Mishkan Blog
Maggie’s Place Is Here For You
Mishkan is not only a place for prayer, music, and learning — we are also a community to turn to in times of need. That is where Maggie’s Place comes in. We are here to ensure you have support and resources when you feel mental illness or any of life’s struggles...
Our Teaching Philosophy at Mishkan and Mensch Academy
Our December 16th service was a Mensch Academy Student Showcase, an opportunity for caregivers and the Mishkan community to honor our students and their learning. Rabbi Steven took this opportunity to explain how we root our teaching philosophy in self-expression,...
Courageous Conversations about Israel
Tonight we mark the 7th night of Hanukkah and like the other holidays of this season, it reminds us of our ability to bring light into the world. The candles of the hanukkiah are not a denial of the long night ahead of us, they are a response to it – a refusal to meet...
To Be a Light in the Darkness
At our December 8th service, Rabbi Steven connected the ancient themes of Hanukkah to the present-day realities of antisemitism and hatred which we must overcome together. ... Hanukkah is one of my favorite holidays for a variety of reasons — the food, the festivity,...
From Celia
Dear Loved Ones, The time has come for me to say my goodbyes and my thanks. Several months ago, after 3.5 years of constant treatment with countless different chemo drugs, the doctors shared the devastating news that I was out of treatment options; all we had tried...
Empathy Is Not Endorsement
This sermon was delivered at our November 11th, 2023 Friday Night Shabbat service. You can watch it on the Mishkan YouTube channel or listen on our podcast, Contact Chai. ... As the holiday season approaches, I often think about Leo Tolstoy’s observation at the...
Be More Like Abraham, Be More Human — Combatting Dehumanization
Our October 27th Friday Night Shabbat was R'Lizzi's last service before her well-earned sabbatical. She took this moment to reflect on what it means to be human, and what it means to be a rabbi in this moment of dehumanization of "enemies" and others. You can listen...
Tap Into The Angel You Could Be
At our October 20th Virtual Friday Night Shabbat service, Rabbi Lizzi shared poetry and Torah to try to make sense of the destruction ongoing in Israel and Gaza. You can listen to this sermon on the Contact Chai podcast or watch it on Mishkan's YouTube channel. ......
What’s Your Hebrew Name, Bat Mitzvah Girl?
At our October 21st Saturday services, Mishkanite Rebecca Silverman delivered a drash on Parashat Noach on the occasion of her 25th BMitzvah anniversary. ... Shabbat shalom, everyone! It’s great seeing you all on this first hosted Shabbat morning since the High...
This Is Our Power
At our October 13th service, our first service since the High Holidays and our first in-person space for grieving following the October 7th terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, Rabbi Steven shared a vulnerable drash imploring all of us not to lose sight of the fact...
In Solidarity with Israel
יְ-ה-וָ-ה עֹז, לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן; יְהוָה, יְבָרֵךְ אֶת-עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם. Adonai Oz l’Amo yiten Adonai y’varekh et Amo va’shalom May the Source give strength to Your people, may You bless all of Your people with peace. – Psalm 29 To the Mishkan community, We are all...
I’m Going On Sabbatical!
One of the Torah’s many amazing innovations for optimizing life on earth includes the idea of a sabbatical year: a full year of rest for the land and the people who farm it, giving the land a breather, and reminding us humans that we are not what we produce – that we...