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Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. You can join in yourself , or listen to all the prayer, music, and inspiration right here on Contact Chai. Today's Morning Minyan features "Kedusha" by Amy Robinson. https://mishkan.shulcloud.com/form/reg-morning-minyan-evergreen Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman St...

What does our tradition have to teach us about honoring the diversity of human bodies? We sat down with Rabbi Minna Bromberg , fat liberation activist and founder of Fat Torah, to discuss her new book, "Every Body Beloved." https://bookshop.org/lists/every-body-beloved Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. You can join in yourself , or listen to all th...

Join us for Purim on March 2nd! Don't miss out on the zaniest spiel in town — register at the link below. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/adult-purim-2026/ This drash was delivered at our virtual service on February 27th, 2026. Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. Transcript

Join us for Purim on March 2nd! Don't miss out on the zaniest spiel in town — register at the link below. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/adult-purim-2026/ The Megillah is satire. But deciphering the intended message of ancient literature is hard enough without a layer of irony and hidden meaning. In our Reading Esther As Literature class, Rabbi Lizzi taught us how to unlock some of that...

Booo Mordechai! Wait, did I get that wrong? As Rabbi Lizzi taught in her sermon on Saturday, February 21st, on Purim, we are to get so mentally mixed up that we can’t remember the difference between “Blessed is Mordechi” and “Cursed is Haman.” Why? Find out at Mishkan’s Purim Party on March 2nd. Our spiel and full Megillah reading is always the best party in town, no exaggeration. https://www.mish...

Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. You can join in yourself , or listen to all the prayer, music, and inspiration right here on Contact Chai. Today's Morning Minyan features "Kedusha" by Amy Robinson. https://mishkan.shulcloud.com/form/reg-morning-minyan-evergreen Mishkan’s Purim Party is March 2nd — do you have your tickets yet? Featuring outr...

Hello, and welcome to Contact Chai. At our service on February 13th, we heard from Builder Sarah Garza Resnick, the President and CEO of Personal PAC. Sarah shared the latest plans of the extremists behind Project 2025 who are gearing up for a further assault on reproductive rights and the freedoms of women, families, and any individual who does not share their narrow agenda. If you are feeling ov...

Today’s episode is the first part of a two-part Shabbat Replay of our service on February 13th — Erev Valentine’s Day. What is the hidden meaning behind 2/13? Or 6-7? Builder Devi Stern shared her expertise in gematria (Jewish numerology) to provide some insight. There is also a hidden meaning behind the numbers 3/2: it’s the date of our Purim Spiel! On March 2nd, we hope you will join us for our...

The Megillah isn't history. But what is it? According to Rabbi Lizzi (and the scholars she draws from), it is a burlesque, satire, and farce! Learn how that can inform our relationship to the text, Purim, and living in the Diaspora. You can sign up for the rest of the classes at the link below: https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/reading-the-book-of-esther-as-literature-02-19-26/ Register fo...

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on Saturday, February 7th, when Rabbi Steven connected the wisdom of Shabbos rest to Tu B’Shehvat. In North America, the birthday of the trees is a time when deciduous trees are resting, and, for millions of years, the majestic pine stores burbling sap. We pine for your reviews. Leave us a five tree-star rating so we can get the word out about thi...

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on January 23rd when Rabbi Steven returned from leading an educational trip to Israel. He shared reflections what it was like to be in a nation consumed by grief and political turmoil, only to return to a nation consumed with grief and political turmoil. If you’ve been educated or encouraged by Rabbi Steven and want to share your reflections, plea...

Today's Morning Minyan features a teaching by Rabbi Shefa Gold as well as the songs "Modeh Ani" by Omer Adam and “I'm Not Alone” by Aly Halpert. https://www.rabbishefagold.com/bo/ Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. You can join in yourself , or listen to all the prayer, music, and inspiration right here on Contact Chai. https://mishkan.shu...

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on January 17th over MLK Day Weekend. Rabbi Lizzi was fresh off of giving the prayer at Mayor Brandon Johnson’s MLK breakfast where former Vice President Kamala Harris was in attendance. It was kind of a big deal , and if you’re feeling like you missed out, don’t worry, she gives a great recap, just like you get a great recap of every sermon here...

Today's Morning Minyan features the song “Ana El Na” by Aly Halpert. Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. You can join in yourself , or listen to all the prayer, music, and inspiration right here on Contact Chai. https://mishkan.shulcloud.com/form/reg-morning-minyan-evergreen Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman St...

Today’s episode is an especially musical Shabbat Replay from our service on January 9th. The word of the day in Rabbi Lizzi’s sermon was ger , or “Foreigner.” If You Want To Know What Love Is, this Urgent message will help you stay Hot Blooded in a world that feels Cold As Ice. I don’t know any other songs by Foreigner, but if you can think of another that might fit, include it in your 5 star revi...

Today's Morning Minyan features “Modeh Ani” by Nefesh Mountain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFOms2QxFTo&list=RDzFOms2QxFTo&start_radio=1 Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. You can join in yourself , or listen to all the prayer, music, and inspiration right here on Contact Chai. https://mishkan.shulcloud.com/form/reg-morning-minyan-evergreen P...

Rabbi Lizzi’s 45th birthday is on New Year’s Eve! We have it on good authority that no gift would make her happier than seeing this community continue to thrive. One year older, one year wiser — help our rabbi share that wisdom by giving at the link below. https://secure.givelively.org/donate/mishkan-chicago/join-us-in-praying-and-fighting-for-a-better-world/ Today's Morning Minyan features a...

Rabbi Lizzi’s 45th birthday is on New Year’s Eve! We have it on good authority that no gift would make her happier than seeing this community continue to thrive. One year older, one year wiser — help our rabbi share that wisdom by giving at the link below. https://secure.givelively.org/donate/mishkan-chicago/join-us-in-praying-and-fighting-for-a-better-world/ Today's Morning Minyan features &...

Today's episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on December 12th, Rabbi Steven drashed on the Hanukkah story, or, rather its darker side. Yesterday, Sunday, December 14th, Hanukkah began with news of a deadly terrorist attack in Sydney on innocent people celebrating the holiday. We will kindle lights this week to ensure that their memories will be a blessing and our tradition’s insistence...

Get your holiday shopping done at Mishkan's first-ever Hanukkah Market! Come early to services on Friday, December 12th, at Second Unitarian to browse Judaica, jewelry, and crafts made by Mishkanite artists while sipping wine and schmoozing with friends. The market begins at 5:30 pm. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/mishkan-hanukkah-market-2025/ If Mishkan Chicago has inspired you in thes...

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on December 6th when Rabbi Lizzi delivered a drash on what it means to wrestle with our tradition’s competing understandings of God and the meaning of Hanukkah. For our gelt, the true meaning of Hanukkah is friendship — and shopping! Find your holiday gifts at Mishkan’s first-ever Hanukkah Market. Come early to services on Friday, December 12th, a...

Get your holiday shopping done at Mishkan's first-ever Hanukkah Market! Come early to services on Friday, December 12th, at Second Unitarian to browse Judaica, jewelry, and crafts made by Mishkanite artists while sipping wine and schmoozing with friends. The market begins at 5:30 pm. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/mishkan-hanukkah-market-2025/ Today's Morning Minyan features the Bi...

Some of you may remember Julie Fishbach from Davening Team or recall her spot-on impression of Rabbi Lizzi in Purim spiels over the years. Julie is also one of many, many Mishkanites who have gone on to attend rabbinical school — including Rabbi Steven. At our November 21st service, Julie made her triumphant Mishkan return as a visiting scholar, delivering the evening’s drash. It’s pretty incredib...

Today's Morning Minyan features "Beautiful People" by Aly Halpert. Every weekday at 8:00 am, Mishkan Chicago holds a virtual Morning Minyan. You can join in yourself , or listen to all the prayer, music, and inspiration right here on Contact Chai. https://mishkan.shulcloud.com/form/reg-morning-minyan-evergreen Want to support what we do? Become a Builder or donate today! https://www...

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on November 15th when Rabbi Lizzi delivered a drash all about love. The Torah also calls us to love our fellow Jews. But surely not that Jew , right? The one who won’t stop posting about, y’know? The one you have blocked on Facebook? Unfortunately, Maimonides says we have to love them too. So how do we love our fellow Jews even when it’s hard? One...