Mishkan Blog
Joy Doesn’t Just Happen
At our 5784 Kol Nidre service, Rabbi Steven Philp delivered a drash on the sacred call to experience joy. You can listen to this sermon on the Contact Chai podcast or watch it on the Mishkan YouTube channel. **** In 2009, several videos circulated of a man dancing on...
Gratitude 5784
Your High Holiday Experience To all who joined us for the High Holidays — thank you! Whether you watched the live-stream, attended the in-person service, or dropped into one of our family programs, we would love to hear your feedback about your High Holiday...
On Teshuvah And Sobriety
At our 5784 Kol Nidre service, Tim Graves delivered a sermon about his sobriety journey and reflected on the difficult work of teshuvah. You can listen to this sermon on the Contact Chai podcast or watch it on the Mishkan YouTube channel. **** Hi, I’m Tim. If this was...
Let’s Bring Chicago Home
At our 5784 Yom Kippur service, Mishkan Builder Jackie Rassner shared why she is supporting the Bring Chicago Home campaign to combat homelessness. You can listen to this sermon on the Contact Chai podcast or watch it on the Mishkan YouTube channel. **** I have a...
Supporting True Democracy in Israel
At our 5784 Rosh Hashanah service, Rabbi Lizzi delivered a sermon about how about how acting out of fear has led to seemingly endless cycle of violence in Israel. You can listen to this sermon on the Contact Chai podcast or watch it on the Mishkan YouTube channel....
“Today We Decide What Worlds May One Day Be Born”
At our Erev Rosh Hashanah service, Rabbi Steven shared a powerful, personal drash about the little legacies we each leave behind. You can listen to this sermon on the Contact Chai podcast or watch it on the Mishkan YouTube channel. **** The rabbis tell a story that on...
Making Judaism My Home — A Conversion Story
This drash was delivered by Builder Linda Kinning at our August 25th service in which we officially welcomed our recent conversion cohort into our community as newly minted Jews. You can hear this sermon on the Contact Chai podcast. **** Approximately 8 hours ago, I...
Building A More Just World In Our Own Backyard
At our August 11th service, Rabbi Steven delivered this sermon as a reflection on the move to shelter over 500 asylum seekers in his neighborhood. You can listen to this drash on the Contact Chai podcast or watch it on YouTube. **** I live at the edge of Lakeview East...
How I Became A Modern Mikvah Guide
If you had told me just one year ago that I would be known as the "mikvah lady," I would not have believed you. For millennia, Jewish people have immersed in mikvahs, ritual baths used for purification. And although the mikvah has always provided a profound space for...
Shmita 2023: How We Plan To Rest This Year
According to the Torah, every seven years the land, and the people who work it, are given a rest – the Shmitah year. In the Shmita year, the land lies fallow, regenerates and produces only what comes naturally, as farmers are not supposed to plant or harvest crops....
Growing Our Family: Exciting News For Mishkan Family Programs
Dear Mishkan Community, We are excited to share some staffing updates in our family programs, reflecting our commitment to expanding the ways we serve our growing population of Mishkanites ages 0-18 years old (and of course their grown-ups, too)! Please join me in...
Be A Neighbor, Not A Tourist
Last week, Rabbi Steven and Rabbi Lizzi attended Mayor-Elect Johnson’s Interfaith Breakfast with hundreds of faith leaders from around the City. There was an atmosphere of excitement and optimism as we look forward to working together to lift our neighbors our of...