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Rabbi Deena's sermon from Yom Kippur on bravely beginning new things, complete with her first live guitar performance — Sweet Caroline!

If you were moved by this or any other moment during Get Higher 5783, we encourage you to donate to Mishkan’s High Holiday campaign to help us continue creating radically inclusive Jewish spaces.

Read a transcript of this sermon on the Mishkan Blog.

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

At Mishkan’s 5783 Kol Nidre service, Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann delivered a sermon inviting us to call out “Hineni!” with Moshe and be fully present in every moment. If you have been moved by any of Mishkan’s High Holy Days services, we encourage you to donate to our High Holidays Campaign.

We  have a number of exciting Sukkot activities planned this weekend! Join us for Friday Night Shabbat tonight, 10/14, as well as Shake It Off: Sukkah Family Fun on Saturday and LGBTQ+ Interfaith Sukkah Hang on Sunday. Then, on Monday, we're throwing a Simchat Torah dance party with JRC in Northcenter Town Square.

Mishkan Events Calendar:
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/events/2022-10/

Read a transcript of this sermon on the Mishkan Blog.
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/slow-down-look-up-kol-nidre/

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

At Mishkan’s 5783 Rosh Hashanah service, Rabbi Steven delivered a stirring and deeply personal sermon reflecting on his recent divorce. If you have been moved by any of Mishkan’s High Holy Days services, we encourage you to donate to our High Holidays Campaign.

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript of R'Steven's Drash

At Mishkan's Erev Rosh Hashanah service, Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann delivered a sermon on learning to live with the heartbreaking circumstances of this world by relying on the tradition passed down to us by sages like Rabbi Eleazar who were no strangers to heartbreak themselves. This episode concludes with the Mishkan Davening Team's performance of "Crowded Table." If you have been moved by any of Mishkan’s High Holy Days services, we encourage you to donate to our High Holidays Campaign.

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript of R'Lizzi's Drash

Today’s episode features Rabbi Lizzi’s sermon on the Hebrew month of Elul, as well as lovely singing by the Davening Team, a speech by Builder Jon Quinn, a eulogy to Rabbi Edward Feldheim, and a touching welcome to our 36 “new Jews.” This recording is from Mishkan’s August 26th Friday Night Shabbat.

Highlights:
[01:57] R’Steven — Welcoming Message On Elul
[06:00] Lechu Neranena
[08:46] Mizmor l'David Havu Ladonai (Psalm 29)
[11:55] R’Deena — So Many Mikvehs!
[13:20] Jon Quinn — What Buildership Means To Me
[16:12] Lecha Dodi
[21:55] V’ahavta
[24:18] Welcoming Exploring Judaism Grads To The Mishkan
[28:19] R’Lizzi Drash — “Elul: May This Be A Month of Blessing,” including a Eulogy of R’Feldheim at 37:40
[45:15] R’Deena — Elul Blessing
[47:56] Closing Groove

Say, do you have your High Holiday tickets yet?
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/high-holy-days/

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript of R'Lizzi's Drash

Following the vandalism of Second Unitarian Church, Rabbi Steven spoke at a rally in solidarity with our interfaith partner and in support of abortion rights. Then, at our September 9th service at Second Unitarian, Rabbi Steven delivered a deeply personal drash reflecting on both the rally and the unforeseen course of his life. This sermon also contains a preview of Rabbi Steven's Rosh Hashanah sermon — do you have your ticket yet?

Spiritual Pre-Game: Prepping for the High Holidays
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/spiritual-pre-game-prepping-for-the-high-holidays/2022-09-07/

Selichot: Live and Outside!
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/selichot-live-and-outdoors-2022/

Get Higher 5783
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/high-holy-days/

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript

Thou shalt not let a good thing go to waste! At our September 3rd service, R'Deena delivered a drash on the principle of Bal Tashchit, or, literally, "Do Not Waste." How can we live a life dedicated to conserving our world's resources? You could start by composting with WasteNot!

Spiritual Pre-Game: Prepping for the High Holidays
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/spiritual-pre-game-prepping-for-the-high-holidays/2022-09-07/

Selichot: Live and Outside!
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/selichot-live-and-outdoors-2022/

Get Higher 5783
https://www.mishkanchicago.org/high-holy-days/

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript

Today’s episode is a drash from our Virtual Friday Night Shabbat on August 19th. Rabbi Deena spoke about the difficult task of comforting others the way God comforts us. This episode also features the song Nachamu by Elana Arian, performed by New Moon Rising.

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript

On Sunday, August 7th, Rabbi Lizzi led an interfaith Tisha B’Av service with Pastor Jonathan Brooks of Lawndale Community Christian Church. Pastor Jonathan, or Pastah J as he is affectionately known, is a renowned artist and community activist. In recognition of this somber holiday commemorating the many exiles and tragedies of the Jewish people, Rabbi Lizzi and Pastah J spoke passionately on the Jewish history and Black present of North Lawndale.

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript

Today’s episode is a discussion between Rabbi Lizzi and Russ Linden, author of “Loss and Discovery: What the Torah Can Teach Us about Leading Change.” The interview was conducted with the active participation of our Morning Minyan crew. Every weekday from 8 - 8:30 am, you can join us to start our day with a spiritual check-in with one of the Mishkan rabbis.

https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/summer-2022-morning-minyan/all/

For upcoming Shabbat services and programs, check our event calendar, and see our Accessibility & Inclusion page for information about our venues. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript