Mishkan Blog
We Will Not Go Back: Our Dignity Is Not Up For Debate
On June 24th, 2022, shortly before the final Shabbat of Pride Month, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In a concurring opinion, Justice Thomas plainly stated his desire to "revisit" Obergefell v. Hodges, the decision which legalized gay marriage in America. To...
An Open Letter To Tablet Magazine
On June 14th, 2022, the Jewish news and culture outlet Tablet Magazine published an article by Jennifer Bilek — an openly transphobic writer known for advocating against medical transition — entitled “The Billionaire Family Pushing Synthetic Sex Identities." The...
Has Judaism Always Been Gay? Three Queer Jewish Stories
In honor of Pride Month, this drash was originally delivered at the Friday Night Shabbat service on June 10th. Entitled "Judaism Is Kinda Gay," Rabbi Steven shares three queer Jewish stories from our tradition. Mishkan invites you to our upcoming Pride programming,...
Why I’m Starting A Trans Youth Support Group
Mishkan’s Rabbinic Assistant shares how his lonely experience as a trans youth navigating a hostile healthcare system inspired him to start a Trans and Non-Binary Youth Support Group. I came out as Transmasculine in the Fall quarter of my senior year of college. After...
Why I’m Starting A Toddler Shabbat Playgroup
Mishkan's Director of Development and Engagement on how her twins' time in NICU followed by months of COVID isolation inspired her to start a Small Group for other toddler families. My twins were born in October 2020. After 15 days in the NICU, they emerged from the...
Passover: What Does Freedom Even Mean?
Passover is a story about freedom. But what even is freedom? Rabbi Deena breaks it down ahead of Mishkan's virtual Passover seder. This sermon was originally delivered at the Saturday Morning Shabbat service on April 8th. You can also listen to it in podcast form on...