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.
Tomorrow morning, October 9th, we will gather virtually in community for Morning Minyan from 8 am - 9 am CT. We will include prayers for safety and peace in Israel followed by space to hear from Rachel Goldberg about life on the ground there and processing in community.
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We stand in solidarity with all victims of this violence. As more details emerge, we will share them with our community, but we wanted to alert you of a briefing today at 1:00 pm CT hosted by AJC and JFNA — follow the link in bio.
November 3-5, we're taking Mishkan Builder families on an all-inclusive weekend trip to OSRUI. Join us for quality time and community building the weekend of November 3-5 as we celebrate Shabbat, power down, and learn together. Room and board, all meals, activities, and even babysitting are provided — all you have to do is show up!
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Simchat Torah is the ultimate dance party. Literally! We are commemorating the end of a year of Torah readings by dancing with the Torah. Join us tonight at 6:45 pm at Anshe Emet to dance, study, and nosh.
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Tomorrow! Come dance with us on Saturday as we celebrate Simchat Torah with our friends at Anshe Emet and Base LNCLN. There is kids' programming at 4:30 pm, and our dancing + study session begins at 6:45 pm.
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Mishkan's Family Camp at OSRUI is a special opportunity to power down and celebrate Shabbat with fellow Mishkan Builder families. Join us for quality time and community building the weekend of November 3-5. Room and board, all meals, activities, and even babysitting are provided — all you have to do is show up!
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Celebrate Shemini Atzeret with us (whatever it is!). Rabbi Lizzi will lead services this Saturday at 10:00 am along with indie Evanston minyan Shirat Ha'Agam.
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Our sukkah felt even cozier thanks to all of you! It was nice seeing so many Mishkanites at our Shabbat Sukkah Hang.
Have you made it out to the Chicago Sukkah Design Festival yet? You can still check out all these inventive, beautiful sukkot set up in James Stone Freedom Square (3615 W Douglas Blvd) through October 15th! Thank you to everyone who volunteered to make this event possible.
Sukkot? More like Spookot!
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.
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In celebration of Sukkot, we’re spicing things up with Hallel and shaking the lulav/etrog during this week’s Morning Minyans! Join us Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:00 am this week for music and inspiration with the Mishkan rabbis.
It was so fun to have all you Mishkan families under our sukkah! Your edible sukkahs looked so tasty.
Take a peek at our state-of-the-art recording studio! #StayScrappy
Calling all Trans and Non-Binary youth! Mishkan and Maggie's Place invite you to a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Shedd Aquarium on Saturday, October 14th. Our youth group is drop-in, so even if this is your first time, we would love to see you there!
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Mishkan's sukkah project with Lawndale Christian Community Church was covered in the The Jerusalem Post! We hope you will join us tomorrow at 1:30 pm in James Stone Freedom Square for an interfaith service followed by exploring the Chicago Sukkah Design Festival.
“Interfaith, interracial, cross-city, cross-neighborhood relationship building does not happen overnight,” said Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann of Mishkan Chicago, the Jewish prayer community partnering on the project. “It’s taken over a year for us to get together three times, four times. This sustained effort of people to continue to build relationships takes a long time.”
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Tonight! Come to our sukkah for pumpkin spice treats and a low-key Shabbat hang led by Rabbi Lizzi. Bring a picnic and meet us at 6:00 pm at Churchill Hill Park in Wicker Park to bring in Sukkot together.
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The Shofar Slide is the biggest dance craze of 5784! Thank you to everyone who made our Museum of Awe possible, from staff to our amazing teen volunteers to families who grooved along to this sick beat.
Sunday! Mishkan Chicago and Lawndale Christian Community Church proudly invite you to the unveiling of our year-long sukkah project. Pastah J and Rabbi Lizzi will lead an interfaith prayer service and music for our communities, and then we’ll have a chance to explore the Chicago Sukkah Design Festival — with food, workshops, and more! Rachel Ellison from Bat Sarah Press will be making DIY lulav and etrogs, and artist Norman Teague will be doing a flag making station based around African American quilting practices directly after our service.
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Words cannot express our gratitude to all who attended High Holiday services with us. If you have five minutes, we would love to know about your experience in a brief survey — follow the link in bio.
P.S. These are just a sneak-peek of our photos from Get Higher 5784, and we can't wait to share more very soon!
This Saturday, we're holding a Family Sukkot Celebration in Winnemac Park! Join us at our sukkah in Winnemac Park from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Rachel Mylan and Rabbi Lizzi will lead us in singing and music followed by an edible sukkah-making station. This program is geared toward families with kids 8 and under.
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This Friday night, join us for a Sukkot Picnic. We'll be bringing in Sukkot with a low-key Shabbat hang just off the 606 at Churchill Hill Park in Wicker Park beginning at 6:00 pm. BYOPicnic and reunite with friends post-High Holidays!
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Hey, LGBTQIA+ Mishkan fam! On Thursday, October 5th, we're throwing a Queer Sukkah Happy Hour with our friends at Keshet, Base, and Repair the World. We will have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic bevs on hand in addition to lots of snacks, but please bring clothing with you to donate to the Night Ministry.
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G'mar chatimah tovah! May you be sealed into the book of life. You can still join us in-person or virtually for our Yom Kippur services beginning at 10:30 am — reserve your place ASAP!
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Tashlich is about letting go of what no longer sparks joy, unburdening ourselves of what weighs us down, and committing to teshuvah. And you still have time to do it!
Davening Team is ready for Yom Kippur and Kol Nidre — are you? Register for in-person and virtual tickets at the link in bio.
Welcome to Machzoritaville! We are all loaded up and ready for Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur — are you? There are still in-person and virtual tickets available at the link in bio.
Z”L James W. Buffet
When we act out of fear, we perpetuate cycles of violence. You can read R'Lizzi's Rosh Hashanah sermon "Supporting True Democracy In Israel," watch it on the Mishkan YouTube channel, or hear it on Contact Chai podcast.
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"Before I came out to friends and family, Uncle Bill was the first person I confided in, and the little shack by the beach that he shared with my Uncle Mike was one of the few places where I felt like I wasn’t alone....Uncle Bill didn’t live long enough to know if the world he hoped for would come into being. He didn’t get to know how things turned out for my mom, or see where I ended up."
You can read Rabbi Steven's powerful, personal sermon about the little legacies each of us leaves behind on the Mishkan Blog, or listen now on the latest episode of the Contact Chai podcast.
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New Second Day Rosh time and location! Due to forecasted inclement weather, we are moving tomorrow's Second Day Rosh Hashanah & Tashlich to 3:00 pm when the weather is expected to clear. Instead of the previously planned service and family activities, we will meet for Tashlich and Shofar at Horner Park and then walk over to the Chicago River to perform the ritual of Tashlich.
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/second-day-rosh-hashanah-tashlich-at-welles-park/
Shana Tova! Our virtual Erev Rosh service begins at 6:30 pm tonight. It's not too late to register for this or any of our High Holiday services, but tickets are going fast!
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Family Programs at Mishkan’s High Holidays are full of exciting activities for young people of all ages, like the Silent Disco. Check out this sample of the hit track “Shofar Slide” by our very own Charlie Casino.
See all of our High Holiday Family Programas at the link in bio.
Our High Holiday livestream takes you behind the scenes with special bonus content just for our virtual audience! Use promo code COUCH for 50% off your livestream all access pass.
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Family Programs at Mishkan's High Holidays will have you literally rolling on the floor laughing! We have tons of exciting activities for young people of all ages from tots to teens. Check out our lineup at the link in bio!
Still figuring out your High Holiday plans? Have plans for Rosh Hashanah but not Yom Kippur, or vice versa? Our High Holiday Livestream tickets are an all access pass, so you can join us virtually for any and all services! Use promo code COUCH for 50% off your livestream tickets. Link in bio
Not to toot our own ram's horn, but Family Programs at Mishkan's High Holiday services are going to be extra special this year. We have tons of fun activities lined up for young people of all ages, from tots to teens. Learn about our plans at the link in bio, and be sure to register ASAP to secure your family's place!
Getting pumped for the High Holidays with Snoop Dogg's affirmations. Are you ready to Get Higher?
Davening Team Dinner Time! We nourished our bodies and souls to prepare for the musical marathon that is the High Holidays. Register now if you want to catch this cantorial crew live!
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With Mishkan's High Holiday livestream, you can reserve the best seat in the house — your couch. Our fully-produced livestreams are unlike any other virtual service out there. Get your Livestream All Access pass today!
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Looking for Second Day Rosh plans? We're holding a Rosh Day Two + Tashlich celebration in Welles Park this Sunday. At 9:30 am, we're serving coffee and donuts, with services and family programming beginning at 10:00 am. Then, at 12:30 pm, we'll head to the bridge on Montrose for Tashlich.
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Get half off our High Holiday Livestream all access pass with promo code COUCH — link in bio.
Tomorrow! We're in Northcenter Town Square for Selichot. Join us at 6:00 pm for a BYOPicnic, and services begin at 7:00 pm.
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You awake? Rosh Hashanah is just two weeks away. Do you have tickets yet to Mishkan Chicago's High Holiday services? You won't want to miss this powerful, unique spiritual experience — get your tickets today at the link in bio.
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/high-holy-days/
Our team works hard to make sure that you can experience the Mishkan High Holiday magic, wherever you are. That's why we shoot bonus content with the Mishkan rabbis especially for our livestream audience. Mishkan's High Holiday livestream takes you onstage, backstage, and behind the scenes, all from the best seat in the house — your couch. Use promo code COUCH when purchasing to get 50% off your livestream ticket!
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This Saturday! Welcome in the High Holidays with songs of the season as we celebrate Selichot together in Northcenter Town Square. BYOPicnic and apple bar at 6:00 pm, with services at 7:00 pm. Register at the link in bio.
Our livestream all access pass captures the Mishkan High Holiday magic, no matter where you're joining from.
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Happy Labor Day! We kicked off the weekend with Torah Study in the Park, and we hope there's even more sunshine and togetherness in store for you today.
Prepare for the High Holidays with a picnic! We're warming up for the Days of Awe with a tuneful Selichot service this Saturday, September 9th. Meet us in Northcenter Town Square at 6:00 pm for a BYOpicnic and our delicious DIY apple bar. Then, at 7:00 pm, we will sing the songs of the season together.
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Tomorrow! Bring a chair and get cozy for Torah Study + Rise & Shine in Welles Park. From 10:00 am to noon, Rabbi Lizzi will lead a deep dive into the Rosh HaShannah Amidah. And at 10:45 am our family-friendly kids’ sing-along will have the little ones singing, dancing, and celebrating summer together. We’ll all make kiddush together around 11:30 and hang in the park.
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Welcome to Mishkan Chicago’s High Holiday Livestream, where you’re guaranteed the best seat in the house — your couch. Get 50% off with code COUCH when purchasing the Livestream All Access Pass.
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