Events

The second meeting in a series – dialogues with researchers who have written essays on various aspects of illusion in their fields of research, as appeared in the 2026 edition of ‘Poetry of Science’, a periodical published once a year concurrently with the Weizmann Institute’s annual Ofer Lider prize for encouraging creative writing among scientists award ceremony. The editor of ‘Poetry of Science’ is Idan Barir, a translator of poetry and prose from Portuguese, Arabic, English, and Turkish.

“Alongside science’s demand for precision, society’s need for resolutions, nationalist movements and identity politics, with media polarizing opinions, and language whittling away to exclamation points, a hushed renaissance of incertitude is emerging. Challenging certainty and blurring the boundaries between “fact” and “fiction”, this psychedelic renaissance reminds us of the value of wonder and astonishment, but especially the willingness to entertain the unknown.” (Prof. Shauli Lev-Ran)

The use of psychoactive substances - hallucinogens, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and additional ingredients - has, in recent years, returned to the world of science and medical treatment in what has been designated as the “Psychedelic Renaissance”. Science recognizes the medicinal properties of psychedelic materials, but it is not always prepared to accept the undefined and unquantifiable aspects of its treatments. Prof. Shauli Lev-Ran in a dialogue with Idan Barir on hallucinations and reality within the context of this psychedelic renaissance - both as an established and historically cogent cultural phenomenon and as a considerable (even though yet unsatisfied) reawakening in research and treatment.

Prof. Shauli Lev-Ran – Psychiatrist and addiction treatment specialist, Researcher of psychiatric effects of psychoactive substances, Associate Professor at the Psychiatric Department of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty for Medical & Health Science’s School for Medicine, Fellow at The Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada, Co-founder and Academic Director, Israel Center on Addiction.

sponsored by the Braginsky Center for the Interface between Science and Humanities
Free admission (based on availability)

Schedule:
16/2 Travels to the Past as Deceptive Illusion, with Prof. Avner Wishnitzer
29/6 The Placebo Effect, with Prof. Asya Rolls


 

An entertaining performance that brings the audience face to face with the creators-and with themselves. Children meet Stav and Nada and create a brand-new episode of Hesketos together. Come discover what sounds and voices look like, and what a Kishofon - an imaginary, magical device-sounds like.
After more than 50 sold-out performances across the country, the creators of Hesketos present a fresh new show, born out of Hesketos, Israel’s most listened to children’s podcast, with millions of listens.

This is an innovative performance in both form and content: minimalist in nature, it features no sets, costumes, or visual effects, and is built on imagination, sound, and direct communication with the children. Parents and children are active partners in building the story world, defining its character anew at every performance.

With Stav Palti Negev and Tamar Hochstetter 
 

An entertaining performance that brings the audience face to face with the creators - and with themselves. Children meet Stav and Nada and create a brand-new episode of Hesketos together. Come discover what sounds and voices look like, and what a Kishofon - an imaginary, magical device-sounds like.
After more than 50 sold-out performances across the country, the creators of Hesketos present a fresh new show, born out of Hesketos, Israel’s most listened to children’s podcast, with millions of listens.

This is an innovative performance in both form and content: minimalist in nature, it features no sets, costumes, or visual effects, and is built on imagination, sound, and direct communication with the children. Parents and children are active partners in building the story world, defining its character anew at every performance.

With Stav Palti Negev and Tamar Hochstetter