Mishkan Blog
We Cannot Let Our Grief Tear Us Apart — R’Lizzi Rosh Hashanah Sermon
This sermon was delivered at Mishkan Chicago's 5785 Rosh Hashanah service. You can listen on Contact Chai podcast or watch on Mishkan's YouTube channel. **** About a week after October 7th, I found myself sitting at the kitchen table of our Board Chair, Lisa, and I...
“What Did You See That Made You Want To Be A Jew?” — R’Steven Erev Rosh Sermon
This episode was delivered at our 5785 Erev Rosh Hashanah service. **** A few months ago, Mishkan welcomed 30 (!) brand new Jews into our people. They finished the conversion process in August, either at the Community Mikvah in Wilmette or in the waters of Lake...
We Are Commanded To Love
The saddest day of the Jewish calendar is followed by one of the most joyous. In this moving sermon delivered at our August 17th Saturday Morning Shabbat service, Rabbi Steven examined why this is and how the abundant love of Tu B’Av can overcome the excessive hatred...
City of Refuge: Balancing Justice and Compassion
At our August 3rd Saturday morning service, Rabbi Steven delivered a drash about the biblical concept of the city of refuge, places where those accused of manslaughter could seek asylum. In a modern context, how do we balance justice and compassion? How can we employ...
Learning From My Experiences As A Maggie’s Place Intern
Over the last year, I have worked as an intern at Maggie's Place, Mishkan's center for social services. As I prepare for the next stage in my educational journey, I wanted to offer some insights I have learned along the way. I am pursuing a Masters in Social Work and...
My Time As A Maggie’s Place Couple & Family Therapist
Mishkan Chicago not only provides moments for prayer and music, but also spaces for connection and counseling through Maggie's Place support groups. As my time as a Maggie's Place Facilitator draws to a close, I wanted to offer some reflections on the incredible work...
Reflections From My First Week In Israel
Pictured: R’Lizzi with Karmit Arbel (our tour guide from 2022), and Tina Khatib, an Acco-based Muslim peace builder and chef at Beit Elfarasha. ... Shalom! It’s Rabbi Lizzi, writing from Jerusalem. As many of you know, I’m here for a three-week Rabbinic Leadership...
Pride Shabbat: “Call of the Shofar”
This sermon was delivered at our June 21st, 2024 Pride Shabbat service. You can watch this drash on Mishkan's YouTube channel or listen on Contact Chai podcast. ... Shabbat shalom. My name is Aidan Gilbert. My pronouns are He/They, and my adjectives are funny and...
We Are Witnesses for Each Other
This sermon was delivered at our June 15th Saturday morning service. You can watch it now on Mishkan's YouTube channel or listen on Contact Chai podcast. ... The summer of 2011, I studied at a progressive yeshiva in New York. For those unfamiliar with what that looks...
Standing At Sinai Together
This sermon was delivered at our Shavuot Shabbat service on June 7th, 2024. You can watch a re-recording on Mishkan's YouTube channel or listen on Contact Chai podcast. ... Last week I was in Washington, DC with the Interfaith Alliance — a coalition of clergy and lay...
Heaven Is A Place On Earth
This sermon was delivered at our Saturday Morning Shabbat service on June 1st. You can watch now on Mishkan's YouTube channel or listen on the Contact Chai podcast. ... The Torah portion we read today B’chukotai, the very last section of the book of Leviticus which...
The Stories We Tell
This sermon was delivered at our Friday Night Shabbat service on May 24th. You can watch it on Mishkan's YouTube channel or listen on our podcast, Contact Chai. ... There is a curious term in the Torah: shabbat shabbaton. A rough translation would be “a sabbath of...