Episodes 376
Avg. Duration 27m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (81)
Since Mar 2020
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
42%
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rss.buzzsprout.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

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

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Recent Episodes

We Are Here — The Roman Empire Is Not

Jun 11, 2026 31m Transcript

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…

The Poetry Of Torah

Jun 01, 2026 20m Transcript

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…

We're Counting (On) You — Rabbi Lizzi Sermon

May 26, 2026 18m Transcript

Today's episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on May 16th in which Rabbi Lizzi drashed on the Counting of the Omer and the lead-up to Shavuot. Unfortunately, we had some technical problems at…

Jewish Climate Trust — Interview With Nigel Savage

May 21, 2026 56m Transcript

Following Morning Minyan, Rabbi Lizzi sat down with Nigel Savage to discuss Jewish Climate Trust, a new initiative to organize the resources of the Jewish community toward meeting the moment on…

Everyday Holiness: A Conversation with Alan Morinis

May 14, 2026 1h 11m Transcript

Rabbi Lizzi sits down with Alan Morinis, author of the enormously popular and profound "Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar."Read more about Alan and purchase his latest book "The…

Sobriety and Serenity — Ricky Halle-Podell

May 11, 2026 17m Transcript

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on May 8th when we heard a guest drash from Builder Ricky Halle-Podell. As part of our Sober Shabbat in which we had a sober kiddush, Ricky spoke on…

Mishkan's Scholar-In-Residence: Author Rodger Kamenetz

May 07, 2026 34m

Rodger Kamenetz is the award-winning author of The Jew In The Lotus, and he will be joining us in two weeks for Shavuot to teach several programs on spirituality, creativity, and encountering the…

We Can’t Ignore The Story Behind The Story — R' Lizzi Sermon

May 04, 2026 20m

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on May 2nd. Rabbi Lizzi delivered a drash on a criminal trial recorded in the Torah. The judgment was capital punishment, but new light is shed on…

Morning Minyan with Yiscah Smith: Planting Seeds of the Divine

Apr 30, 2026 57m Transcript

In this special Morning Minyan, Rabbi Lizzi is joined by Jerusalem-based thought leader, spiritual activist, and author Yiscah Smith for a discussion of her new book, Planting Seeds of the Divine:…

What Mishkan Taught Us About Being Jewish — Alana Sindelar and Gabi Finkelstein

Apr 27, 2026 13m Transcript

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on April 24th. We had not one but two guest drashers: Alana Sindelar and Gabi Finkelstein, MishTeens about to graduate high school and Mishkan's…

Unlearning Jewish Anxiety with Rabbi Dr. Caryn Aviv

Apr 26, 2026 56m Transcript

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld made Jewish anxiety funny for a broad audience, but for many Jews, it’s just reality. Why? How did this happen? And what if we don’t actually want that anxious…

Aspiring to be the Jewish State

Apr 22, 2026 56m

In this special Yom haAtzma'ut episode of Contact Chai, Rabbi Lizzi interviews Orly Erez Likhovski, Executive Director of the Israeli Religious Action Center, which fights for religious freedom and…

The Obligation to Heal — R' Steven Philp

Apr 20, 2026 15m Transcript

Today's episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on April 18th when Rabbi Steven gave a sermon on our tradition's treatment of those with so-called leprosy. At first glance, the Torah's attitude…

In the Midst of Darkness: Interview With Author Rob Don

Apr 14, 2026 43m Transcript

In honor of Yom HaShoah, Rabbi Lizzi spoke with author and Mishkanite Rob Don about his book In the Midst of Darkness, a memoir exploring intergenerational trauma, Holocaust survival, racism, and…

Supporting Democracy In Israel — Jeremy Ben Ami, President of J Street

Apr 13, 2026 38m Transcript

Today's episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on April 10th which featured a fascinating conversation between Rabbi Lizzi and special guest Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street. Rabbi Lizzi…

Possibility Is Enough — R' Steven Sermon

Mar 30, 2026 15m Transcript

The audio in this sermon starts out rough, but it gets way better after two minutes — we promise!Hello, and welcome to Contact Chai. Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on Friday,…

Leviticus And Letting Go — Rabbi Lizzi Sermon

Mar 24, 2026 21m

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on March 21st, 2026, when Rabbi Lizzi led a conversation on the connection between the Passover practice of letting go of bread, pasta, and other…

A.I. Yai Yai! — Josh Cynamon w/ Rabbi Lizzi

Mar 18, 2026 45m Transcript

Josh Cynamon, Mishkanite and PhD candidate in cognitive science at Indiana University studying cognitive science and artificial intelligence, joins Rabbi Lizzi in a nuanced conversation about the…

Jews Get Divorce — Rabbi Ezra Weinberg

Mar 16, 2026 23m Transcript

Today’s episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on March 13th when we heard a special guest drash on the lifelong spiritual and communal impact of divorce from Rabbi Ezra Weinberg. Rabbi Ezra is…

A Cathedral In Space — R' Steven Sermon

Mar 14, 2026 15m Transcript

You’re traveling through another dimension, beyond both time and space. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That’s a signpost up ahead: your next stop: Shabbat!…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Contact Chai have?

Contact Chai has published 376 episodes since March 2020, covering topics in Judaism, Religion & Spirituality.

Is Contact Chai still active?

Contact Chai is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 27m.

How do I contact Contact Chai for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Contact Chai, including email and social media links.

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