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 few. She is an alumna of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s and Columbia University’s Joint Pr...
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 Real Question. He is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Kennedy School of Governm...
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 la carte options at this link: https://www.mishkanchicago.org/high-holy-fest/ As always, you ca...
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 of Judaism Unbound, a renowned and wildly popular podcast in the Jewish podcast universe that anal...
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 of interviews featuring people who have made their life’s work an extension of their lives’ purpos...
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 of interviews featuring people who have made their life’s work an extension of their lives’ purpos...
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 of interviews featuring people who have made their life’s work an extension of their lives’ purpos...
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-improvement for the betterment of the whole community. In that spirit, we’re doing a series of...
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 of interviews featuring people who have made their life’s work an extension of their lives’ purpos...
This week we begin 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 of interviews featuring people who have made their life’s work an extension of their lives’...
We conclude our Hanukkah podcast series, Lies & Lessons, with Rabbi Shira Stutman from Sixth & I in Washington D.C. In this conversation, Rabbi Lizzi and Rabbi Shira discuss why many Jews have a love-hate relationship to the widely celebrated, and marketed, holiday of Hanukkah. Tune in for a conversation that addresses the complicated historical roots of the holiday, while offering a reminder to grab ahold of joy and the hopeful spirit of the season. Be sure to subscribe, rate ...
We continue our Hanukkah podcast series, Lies & Lessons, with Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer. In this conversation, Rabbi Lizzi and Rabbi Jessica discuss the lesser known Hanukkah songs, as well as the classics that ring out year after year. As a student of sacred Jewish music from Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions, and a performer throughout the US and Israel, Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer offers unique insight and beautiful vocals to this episode. To enjoy the accompanying Hanukkah Mixtape,...
We begin our Hanukkah podcast series, Lies & Lessons, with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie. In this conversation, Rabbi Lizzi and Rabbi Amichai consider the mythology, the liturgy, the symbolism and the history of the Hanukkah lights. Be sure to subscribe, rate the show and leave a review. As always, we want to hear from you. Follow Mishkan Chicago on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about Mishkan Chicago. Learn more about Rabbi Amichai and Lab/Shul NYC.
What does it mean to reimagine and reconsider ancient Jewish traditions? How can a lens of "otherness" uncover new or forgotten meaning in familiar texts? To close out our three-part series about Tisha B'Av, Rabbi Lizzi speaks with Rabbi Benay Lappe, the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of SVARA, a traditionally radical yeshiva dedicated to the study of Talmud through the lens of queer experience. In this conversation, R'Lizzi and R'Benay discuss the shortcomings of tradition and the opportunity of ...
Join R'Lizzi in conversation with Jonathan Brooks, or "Pastah J" the Senior Pastor at West Englewood's Canaan Community Church, as they discuss falling in love with exile, tikkun olam, and what it takes to become part of a movement instead of just a moment. Pastah J is a faith leader, an activist, a musician, an entrepreneur, a husband and father. You can read his recent book, or learn more about his work on his website. The second in our three-part series leading up to Tisha B'Av, this conv...
When a person, a community, or a nation face rock bottom, how do they rebuild, if at all? The upcoming Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av offers a spiritual starting place for this timely question. Join Rabbi Lizzi in conversation with Reverend Lola Wright as they consider personal responsibility, coronavirus and the fight for civil rights — as well as the potential of "this now moment." You can learn more about Lola through her website, or by checking out her new seven-week course, Normal White P...
Contact Chai with Rabbi Lizzi is a new podcast from Mishkan Chicago that explores Jewish ideas in unlikely places with fascinating people. In this episode, Rabbi Lizzi and guest continue the conversation on endurance and healing through the lenses of Judaism and affective psychotherapy.
Contact Chai with Rabbi Lizzi is a new podcast from Mishkan Chicago that explores Jewish ideas in unlikely places with fascinating people, many of whom happen to be part of Mishkan's community. In this episode, join Rabbi Lizzi to explore how we can connect the science of resilience, healing and change with our Seder experience and the Season of Passover.
This sermon was delivered at our 5786 Rosh Hashanah service. Support our work by donating to our High Holiday Pledge Campaign: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/mishkan-chicago/mishkan-high-holidays-2025-5786 Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. Transcript
This sermon was delivered at our 5786 Rosh Hashanah service. Registration is open for High Holidays at Mishkan! Whether you attend in-person or via our affordable, state-of-the-art livestream, you can count on Mishkan’s High Holiday services to strengthen and inspire you as we face a new year of challenges and opportunities. Tickets go fast, so save your seat today! https://www.tickettailor.com/events/mishkanchicago/1790206 Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed ...