Grow With Us
We create radically inclusive Jewish spaces to bring your whole self, and be part of something larger than yourself. Whoever you are, wherever you are, Mishkan is here to walk with you on your journey.
Listen to Our Podcasts on Spotify
Subscribe to Contact Chai
Contact Chai is a podcast from Mishkan Chicago, hosted by Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann. In each episode, Rabbi Lizzi is joined by a guest to explore down-to-earth spiritual practice.
Introducing Our New Podcast: The Morning Scroll
The Morning Scroll is a podcast from Mishkan Chicago, hosted by Rabbi Deena Cowans. Tune in for some bite-sized parsha study every week!
Shabbat
Weekly Shabbat livestream
Connect in community every Friday night and every other Saturday morning.
morning minyan
Each Weekday Morning at 8 am
Tune in for prayer, meditation, and the spiritual check-in we all need!
Upcoming Events
Join us for Shabbat Services
Lean into the weekend with a grounding ritual.
We have in person and live-streamed services throughout the month. Make a plan to join us!
Morning Minyan (Spring ’23)
![Mishkan Chicago's virtual Morning Minyan meets weekdays at 8 am CST. [image: golden sun rises over a landscape, with the Mishkan Chicago pomegranate logo emerging]](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20300%20100'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
March 31 @ 8:00 am - 8:30 am CDT Small Groups: Wise Guys Shabbat Potluck
March 31 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm CDTSaturday Morning Shabbat
April 1 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm CDTRise & Shine
April 1 @ 10:00 am - 10:45 am CDT
![Mishkan Chicago's virtual Morning Minyan meets weekdays at 8 am CST. [image: golden sun rises over a landscape, with the Mishkan Chicago pomegranate logo emerging]](https://www.mishkanchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/morning-minyan-banner-300x100.png)
In the Passover story, many peoples and tribes fleeing oppression become one people through a shared experience of liberation. And in recounting that story every year, people all over the world from different backgrounds and observances are united as one Jewish people.
At Mishkan, we come together each year from all over country (and globe!) for a new Passover tradition all our own — our Virtual Seder. We invite you to our third annual virtual seder on Thursday, April 6th. Titled "From Me To We," it will be a night all about the different identities and perspectives we bring to our Judaism.
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It’s not just our children who want a kid-friendly seder! Our Jewish ancestors designed the seder to keep kids having fun with games, songs, and other delights along the way. Join us tomorrow night at 7:30 pm for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore various Passover traditions and share opportunities for infusing kid-friendly elements into your seder.
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/how-to-host-a-kid-friendly-seder-workshop/
Ayyy, wise guy! Did you retire recently? Thinking of retiring? Struggling to find a meaningful routine or just looking to make a friend? Join other retirement age wise guys for a Shabbat potluck this Friday at 6:30 pm!
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Tonight, Mishkan participates in JCFS' Mental Health Shabbat titled "Let's Talk About It." Rabbi Steven will be drashing on mental illness through a Jewish lens, with a focus on breaking the stigma around talking about suicide. Join us from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Second Unitarian (656 W Barry Ave) for inspiration, education, and community.
Please note that the sermon on Friday will contain discussion of suicide and self-harm. R'Steven will also take a moment to pray for those experiencing mental health challenges during Hashkiveinu, and another moment during Kaddish to remember those we’ve lost to suicide. All in attendance are welcome to step out into the lobby for as long as needed.
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/friday-night-shabbat-30/
"Like a lot of families with Sephardic heritage in America, our observance looked very Ashkenazi. So now, my brother and I really love to use the Seder as an opportunity to express and explore our heritage...I have to say — Sephardi charoset is better."
In a candid, fun interview, Rabbi Deena explores how her Sephardic heritage informs her family's Passover traditions, and shares how you can make your own Seder more meaningful.
Read now at the link in bio
Next Wednesday, Rabbi Steven and our friends from 18Doors are examining the holidays of Easter and Passover. How are they alike? How are they different? Which is the better hidden dessert, the afikomen or Easter eggs? Find out at FaithFULL on March 29th at 7:00 pm!
The Mishkan teens are noted fans of chocolate — hot or otherwise. That's why we know you'll love Teen Chocolate Seder! It's a "Social Justice Seder with a Sweet Twist," that twist being lots and lots of chocolate. Join us Sunday, March 26th from 2:00 - 3:30 pm for this delicious pre-seder celebration.
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It’s not just our children who want a kid-friendly seder! Our Jewish ancestors designed the seder to keep kids having fun with games, songs, and other delights along the way. Join us on Tuesday, March 28th at 7:30 pm for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore various Passover traditions and share opportunities for infusing kid-friendly elements into your seder.
Link in bio
Snag your golden ticket to Teen Chocolate Seder! This pre-seder will take a closer look at social justice issues like modern day slavery, economic justice, and fair trade. Join us Sunday, March 26th from 2:00 - 3:30 pm.
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Tomorrow! Join us for Saturday Morning Unplugged, an intimate, learning-centered service in the Mishkan Office (4001 N Ravenswood #101) or join virtually via YouTube livestream. Services start at 9:30 am complete with our usual kids programming, and R'Steven will lead us in Torah study at 11:15 am. Get your bagels in before Passover!
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Follow the link bio to learn more about Standing Together, Israel’s largest Jewish-Arab grassroots political movement.
Thank you to our lovely Mishkan Builders who volunteered at our first ever Builders-in-Service! We pitched in at JUF Uptown Cafe, one of Chicago's first kosher anti-hunger program for the needy.
Mishkan invites you to our Third Annual Virtual Passover Seder on Thursday, April 6th from 7:30 - 10:30 pm. Titled "From Me To We," this night will weave the Passover story together with the various ways we show up in Jewish community today — as artists, activists, Jews of different backgrounds, identities, ethnicities, and stories. Led by our rabbis and members of the community, we’ll hit all the traditional Passover seder high notes and songs, have optional break out dinners, and finish with a post-dinner seder sing-along.
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A pair of Purim party producers clink cups after pulling off our Purim programming. Shout out to Zach, Anna, and the whole production team! And thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who made our Purim parties possible. We hope you got some Shabbos rest in this weekend <3
Tonight! Join us for a stripped down, a capella service at 6:30 pm in the Mishkan Office (4001 N Ravenswood #101). We're calling it "Post Purim Detox Shabbat" because after this week's parties, afterparties, seudahs, and sweets, we need some old school Shabbos rest. Unplug, unwind, and enjoy some new original tunes from the Davening Team.
Note that there will be no livestream of this service.
We received this incredibly sweet card from our friends over at Lawndale Christian Community Church commemorating our service together last month. It has been so fun and enriching getting to know Pastah J and the congregation at LCCC, and our partnership is only just getting started!
At our Shabbat Zachor service before Purim, Rabbi Deena delivered a sermon connecting the disturbing events in Huwara to the cycle of vengeance we see in this week's parsha and in the Megillah. You can read it on the Mishkan Blog — link in bio.
On Saturday, March 18th, we are kicking off a new series of our group for new parents, Build Your Village! Join fellow parents of babies 0-12 months after our Saturday Morning Shabbat service in the Mishkan Office (4001 N Ravenswood #101) from 12:00 - 12:45 pm. Register now to build your community with us — link in bio.
We're still not sure why Rabbi Deena (left), Rabbi Lizzi (center), and Rabbi Steven (right) chose to wear their normal clothes to our Purim party, but we respect their decisions.
Chag Purim sameach! After a wild night putting on our spiel + party, Team Mishkan is enjoying a well-deserved staff seudah (festive meal) together. We hope your Purim is delicious, as well!
There ain't no Megillah reading like a Mishkan Chicago Megillah reading because a Mishkan Chicago Megillah reading don't stop. For real! At our Purim parties, we do a full Megillah reading, no shortcuts. Plus, we work in tons of zany jokes to keep your attention the whole time. Catch the Megillah tonight in-person at Chop Shop or virtually on our fully produced livestream — there are still tickets left!
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Life has a way of doing the thing you least expect, and no one know that better than the characters in the Megillah. You can listen to our full Megillah reading at tonight's Purim party — do you have your ticket yet?
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V’nahafoch hu! What a wonderful phrase. V’nahafoch hu! It sounds like a sneeze, doesn’t it? It means and things turn on their heads, everything turned upside down. It’s a line from the end of the Megilah, describing the situation of the Jews, which went from fine to precariously endangered by a decree of genocide to the people who had permission to not only fight back, but to really lay it on the slaughterers that like they were not going to take this decree of genocide lying down and they fought back and the text says they killed 75,000 people, did it really happen? Who knows? Probably not. But the story is a story of cosmic reversals. It’s the story of an orphan girl Hadassah, who hides her identity and becomes a queen, the story of her man, boo, who starts off as a super important, you know, advisor, Vice President guy, and gets hung on his own gallows at the request of the king. It’s the story of a people who don’t have control over their destiny, and ultimately take control of their destiny and become a blessing. This is life, v’nahafoch hu, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You could start here, you could end up here, you start here, you could end up here. It’s the oldest tale in the book. And so to celebrate the radical unpredictability of the lives that we live, we eat we drink, we be married, we celebrate we put on costumes. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. No day but today y’all. Chag purim sameach.
Tomorrow! We're going all out for Purim once again. Will you be there when we unveil our hilarious new spiel? Party with us at Chop Shop on Monday at 6:00 pm.
We know a Thing or Two about throwing a Purim party! Don't miss our hilarious new spiel on Monday night at 6:00 pm.
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Tomorrow! Recenter yourself at Saturday Morning Shabbat. Services are at JCYS (2112 W Lawrence Ave) at 9:30 am, or you can attend virtually on the Mishkan Chicago YouTube channel. Have you subscribed yet?
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Live from Mishkan Chicago, it's Shushan Night Live! Do you have your tickets yet to our outrageous new Purim spiel? Party with us Monday night at 6:00 pm at Chop Shop, or join virtually for a fully-produced livestream experience.
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The Mishkan rabbis are pros at retelling the story of the Megillah, but it’s not so easy with a mouthful of spicy vegan wings. Can you guess which hot sauce had Rabbi Lizzi gargling milk? Catch our hilarious rabbinic parody of Hot Ones at Shushan Night Live, Monday night at 6:00 pm!
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Do you have your tickets yet to Mishkan's Purim Party, Shushan Night Live? Join us in-person at Chop Shop on Monday at 6:00pm or attend virtually for a fully produced livestream experience! Link in bio.
Come be a part of the magic at Mensch Academy! We're hiring for part-time classroom aide positions, on-site at our Mensch Academy space in Ravenswood. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, from 3:15 pm to 6:15. Position begins at $30/hour and perfect for someone with professional or academic experience in paraprofessionalism, SEL, or related fields.
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"Small groups have quickly become the cornerstone of Mishkan’s programming and have planted seeds of deep connection between hundreds of community members each year, with nearly zero supply costs. Of course, this didn’t happen overnight — we invested a significant amount of time up front to develop the materials, infrastructure and systems to make this a successful effort."
Mishkan's Director of Development and Engagement, Rhonda Abrams, has written an insightful piece in eJewish Philanthropy about her team's approach to deepening our community's connections through lay-led Small Groups. Thank you to all the amazing volunteer leaders who have made Mishkan's Small Groups such a success!
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Looking for an afterparty as fun as Taylor Swift's? The Purim party fun doesn't have to stop just because you're joining us virtually. Following the livestream of Shushan Night Live, stay in your costume and bring your favorite beverage to keep the laughs going. Disability & Chronic Illness Small Group does not police attendance — no disability or illness is "too small."
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Image description: Ribbons and streamers are scattered on the floor. Text reads: "Disability & Chronic Illness Purim After-Party / March 6th, 9:00 - 9:45 pm, Virtual."
Shleppy's heart is set on winning Best Dressed at The Golden Shleppy Awards, Mishkan's family Purim party. Will you be there to give Shleppy some competition? Join us at The Davis Theatre on Sunday from 2:30 - 4:00 pm.
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Do you have your tickets to our Purim party yet? Link in bio!
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Transcript:
The Jewish community is under siege, famous and important people with large platforms for addressing the masses are slandering the Jews and inciting violence against us. We have nowhere to turn but the authorities and even the authorities are saying their hands are tied. And so we turn to each other. And we fight back. America in 2023? No friends: Shushan circa 2500 ish years ago. Did it really happen? Who knows. But does it happen all the time? Indeed. Do we want to laugh in the face of history that repeats itself? We do. Do we want to put on costumes drink, eat, be merry and hear the Purim story and celebrate life with one another? Yes we do. So join us at the Chop Shop on Monday night. See with your Purim finest on!
Did you? Polls are open from 6:00 am - 7:00 pm. Remember to make an informed vote on the Police District Council race for our city's new civilian police oversight councils!
Friday Night Shabbat at 2U is just hours away. Our friends from Lawndale Christian Community Church are joining us, and Pastah J is giving a sermon! Will we see you at 6:30 pm?
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Mishkan representing at the JUF! We were here for a report on the Jews of No Denomination Survey. Rabbi Steven spoke on a panel about how we are creating community and programming for Jewish adults who have aged out of traditional no denomination spaces for young people.
Live from Mishkan Chicago, it's Shushan Night Live! Featuring our all-star spiel team in a mix of live and video sketches, a rabbi-rendition of “Hot Ones,” a full megillah reading, and surprises to keep you laughing all night long. You can attend in-person at Chop Shop (2033 W North Ave.) on March 6th from 6:00 - 10:00 pm, or join the fun via livestream. Reserve your ticket now!
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What’s at stake in this election? Find out this Saturday with Mishkan's Queer Small Group! Builder Emily Rapport will lead a presentation from the Local Action Team and JCUA, and we will enjoy light refreshments. Join us at Rodrigo Diaz's home in Uptown this Saturday from 5:00 - 6:45 pm.
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Thank you to Dvorit for sending us these beautiful handcrafted bookmarks! The Mishkan office library has never looked better.
Tonight! Join us for a virtual service celebrating Repro Shabbat. We will hear from a panel including Elizabeth Posner and Sarah Garza Resnick on the fight for bodily autonomy and abortion rights. And of course there will be plenty of davening, music, and inspiration to bring your week to a restful close.
Tomorrow! We're at JCYS (2112 W Lawrence Ave) for Saturday Morning Shabbat from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm. Will we see your family at Rise & Shine and Mah Tovu?
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Last summer, the Supreme Court decision to reverse Roe v. Wade paved the way for states across the nation to pursue abortion bans and restrictions on birth control and fertility treatments.
But reproductive freedom is a Jewish value, and we’re not going to back down! This year, we join the National Council of Jewish Women in celebrating Repro Shabbat on February 17-18. Our Virtual Friday Night Shabbat service from 6:30 - 7:30 pm will include a panel on the fight for abortion rights and bodily autonomy. Will we see you there?
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Everyone is talking about the biggest awards show of the season — the Golden Shleppy's!
You are cordially invited to Mishkan's Family Purim Party, The Golden Shleppy Awards, on Sunday, March 5th from 2:30 - 4:00 pm at The Davis Theatre. Strut the red carpet in your finest costume, watch a hilarious family-friendly spiel by Mishkan's teens, and eat lots of hamantaschen.
Do you have your ticket yet? Link in bio
Last Friday, we welcomed Mishkanite Anna Giuliano to deliver a guest drash in honor of Jewish Disability, Awareness, and Inclusion Month. Anna is the founder of Mishkan's Disability & Chronic Illness Small Group, and she spoke movingly on her experiences living in a world that so often overlooks people in her community.
You can watch it on our YouTube channel, read it on the Mishkan Blog, or listen on the Contact Chai podcast — link in bio.
Purim isn't just an opportunity to party! Every year, we are called on to complete the four mitzvot of Purim, which include giving to the poor and sending gift baskets. We invite you to enter the bracket of March Mitzvot Madness, a friendly competition among Mishkanites to complete the mitzvot for fun prizes. You can join as an individual, couple, team — or family!
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Happy Valentine's Day! We hope your day is as full of warmth and love as our Winter Comfort Feast.
Your family is invited to the hottest red carpet event of the season — The Golden Shleppy Awards! Mishkan's family Purim party will feature a spiel, costume party, hamantaschen, and more. What will you wear this year?
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Tonight! We gotta BeReal with you, this is one Friday Night Shabbat you won't want to miss. Mishkanite Anna Guiliano will drash in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month, and there's a Winter Comfort Feast after the service catered by Schmaltz & Vinegar. Whether you attend in-person at Second Unitarian or join us virtually, we hope you'll BeReal and BeThere at 6:30 pm!
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Hone your craft with us! On Thursday, February 23rd, our Disability & Chronic Illness Small Group is holding a virtual Crafty Happy Hour from 4:30 - 5:45 pm. We'll be knitting, coloring, collaging, and whatever other activities bring joy to your heart and hands.
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Is it ethical to bring children into the world during these frightening times? Before we dove into this tough topic with Rabbi Lizzi, we took some time to get our feelings out with a little art therapy.
Featuring participants of our program "It’s The End of the World as We Know it… Should I Have Children?"