Radically Inclusive Jewish Community
Mishkan is a spiritual Jewish community in Chicago reclaiming Judaism’s inspiration and transformative essence. Not bound by a particular location like a traditional synagogue, we create radically inclusive spaces for Jewish spiritual practice and community. We’re on a mission to engage, educate, and empower people across the spectrum of identity, background, age, and belief.
The Torah describes the Mishkan as a tent that the ancient Israelites carried with them through the desert, creating holy space whenever and wherever they stopped to gather in it. They brought God’s presence into its midst, where ever the people would set it up and bring the best of themselves – their hearts, their talents and their treasures. Likewise, we are brought together by our belief that through music, prayer, study and tikkun (repairing the world), we transform ourselves and the world.
Welcome to Mishkan. We’re glad you’re here.
The Mishkan teens are noted fans of chocolate — hot or otherwise. That's why we know you'll love Teen Chocolate Seder! It's a "Social Justice Seder with a Sweet Twist," that twist being lots and lots of chocolate. Join us Sunday, March 26th from 2:00 - 3:30 pm for this delicious pre-seder celebration.
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It’s not just our children who want a kid-friendly seder! Our Jewish ancestors designed the seder to keep kids having fun with games, songs, and other delights along the way. Join us on Tuesday, March 28th at 7:30 pm for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore various Passover traditions and share opportunities for infusing kid-friendly elements into your seder.
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Snag your golden ticket to Teen Chocolate Seder! This pre-seder will take a closer look at social justice issues like modern day slavery, economic justice, and fair trade. Join us Sunday, March 26th from 2:00 - 3:30 pm.
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Tomorrow! Join us for Saturday Morning Unplugged, an intimate, learning-centered service in the Mishkan Office (4001 N Ravenswood #101) or join virtually via YouTube livestream. Services start at 9:30 am complete with our usual kids programming, and R'Steven will lead us in Torah study at 11:15 am. Get your bagels in before Passover!
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Follow the link bio to learn more about Standing Together, Israel’s largest Jewish-Arab grassroots political movement.
Thank you to our lovely Mishkan Builders who volunteered at our first ever Builders-in-Service! We pitched in at JUF Uptown Cafe, one of Chicago's first kosher anti-hunger program for the needy.
Mishkan invites you to our Third Annual Virtual Passover Seder on Thursday, April 6th from 7:30 - 10:30 pm. Titled "From Me To We," this night will weave the Passover story together with the various ways we show up in Jewish community today — as artists, activists, Jews of different backgrounds, identities, ethnicities, and stories. Led by our rabbis and members of the community, we’ll hit all the traditional Passover seder high notes and songs, have optional break out dinners, and finish with a post-dinner seder sing-along.
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A pair of Purim party producers clink cups after pulling off our Purim programming. Shout out to Zach, Anna, and the whole production team! And thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who made our Purim parties possible. We hope you got some Shabbos rest in this weekend <3
Tonight! Join us for a stripped down, a capella service at 6:30 pm in the Mishkan Office (4001 N Ravenswood #101). We're calling it "Post Purim Detox Shabbat" because after this week's parties, afterparties, seudahs, and sweets, we need some old school Shabbos rest. Unplug, unwind, and enjoy some new original tunes from the Davening Team.
Note that there will be no livestream of this service.
We received this incredibly sweet card from our friends over at Lawndale Christian Community Church commemorating our service together last month. It has been so fun and enriching getting to know Pastah J and the congregation at LCCC, and our partnership is only just getting started!
At our Shabbat Zachor service before Purim, Rabbi Deena delivered a sermon connecting the disturbing events in Huwara to the cycle of vengeance we see in this week's parsha and in the Megillah. You can read it on the Mishkan Blog — link in bio.
On Saturday, March 18th, we are kicking off a new series of our group for new parents, Build Your Village! Join fellow parents of babies 0-12 months after our Saturday Morning Shabbat service in the Mishkan Office (4001 N Ravenswood #101) from 12:00 - 12:45 pm. Register now to build your community with us — link in bio.
We're still not sure why Rabbi Deena (left), Rabbi Lizzi (center), and Rabbi Steven (right) chose to wear their normal clothes to our Purim party, but we respect their decisions.
Chag Purim sameach! After a wild night putting on our spiel + party, Team Mishkan is enjoying a well-deserved staff seudah (festive meal) together. We hope your Purim is delicious, as well!
There ain't no Megillah reading like a Mishkan Chicago Megillah reading because a Mishkan Chicago Megillah reading don't stop. For real! At our Purim parties, we do a full Megillah reading, no shortcuts. Plus, we work in tons of zany jokes to keep your attention the whole time. Catch the Megillah tonight in-person at Chop Shop or virtually on our fully produced livestream — there are still tickets left!
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Life has a way of doing the thing you least expect, and no one know that better than the characters in the Megillah. You can listen to our full Megillah reading at tonight's Purim party — do you have your ticket yet?
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V’nahafoch hu! What a wonderful phrase. V’nahafoch hu! It sounds like a sneeze, doesn’t it? It means and things turn on their heads, everything turned upside down. It’s a line from the end of the Megilah, describing the situation of the Jews, which went from fine to precariously endangered by a decree of genocide to the people who had permission to not only fight back, but to really lay it on the slaughterers that like they were not going to take this decree of genocide lying down and they fought back and the text says they killed 75,000 people, did it really happen? Who knows? Probably not. But the story is a story of cosmic reversals. It’s the story of an orphan girl Hadassah, who hides her identity and becomes a queen, the story of her man, boo, who starts off as a super important, you know, advisor, Vice President guy, and gets hung on his own gallows at the request of the king. It’s the story of a people who don’t have control over their destiny, and ultimately take control of their destiny and become a blessing. This is life, v’nahafoch hu, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You could start here, you could end up here, you start here, you could end up here. It’s the oldest tale in the book. And so to celebrate the radical unpredictability of the lives that we live, we eat we drink, we be married, we celebrate we put on costumes. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. No day but today y’all. Chag purim sameach.
Tomorrow! We're going all out for Purim once again. Will you be there when we unveil our hilarious new spiel? Party with us at Chop Shop on Monday at 6:00 pm.
We know a Thing or Two about throwing a Purim party! Don't miss our hilarious new spiel on Monday night at 6:00 pm.
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Tomorrow! Recenter yourself at Saturday Morning Shabbat. Services are at JCYS (2112 W Lawrence Ave) at 9:30 am, or you can attend virtually on the Mishkan Chicago YouTube channel. Have you subscribed yet?
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Live from Mishkan Chicago, it's Shushan Night Live! Do you have your tickets yet to our outrageous new Purim spiel? Party with us Monday night at 6:00 pm at Chop Shop, or join virtually for a fully-produced livestream experience.
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The Mishkan rabbis are pros at retelling the story of the Megillah, but it’s not so easy with a mouthful of spicy vegan wings. Can you guess which hot sauce had Rabbi Lizzi gargling milk? Catch our hilarious rabbinic parody of Hot Ones at Shushan Night Live, Monday night at 6:00 pm!
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Do you have your tickets yet to Mishkan's Purim Party, Shushan Night Live? Join us in-person at Chop Shop on Monday at 6:00pm or attend virtually for a fully produced livestream experience! Link in bio.
Come be a part of the magic at Mensch Academy! We're hiring for part-time classroom aide positions, on-site at our Mensch Academy space in Ravenswood. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, from 3:15 pm to 6:15. Position begins at $30/hour and perfect for someone with professional or academic experience in paraprofessionalism, SEL, or related fields.
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"Small groups have quickly become the cornerstone of Mishkan’s programming and have planted seeds of deep connection between hundreds of community members each year, with nearly zero supply costs. Of course, this didn’t happen overnight — we invested a significant amount of time up front to develop the materials, infrastructure and systems to make this a successful effort."
Mishkan's Director of Development and Engagement, Rhonda Abrams, has written an insightful piece in eJewish Philanthropy about her team's approach to deepening our community's connections through lay-led Small Groups. Thank you to all the amazing volunteer leaders who have made Mishkan's Small Groups such a success!
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Looking for an afterparty as fun as Taylor Swift's? The Purim party fun doesn't have to stop just because you're joining us virtually. Following the livestream of Shushan Night Live, stay in your costume and bring your favorite beverage to keep the laughs going. Disability & Chronic Illness Small Group does not police attendance — no disability or illness is "too small."
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Image description: Ribbons and streamers are scattered on the floor. Text reads: "Disability & Chronic Illness Purim After-Party / March 6th, 9:00 - 9:45 pm, Virtual."
Shleppy's heart is set on winning Best Dressed at The Golden Shleppy Awards, Mishkan's family Purim party. Will you be there to give Shleppy some competition? Join us at The Davis Theatre on Sunday from 2:30 - 4:00 pm.
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Do you have your tickets to our Purim party yet? Link in bio!
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Transcript:
The Jewish community is under siege, famous and important people with large platforms for addressing the masses are slandering the Jews and inciting violence against us. We have nowhere to turn but the authorities and even the authorities are saying their hands are tied. And so we turn to each other. And we fight back. America in 2023? No friends: Shushan circa 2500 ish years ago. Did it really happen? Who knows. But does it happen all the time? Indeed. Do we want to laugh in the face of history that repeats itself? We do. Do we want to put on costumes drink, eat, be merry and hear the Purim story and celebrate life with one another? Yes we do. So join us at the Chop Shop on Monday night. See with your Purim finest on!
Did you? Polls are open from 6:00 am - 7:00 pm. Remember to make an informed vote on the Police District Council race for our city's new civilian police oversight councils!
Friday Night Shabbat at 2U is just hours away. Our friends from Lawndale Christian Community Church are joining us, and Pastah J is giving a sermon! Will we see you at 6:30 pm?
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Mishkan representing at the JUF! We were here for a report on the Jews of No Denomination Survey. Rabbi Steven spoke on a panel about how we are creating community and programming for Jewish adults who have aged out of traditional no denomination spaces for young people.
Live from Mishkan Chicago, it's Shushan Night Live! Featuring our all-star spiel team in a mix of live and video sketches, a rabbi-rendition of “Hot Ones,” a full megillah reading, and surprises to keep you laughing all night long. You can attend in-person at Chop Shop (2033 W North Ave.) on March 6th from 6:00 - 10:00 pm, or join the fun via livestream. Reserve your ticket now!
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What’s at stake in this election? Find out this Saturday with Mishkan's Queer Small Group! Builder Emily Rapport will lead a presentation from the Local Action Team and JCUA, and we will enjoy light refreshments. Join us at Rodrigo Diaz's home in Uptown this Saturday from 5:00 - 6:45 pm.
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Thank you to Dvorit for sending us these beautiful handcrafted bookmarks! The Mishkan office library has never looked better.
Tonight! Join us for a virtual service celebrating Repro Shabbat. We will hear from a panel including Elizabeth Posner and Sarah Garza Resnick on the fight for bodily autonomy and abortion rights. And of course there will be plenty of davening, music, and inspiration to bring your week to a restful close.
Tomorrow! We're at JCYS (2112 W Lawrence Ave) for Saturday Morning Shabbat from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm. Will we see your family at Rise & Shine and Mah Tovu?
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Last summer, the Supreme Court decision to reverse Roe v. Wade paved the way for states across the nation to pursue abortion bans and restrictions on birth control and fertility treatments.
But reproductive freedom is a Jewish value, and we’re not going to back down! This year, we join the National Council of Jewish Women in celebrating Repro Shabbat on February 17-18. Our Virtual Friday Night Shabbat service from 6:30 - 7:30 pm will include a panel on the fight for abortion rights and bodily autonomy. Will we see you there?
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Everyone is talking about the biggest awards show of the season — the Golden Shleppy's!
You are cordially invited to Mishkan's Family Purim Party, The Golden Shleppy Awards, on Sunday, March 5th from 2:30 - 4:00 pm at The Davis Theatre. Strut the red carpet in your finest costume, watch a hilarious family-friendly spiel by Mishkan's teens, and eat lots of hamantaschen.
Do you have your ticket yet? Link in bio
Last Friday, we welcomed Mishkanite Anna Giuliano to deliver a guest drash in honor of Jewish Disability, Awareness, and Inclusion Month. Anna is the founder of Mishkan's Disability & Chronic Illness Small Group, and she spoke movingly on her experiences living in a world that so often overlooks people in her community.
You can watch it on our YouTube channel, read it on the Mishkan Blog, or listen on the Contact Chai podcast — link in bio.
Purim isn't just an opportunity to party! Every year, we are called on to complete the four mitzvot of Purim, which include giving to the poor and sending gift baskets. We invite you to enter the bracket of March Mitzvot Madness, a friendly competition among Mishkanites to complete the mitzvot for fun prizes. You can join as an individual, couple, team — or family!
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Happy Valentine's Day! We hope your day is as full of warmth and love as our Winter Comfort Feast.
Your family is invited to the hottest red carpet event of the season — The Golden Shleppy Awards! Mishkan's family Purim party will feature a spiel, costume party, hamantaschen, and more. What will you wear this year?
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Tonight! We gotta BeReal with you, this is one Friday Night Shabbat you won't want to miss. Mishkanite Anna Guiliano will drash in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month, and there's a Winter Comfort Feast after the service catered by Schmaltz & Vinegar. Whether you attend in-person at Second Unitarian or join us virtually, we hope you'll BeReal and BeThere at 6:30 pm!
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Hone your craft with us! On Thursday, February 23rd, our Disability & Chronic Illness Small Group is holding a virtual Crafty Happy Hour from 4:30 - 5:45 pm. We'll be knitting, coloring, collaging, and whatever other activities bring joy to your heart and hands.
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Is it ethical to bring children into the world during these frightening times? Before we dove into this tough topic with Rabbi Lizzi, we took some time to get our feelings out with a little art therapy.
Featuring participants of our program "It’s The End of the World as We Know it… Should I Have Children?"
This Valentine’s Day weekend, we invite you to get comfortable. Join us after services Friday night for a vegetarian dinner of winter comfort foods catered by Schmaltz & Vinegar. Services at Second Unitarian begin at 6:30 pm, dinner to start at 8:00 pm.
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Victory never tasted so sweet. Register for March Mitzvot Madness by February 20th to compete for prizes by completing the four Mitzvot of Purim. Give goodies to do some good!
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Hey Builders! Looking to strengthen your connections in and outside of services/programs? Check out our new Builder Directory in ShulCloud! We've heard from many of you that it would be helpful to have a way to reach out to your fellow Builders, and this is just one solution. Check out this nifty guide to get started — link in bio.
Giving our tallis a spin in Mensch.
Happy birthday, trees! Our Earth Day Birthday party was a delicious way to celebrate our leafy friends and learn how to keep them healthy for many birthdays to come. How is your family observing Tu B'Shevat?
This Tu B'Shevat, give the trees in your life something they'll really love — decarbonization. Check out this reading list from the Mishkan Sustainability Justice Team to learn about decarbonization, the climate crisis, and approachable tips you can apply in your own life to make a difference.
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