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Andrew Rehfeld, President & Professor of Political Thought of Hebrew Union College, presents his findings on the state of American Judaism. Are seminaries in crisis? What can be done about the shortage of rabbis?View From The Top: A Discussion Series w/ Rabbi LizziRabbis are on the front lines of leading communities, speaking out for moral clarity and Jewish values, and representing Jews in multi-faith spaces. But there is a rabbinic pipieline problem in the world outside of Orthodoxy, and this moment in American Jewish history has been called “the end of the Golden Age of Judaism in America.” Are we headed for a renaissance of American Judaism or a decline? Join Rabbi Lizzi for a series with the heads of different rabbinical seminaries training the next generation of Jewish leaders, on what they’re seeing from where they sit — what challenges and opportunities, and where they see American Judaism headed.****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. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay from our Shavuot Shabbat service on May 30th. Caroline Miller, a Davening Team member, lay leader, and BluePrint class conversion graduate delivered a sermon about her experience rediscovering herself in Jewish community after years in a personal wilderness.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. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

Join Rabbi Lizzi and Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President and CEO of Reconstructing Judaism, for a conversation about the state of American Judaism and the boldness and "Holy Chutzpah" in Reconstructing JudaismView From The Top: A Discussion Series w/ Rabbi LizziRabbis are on the front lines of leading communities, speaking out for moral clarity and Jewish values, and representing Jews in multi-faith spaces. But there is a rabbinic pipieline problem in the world outside of Orthodoxy, and this moment in American Jewish history has been called “the end of the Golden Age of Judaism in America.” Are we headed for a renaissance of American Judaism or a decline? Join Rabbi Lizzi for a series with the heads of different rabbinical seminaries training the next generation of Jewish leaders, on what they’re seeing from where they sit — what challenges and opportunities, and where they see American Judaism headed.Two essays on chosenness: https://www.bjpa.org/content/upload/bjpa/c__c/Waxman%20Fuchs-Kreimer%20Chosen%20People.pdfA talk on divine justice that R' Waxman gave at the Chautauqua Institute in 2019: https://www.reconstructingjudaism.org/article/divine-justice-jewish-perspective/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. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

In this inaugural episode of a new interview series titled "The View From The Top," Rabbi Lizzi spoke with Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson about his perspective on the state of the present and future of American Judaism.R'Artson (www.bradartson.com) holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles. Rabbi Artson has long been a passionate advocate for social justice, human dignity, diversity and inclusion. He wrote a book on Jewish teachings on war, peace and nuclear annihilation in the late 80s, became a leading voice advocating for GLBT marriage and ordination in the 90s, and has published and spoken widely on environmental ethics, special needs inclusion, racial and economic justice, cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, and working for a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. A member of the Philosophy Department, he is particularly interested in theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. He is also Rabbinic Leader of the Abraham Joshua Heschel Seminary in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative rabbis for Europe. A frequent contributor for the Times of Israel,  and a Contributing Writer for the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, he has a public figure Facebook page with over 93,000 likes. Rabbi Artson is the author of 12 books and over 250 articles. He is currently completing a new book, Wells of Wisdom: Ancient Insight to Thrive.https://www.aju.edu/ziegler-school-rabbinic-studiesFor 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. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our Virtual Friday Night service on May 16th. Rabbi Lizzi was joined by Rabbi Adi Romem, one of the first female rabbis ordained by the Hartman Institute for Israeli rabbis. Together, they discussed blasphemy, in the Torah portion and in politics.Mark your calendars for our Pre-Shavuot Shabbat Pizza Picnic at Northcenter Town Square on May 30th featuring, pizza, lawn games, an ice cream truck, and a performance by the Teen Davening Team. Register now to enjoy all that dairy goodness in community. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/shavuot-shabbat-pizza-picnic-ft-teen-davening-team/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. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

"My response to trauma has to be to see everyone as human." Rabbi Lizzi spoke with Alice Miller, the CEO of Natan Worldwide Disaster Relief, an Israeli organization providing all-volunteer medical, dental, and humanitarian support all over the world. Their conversation was wide-ranging, fascinating, and surprising. Learn more about NATAN and support their work at https://natanrelief.org/donate/ Anyone interested in learning even more about Natan should contact Alan at alan.s@natanrelief.org****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. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

Today's episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on Friday, May 30th. Rabbi Steven delivered a passionate, vulnerable sermon on how it can feel to be Jewish in public at times — unwelcome and misunderstood. How can we boldly show up as our whole selves when even progressive interfaith spaces can sometimes harbor real, if less explicit, antisemitism?Mark your calendars for our Pre-Shavuot Shabbat Pizza Picnic at Northcenter Town Square on May 30th featuring, pizza, lawn games, an ice cream truck, and a performance by the Teen Davening Team. Register now to enjoy all that dairy goodness in community. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/shavuot-shabbat-pizza-picnic-ft-teen-davening-team/

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-evergreenBecome A Builder!https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/Transcript

Rabbi Lizzi spoke with representatives of the Standing Together movement, whose mission is to bring equality, political, and climate justice to all citizens of Israel, and peaceful coexistence with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. On the Eve of Yom HaAtzma’ut, which celebrates 77 years of Israeli independence, Itamar Avneri and Angela Mattar — a Jewish and Palestinian leader — spoke about the challenges and bright spots they’re seeing, and how we here in Chicago can push for the Israel we know is possible.Website of Standing Together https://www.standing-together.org/enMay 4 Chicago Rally for Peacehttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/1h3R7LkJGURB7J3Q9y0K2BnZD5rEJGFigcb1okZyHze4/viewform?edit_requested=trueIllinois Friends of Standing Together Mailing List Sign-Uphttps://gmail.us22.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=86cc164369e740a2f35e05e8a&id=e9f465b26b****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. To support Mishkan's important work of creating radically inclusive, down-to-earth, inspired Judaism, we invite you to join as a Builder or donate today.https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/makeyourgift/Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.Transcript

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-evergreenLinks referenced in today's episode:Rabbi Ariel Root Wolpe's Omer song: https://soundcloud.com/ariel-root-wolpe/hineni-muchan-umzuman-i-am-ready?Velveteen Rabbi Omer explanation and image of Kabbalistic Sefirot: https://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2018/07/seven.htmlTaffy Brodesser-Akner's NYT Piece, "The Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn't Write": https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/magazine/holocaust-story-education.htmlAish Omer Meditation: https://aish.com/daily-omer-meditation/Kululam: 600 Survivors and their descendants sing Chai - I'm Alive! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuh1-jDi7QwBecome A Builder!https://www.mishkanchicago.org/support/be-a-builder/Transcript