Founder

Adriana Kertzer stands at the forefront of integrating plant medicine and mental health advocacy within contemporary Jewish culture. As a pioneering figure in the emerging field of Jewish psychedelia, she combines her expertise as an attorney, community organizer, and risk reduction advocate to create groundbreaking initiatives that honor both tradition and innovation.

As founder of The Jewish Healing Society (JHS), Adriana is committed to ensuring there is a Jewish voice in psychedelic science. The project, still in its infancy, aims to provide a supportive environment for Jews in the psychedelic field while combating discrimination. This work builds upon her earlier success with the JewWhoTokes Instagram account, which she launched in 2016 as a celebration of Jewish cannabis and psychedelic enthusiasts before evolving it into a community addressing antisemitism within these industries and facilitating professional connections.

Adriana's diverse professional journey includes founding Plant Medicine Law Group, a specialized firm focused on psychedelic infrastructure; Senior Associate Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League in New Jersey; and Chestnut Hill Advisory Partners, a consultancy for design, real estate, and cultural projects. Her government experience includes working in the Obama Administration as Senior Advisor to the Senior Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Her legal career spans roles at the Guggenheim Museum and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where she specialized in Brazilian initial public offerings.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Adriana brings a rich international perspective to her work. After attending an American international school, she embarked on a formative gap year across Israel, India, Algeria, Spain, France, England, and Italy. Her academic credentials include a B.A. in Judaic Studies and International Relations from Brown University, a J.D. from Georgetown Law Center, and an M.A. from Parsons The New School for Design.

Adriana's scholarly contributions include her book Favelization: The Imaginary Brazil in Contemporary Film, Fashion, and Design, published by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. In 2024, she conducted groundbreaking research in Israel examining psychedelic-informed mental health responses following the October 7th attacks, with particular attention to Nova Festival participants who were under the influence of psychotropic substances during the Hamas attacks. Her findings appeared in Tablet Magazine as "The Worst Trip Ever" and in the academic journal "Voices: The Art and Science of Psychotherapy."

Adriana's diverse expertise and outgoing personality has made her a sought-after speaker at prestigious venues including SXSW, Museo Amparo, Brown University, Parsons The New School For Design, Queens College/CUNY, and the University of Hong Kong. Her cultural impact was recognized when JewWhoTokes was featured in the "Am Yisrael High: The Story of Jews and Cannabis" exhibit at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, where she participated in the opening panel alongside other influential figures.