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 — […]
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 […]
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 […]
“Don’t Say Gay” And The Hate That Hides Our True Inheritance
In the wake of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s threats against trans children and their families, Rabbi Steven delivers a passionate drash connecting the oppression […]
We Show Up
Rabbi Steven’s sermon given on Rosh Hashanah 5782 Back in June, I was about to head home from work when my husband texts me: “Could you take your kippah off […]
When We Are Powered By Courage
When we at Mishkan come across unusual and meaningful opportunities to learn and talk about Israel, we find that our community wants to take part. It’s for this reason that […]
The Best Way Forward is Through
On Whiteness, Police Brutality, and Mindful Unlearning
A few weeks ago, seventeen of our Mishkan community members, including members of our staff and our rabbis, took part in the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs’ racial justice training […]
Chicago City Budget Vote Recap
On November 26, Chicago City Council passed a budget with a vote of 39-11. While the budget does include modest funding increases for mental health services and homelessness prevention, it […]