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What would Judah Maccabee think of the commercialized, semi-assimilated, kid-friendly version of Hanukkah we celebrate today? R'Steven Philp takes us through the history behind our modern Hanukkah traditions. This sermon was from the Saturday morning service on December 4th. For full Friday services, click here . For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar . Learn mor...

In response to the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse for killing two activists in supposed self-defense, Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann shares timely wisdom from the Talmud on rodef — self-defense against a pursuer. While the rabbis enshrined the right of self-defense, Jewish tradition also warns against wearing weaponry and looking for a fight. Rabbi Lizzi asks whether the tense reunion of Jacob and Esau in t...

This week, we hear from Rabbi Deena about Daylight Savings Time and our relationship with darkness.    To watch  our full service from Friday,  November 17th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook . Be sure to like and subscribe to our podcast for updates on new episodes! And please lea...

This week, we hear from Sarah Bateman, a licensed clinical social worker, a mental health advocate and the Jewish Community Liaison at The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders.    To watch  our full service from Friday,  October 29th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook . Be sure to li...

This week, we hear the live recording of Rabbi Steven Philp's drash from Friday, October 22nd. Tune in for Rabbi Steven's sermon about ghosts, the unexplained, balancing our rational minds and finding value in what we cannot understand. To watch  our full service from Friday,  October 22nd, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chic...

This episode concludes a three-part series diving into the High Holidays. In this episode, Rabbi Deena Cowans is in conversation with her friend and mentor, Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay.  Rabbi Ruskay has made her career in the Jewish social justice sector, serving in leadership positions at the American Jewish World Service, Auburn Theological Seminary, and AVODAH Jewish Service Corps, just to name a f...

We continue our three-part series diving into the High Holidays. In this episode, Rabbi Steven Philp, the newest addition to our rabbinic team, is in conversation with his friend and sought-after writer, speaker and deep thinker, Casper ter Kuile. Casper is the author of The Power of Ritual, the co-founder of Sacred Design Lab and the co-creator of podcasts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and The...

This episode begins a three-part series diving into the High Holidays. Rabbi Lizzi is joined by Jay Michaelson, a writer who works at the intersection of politics and spirituality, to discuss the power, potential and pitfalls in mining our shared tradition's liturgy, practices and themes.  Join Mishkan Chicago for the High Holidays in-person or via livestream! You can find a smorgasbord of a...

Tune into this Tisha B'Av-inspired bonus episode featuring Joe Grant and Anna Gaebler — two advocates and organizers working on economic justice in Chicago. Rabbi Lizzi joins Joe and Anna in conversation about our shared history of destruction and despair, as well as our shared history of hope, determination, the fight for justice and equity. If you're looking for a way to bring Tisha B&...

This week, we hear the live recording of Mishkanite Joshua Schwartz's drash from Friday, June 25th. Tune in for Josh's reflection on Torah in relation to Pride, Jewish identity, and finding a spiritual home. Tune into our full service from Friday, June 25th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and...

This week, we hear the live recording of Rabbi Deena's drash from Friday, June 18th. Tune in for her reflection on Torah in relation to Juneteenth. Tune into our full service from Friday, June 18th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook . Be sure to like and subscribe to our podcas...

This week, we hear the live recording of Rabbi Lizzi's drash from Friday, June 11th. Tune in for her reflection on Torah in relation to Israel and Palestine Tune into our full service from Friday, June 11th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook . Be sure to like and subscribe to o...

This week, we hear the live recording of Rabbi Deena's drash from Friday, June 4th. Tune in for her reflection on Torah in relation to grief, healing, illness and the way we support our friends and family. Tune into our full service from Friday, June 4th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us...

This week, we hear the live recording of Joel Brounold's dvar Torah  from Friday, May 14th. Joel is the  Managing Director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace. Tune in for his reflection on events happening in Israel and Palestine. Tune into our full service from Friday, May 14th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan C...

We are in the 7th, and final week of our Omer series featuring spiritual entrepreneurs, people who are bringing the wisdom of their own lived experience into their professional lives and carving new paths, making unique and much needed impact in the world. This week we dive into Malchut, Kingdom, Kingship. In this extended episode, Rabbi Lizzi speaks with Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg, the hosts o...

This week, we hear the live recording of Rabbi Lizzi's drash from Friday, May 7th. Tune in for her reflection on Torah in relation to our new pace of life, the coming shmita year, the power in slowing down and taking only what we need. Tune into our full service from Friday, May 7th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow...

We continue a period on the Jewish calendar called the Omer — the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot that our tradition observes through a practice of counting, day by day, week by week. We imbue these days with meaning by assigning a different theme to each week that encourages self-reflection and self-improvement for the betterment of the whole community. In that spirit, we’re doing a series o...

This week, we hear the live recording of Rabbi Lizzi's drash from Friday, April 30th. Tune in for her reflection on Torah in relation to Lag B'Omer, news from Jerusalem, France, and beyond.   Tune into our full service from Friday, April 30th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us on Face...

This week, we hear the live recording of (future Rabbi) Julie Fishbach giving a drash Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim ,  her decision to go to rabbinical school and a meditation on community. Tune into our full service from Friday, April 23rd, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook . Be sur...

We continue a period on the Jewish calendar called the Omer — the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot that our tradition observes through a practice of counting, day by day, week by week. We imbue these days with meaning by assigning a different theme to each week that encourages self-reflection and self-improvement for the betterment of the whole community. In that spirit, we’re doing a series o...

We continue a period on the Jewish calendar called the Omer — the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot that our tradition observes through a practice of counting, day by day, week by week. We imbue these days with meaning by assigning a different theme to each week that encourages self-reflection and self-improvement for the betterment of the whole community. In that spirit, we’re doing a series o...

This week, we hear the live recording of Rabbi Deena Cowans' drash about policing in America and what the midrash has to say about police accountability, public safety, and the duty of civil servants. Tune into our full service from Friday, April 16th, click here . Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here . Learn more about Mishkan Chicago . Follow us on Instagram and like us on...

Content Warning: This episode briefly addresses sexual assault from minutes 23:00-25:00.  We continue a period on the Jewish calendar called the Omer — the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot that our tradition observes through a practice of counting, day by day, week by week. We imbue these days with meaning by assigning a different theme to each week that encourages self-reflection and self-imp...

This week, we hear the live recording of Marni Loffman's drash. As a Challah Back Girls co-founder, TikTok sensation (@singing_jewess), Wesleyan graduate, and all-around great human, Marni offers insight on patience, counting the Omer, our desire for artistic inspiration and magical moments over the mundane logistics of every day life.    Tune into our full service from Friday, April 9th, cli...

We continue a period on the Jewish calendar called the Omer — the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot that our tradition observes through a practice of counting, day by day, week by week. We imbue these days with meaning by assigning a different theme to each week that encourages self-reflection and self-improvement for the betterment of the whole community. In that spirit, we’re doing a series o...