palestinians must make tough decisions
Israeli and Palestinian leaders must decide soon on whether to revive long-dormant peace negotiations to end their decades-old conflict, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
Industry is best bet for peace, Israeli billionaire says
On a new industrial park in Israel's largest Arab town, a software plant belonging to a multibillion-dollar U.S.-listed firm sits cheek-by-jowl with two small Arab-owned businesses: a metal factory and one producing tools for brain surgery.
Adelsons donate $40 million to Birthright
Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, donated $40 million to the Birthright Israel Foundation.
- HOLLYWOOD
Billy Crystal to star in Larry Charles’ FX series
Looks like FX is going to be injecting some humor into their lineup. Not a bad idea, we think, after many seasons of the awesome yet dark series “Justified” or…
Civility replaces violence in ‘Last White Night’
In June 1965, during the most violent days of the civil rights movement, 21-year-old Paul Saltzman drove from Toronto to Mississippi to become a freedom fighter with the Student Nonviolent…
Spielberg to produce ‘Halo’ television series, plus other news from the Xbox One announcement
Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and…
- LIFE & CULTURE
A talent agent turns yogurt maven
Amy Salko Robertson — producer of such films as “The Oh in Ohio,” “Lab Rats” and “When Do We Eat?” a comedy set at a Passover seder —realized that she…
Maccabi Tel Aviv back on top but coach future uncertain
Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have reasserted their dominance of Israeli soccer but media reports on Tuesday suggested they might have to continue their revival without coach Oscar Garcia.
Angelina’s breast cancer victory isn’t for celebrities only
Actress Angelina Jolie just announced that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning that she was genetically predisposed to cancer. Her disclosure was a powerful show of solidarity with…
- BLOGS
Propaganda lies in a disguise
Muhammad al-Durrah, the little boy who became the symbol of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, is returning to the headlines after a decade. A photo of him, crying, leaning against a wall…
Male Eating Disorders: A Real Thing
Recently, People Magazine came out with an article about Ashley Hamilton talking openly about his struggles with an eating disorder. I applaud Ashley for coming out about having an eating…
Religion at the End of The Big C
Last night, Showtime’s The Big C aired its final episode. After three seasons of half-hour installments, this comedy returned for a shortened final season consisting of four hour-long episodes. Subtitled…
- JUDAICA STORE
- INFO
Mobile
Read the JJ
Community/Events
Advertisement
March 3, 2008 | 11:13 pm
Did Moshe Rabbenu meet YHWH at Sinai, or was he just tripping?
Posted by The Web Guy
Follow JewishJournal.com on 
A Hebrew University professor of psychology suggests Moses was high on psychotropic herbs those fateful days at Sinai, according to an article in Haaretz:
“And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking.” Thus the book of Exodus describes the impressive moment of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.
The “perceiving of the voices” has been interpreted endlessly since these words were first written. When Professor Benny Shanon, professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, reads the verse, he recalls a powerful hallucinatory experience he had when he visited the Amazon and drank a potion made from a plant called ayahuasca.
“One of the things that happens when you drink the potion is a visual experience created via sounds,” he says.
Shanon presents a provocative theory in an article published this week in the philosophy journal Time and Mind. The religious ceremonies of the Israelites included the use of psychotropic materials that can found in the Negev and Sinai, he says.
This, of course, is not what we learned in Hebrew school. Damn pineal gland.
The Jewish Journal believes that great community depends on great conversation. So, jewishjournal.com provides a forum for insightful voices across the political and religious spectrum. Bloggers are not employees of The Jewish Journal, and their opinions are their own. Our entire blog policy is here. Please alert us to any violations of our policy by clicking here. (editor@jewishjournal.com). If you'd like to join our blogging community, email us. (webmaster@jewishjournal.com).
LA elects Garcetti as first Jewish mayor
5.22.13 at 9:09 am | Eric Garcetti became the first elected Jewish. . .
L.A. elects first Jewish mayor
5.22.13 at 8:16 am | UPDATE 8:00 am: Eric Garcetti wins the mayoral. . .
Justin Timberlake and Coen brothers answer Jewish questions at Cannes
5.21.13 at 11:06 am | Using his preternatural smoothness, Justin. . .
James Franco paints ad for ‘This is The End’
5.20.13 at 11:40 am | Proving once again that there isn’t anything he. . .
Alison Brie on her very Jewish mother
5.14.13 at 9:59 am | This week on his podcast, Jewish comedian Marc. . .
Beastie Boys writing memoir
4.30.13 at 10:58 am | Michael Diamond (Mike D.) and Adam Horovitz. . .
It’s official: Kate Upton isn’t going to Jake Davidson’s prom
4.24.13 at 3:15 pm | So, 17-year-old Milken Community High School. . . (1689)
Norway’s Last 819 Jews Are NOT Leaving the Country
4.25.13 at 4:47 pm | (526)
L.A. elects first Jewish mayor
5.22.13 at 8:16 am | UPDATE 8:00 am: Eric Garcetti wins the mayoral. . . (427)
Los Angeles Demonstrations Support Egyptian People [VIDEO]
Egypt was a middle eastern civilization, not a...
Rabbi Manis Friedman, who downplayed damage caused by sexual abuse, apologizes [VIDEO]
Ginger, sweety, You’re absolutely right! He...
‘Who’s On First?’: The Sequel (w/ Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal & Jerry Seinfeld) [VIDEO]
Very cute!
Howard Zinn: Israel was a “Mistake.”
No mention of desire to annihilate Israel. All...
Rabbi Sharon Brous’ statement on the Newtown, Connecticut shooting
Amen. Clearly it’s all our responsibility
Zionism: The great Jewish ethical project
How do you truly feel in living on stollen land?...
More from JewishJournal.com
COMMENTS
We welcome your feedback.
Privacy Policy
Your information will not be shared or sold without your consent. Get all the details.
Terms of Service
JewishJournal.com has rules for its commenting community.Get all the details.
Publication
JewishJournal.com reserves the right to use your comment in our weekly print publication.
Blog Extras
israel jewish storyblog los angeles video bloghome jews hollywood obama anti-semitism chanukah youtube jewish journal jewishjournal.com comedy community iran circumcision videoblog orit judaism zionism religion funny humor racism jay firestone gaza jew barack obama oscars videojew hate holocaust music rabbi president jerusalem election menorah
About this Blog
Blog Home
About the Blogger(s)
Contact
Blog Archive
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
August 2006
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| ||
Site SectionsNewspaper
Serving a community of 600,000, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles is the largest Jewish weekly outside New York City. Our award-winning paper reaches over 150,000 educated, involved and affluent readers each week. Subscribe here. © Copyright 2013 Tribe Media Corp. | ||
|