Contact Chai

Mishkan Chicago
  • 5.0 (81)
  • Judaism
  • Updated Weekly

Contact Chai is Mishkan Chicago’s podcast feed, where you can hear our Shabbat sermons, Morning Minyans, interviews with Jewish thought leaders, and more.

  1. 5d ago

    Tisha b'Av: Same Goals, Same God, Different Ways Of Getting There (Re-Release)

    This evening marks the beginning of Tisha b'Av, and in recognition, today's episode is a re-release of Rabbi Lizzi's Tisha b'Av sermon from 2022 at an interfaith service with our longtime partners, Lawndale Community Christian Church on the West Side of Chicago. On August 2nd, we will join our friends from Lawndale for a special screening of "A Time To Yell," an award-winning documentary about the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. As we remember this tragic episode, we will build solidarity between our communities, reflecting on the mutual threat white nationalists pose to the safety and thriving of Jewish and Black Americans. Following the film, we’ll have a discussion with Producer and Civil Rights Activist Daryl Davis and Rabbi Lizzi, plus a presentation from Lawndale Christian Legal Center’s Executive Director Cliff Nellis on The Deer Center, a powerful alternative to incarceration for young adults. We hope you will join us on August 2nd. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/event/confronting-white-supremacy-facets-08-02-2026/ https://www.mishkanchicago.org/builder-drive-2026/ *** 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

  2. Jun 29

    Pride Shabbat! Ft. Daniel Kutcher and A Very Mishkan Auf Ruf

    Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our Pride Shabbat service on June 26th. We held an auf ruf for Team Mishkan’s own Michael Palmer and Jane Mintz. Then, we heard a special Pride guest drash from teen Daniel Kutcher and their parents (Matt Kutcher & Rebecca Richards). From all of us at Mishkan Chicago — happy Pride. 01:09 — Auf Ruf of Michael Palmer & Jane Mintz 09:35 — Lecha Dodi to Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen 14:58 — Lecha Dodi to Born This Way by Lady Gagaa 18:27 — Guest Drash by Daniel Kutcher, Matt Kutcher, and Rebecca Richards If you value this down-to-earth Jewish wisdom, help us create more inspiration and community by becoming a Builder. Mishkan Chicago relies on Builders, people who have chosen to invest in the longterm sustainability of our community. If you’ve been checking out the community, we invite you to take the next step and become a Builder to help us welcome even more people into a space to bring their whole selves and be part of something larger than themselves. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/builder-drive-2026/ *** 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

  3. Jun 25

    Morning Minyan w/ Rabbi Lizzi — June 24th, 2026

    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 If you value this down-to-earth Jewish wisdom, help us create more inspiration and community by becoming a Builder. Mishkan Chicago relies on Builders, people who have chosen to invest in the longterm sustainability of our community. If you’ve been checking out the community, we invite you to take the next step and become a Builder to help us welcome even more people into a space to bring their whole selves and be part of something larger than themselves. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/builder-drive-2026/ Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. Transcript

  4. Jun 23

    On Juneteenth And Bold Moses — Rabbi Steven Sermon

    Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on June 20th. Rabbi Steven reflected on Juneteenth and America’s history of slavery through the lens of Exodus. Moses is portrayed as exceptionally bold in making demands of those in power in his fight to liberate his people. Moses even stood up to God! Maybe we’re not quite up to that level of chutzpah. But how can we boldly speak up for the dignity of all? If you value this down-to-earth Jewish wisdom, help us create more inspiration and community by becoming a Builder. Mishkan Chicago relies on Builders, people who have chosen to invest in the longterm sustainability of our community. If you’ve been checking out the community, we invite you to take the next step and become a Builder to help us welcome even more people into a space to bring their whole selves and be part of something larger than themselves. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/builder-drive-2026/ *** 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

  5. Jun 20

    Morning Minyan w/ Rabbi Lizzi — June 17th, 2026

    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 If you value this down-to-earth Jewish wisdom, help us create more inspiration and community by becoming a Builder. Mishkan Chicago relies on Builders, people who have chosen to invest in the longterm sustainability of our community. If you’ve been checking out the community, we invite you to take the next step and become a Builder to help us welcome even more people into a space to bring their whole selves and be part of something larger than themselves. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/builder-drive-2026/ Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

  6. Jun 15

    Progress Is Not Inevitable — It Is Promised

    Hello and welcome to Contact Chai. Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on June 12th when Rabbi Steven delivered a sermon deflating the naive notion that progress is inevitable rather than the product of hard fought victories, like our spiritual ancestors setting out to vanquish Canaan who we read about in the parsha or our queer ancestors who struggled against bigotry who we honor during Pride month. How will we promise to carry forward a legacy of courage? If you value this down-to-earth Jewish wisdom, help us create more inspiration and community by becoming a Builder. Mishkan Chicago relies on Builders, people who have chosen to invest in the longterm sustainability of our community. If you’ve been checking out the community, we invite you to take the next step and become a Builder to help us welcome even more people into a space to bring their whole selves and be part of something larger than themselves. https://www.mishkanchicago.org/builder-drive-2026/ *** 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

  7. Jun 11

    We Are Here — The Roman Empire Is Not

    Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on June 6th. If you somehow missed the news, Rabbi Lizzi met the pope. The Vatican is not short supply of lavish iconography, and it got her thinking about the different relationships our traditions have with religious imagery. Because while Judaism is on guard against anything that smacks of idolatry, we have sacred symbols of our own. Can our reverence for these symbols as Jewish people or Americans border on idolatry? *** 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

  8. Jun 1

    The Poetry Of Torah

    Today’s sermon is a Shabbat Replay of our Shavuot Shabbat service. We were joined by acclaimed author Rodger Kamenetz who served as our scholar-in-residence during Shavuot. Rodger delivered a sermon on the poetry of Torah. What sacred meaning can we uncover when we appreciate the artistic flourishes in the TaNaKh? *** 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

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About

Contact Chai is Mishkan Chicago’s podcast feed, where you can hear our Shabbat sermons, Morning Minyans, interviews with Jewish thought leaders, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Mishkan Chicago
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    382
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Contact Chai
  • Show Website
    Contact Chai

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