A series of marijuana-inspired art classes set to take place at a Jewish center in Aspen were canceled a day after they were announced, the Aspen Daily News reported on Friday.

Colorado Shliach Cancels ‘Pot-Enhanced’ Art Classes

A series of marijuana-inspired art classes set to take place at a Jewish center in Aspen were canceled a day after they were announced, the Aspen Daily News reported on Friday.

From the Aspen Daily News:

References to Moses and the burning bush aside, a series of marijuana-inspired painting classes at the Chabad Jewish Community Center in Aspen has been canceled a day after the lessons were announced.

Dubbed “Art with Mary Jane,” instruction during the classes was to “welcome and encourage” the smoking and/or eating of cannabis, according to an Aspen Times article. Sessions for those 21 and older were to take place on the Main Street center’s balcony.

The organization’s arts program director, Suzanne Horwich, told the Times that she had cleared the idea with local law enforcement. But Wednesday’s announcement caught at least one city official off guard.

Click here to continue reading at the Aspen Daily News.

15 Comments

  • rotem

    still assur medorisa according to r moshe feinstein ztl.

    His responsa brings six reason why so. not one of them had to do with deena de malchusa.

    • Milhouse

      And not one of those six reasons has any substance. As on many issues, he was misinformed by those he consulted for facts on which to base his psokim.

    • Milhouse? Are you off your rocker???

      What a chutzpa to say of Reb Moshe, “As on many issues, he was misinformed”!!!!
      This is a Rav the Rebbe had great respect for.
      You must be enjoying your pot.

    • Milhouse

      It’s nothing but the truth, as anyone who reads Igros Moshe, and knows a few facts, can see.

  • yankel der shlepper

    Thank you for posting about the cancellation. it would be of the interest of the public if you can post any comments from the leadership of chabad such as Rabbi Krinsky or from the leadership of the shluchim such as Rabbi Kotlarsky so other shluchim will be more careful in the future.

  • CR

    Legal or not, “pot culture” is not something that any traditional religious organization of any sort should align itself with. And spare us the comparisons with alcohol. The “LeChaim” has a long tradition in Yiddishkeit; this, not so much.

  • Rabbi Feinstein's psak

    I once asked a posek if a doctor prescribed it then how would reb moshe pasken. and he responded that it would be like any other medicine.

  • Milhouse

    Igros Moshe is not our Shulchon Oruch. Lo mipiv onu chayim. Those who drink commercial milk and have shoulder-high mechitzos, let them worry about this psak.

  • horrified shliach

    As a shliach, I am appalled and horrified by this.

    This is such a chilul Hashem and Chilul Lubavitch. As shluchim, since Shlucho shel odom kmoiso we shlepp the Rebbe with us in what we do bshem shlichus.

    We are about hafotzas hamayonos and hafotzos hayahadus of true authentic judaism. Shlichus is not a popularity contest or about numbers and successful events at the cost of pshoros and compromising chassidishe and torah values.

    unfortunately we see this more and more. Mixed parties and events, functions in bars r”l. All in the name of shlichus!

    Who are shluchim answerable to? When is the line crossed and someone unfit to represent the Rebbe?

    It is advisable for all shluchim to reviews the sicha parshas vayigash cheilek alef.

    • Milhouse

      How is it a chilul of anything? How is pot different from any other physical pleasure that Hashem created, and did not forbid us from using? Just like cake, vodka, or money, it is klipas nogah, and was given to us to use for kedusha.

  • Free for all

    Number 9 thank you for writing the bare and unadulterated truth. Finally a breath of fresh air after all the shoutouts for people that occupy Shlichus positions but ignore the Meshaleach and his holy horo’os. Will this be the wake-up call to those who day and night remind us who calls the shots?
    Halevai!
    Moshiach NOW

  • Pinchos Woolstone

    a mistake was made.
    a correction occurred.
    I am sure the Shliach regrets the matter and has learned a bitter lesson.
    Let him move forward with his wonderful work

  • ukedai bizoyon,,,,

    Millhouse,
    You are great entertainment.Of course you are also usually dead wrong,usually.A bit more kovod for R’Moshe would not hurt you either.Additionally like it or not R’Moshes psak about milk is an opinion of Rishoinim and Achroinim,his additional chidush was that even the oisrim would hold it’s muttar here, was the part that others argued with.Yes,we are machmir.
    R’Moshes psakim were followed in life and death issues, so take it easy when discussing cholov akum