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Contact Chai

Mishkan Chicago
Judaism
Mishkan Chicago
Torah
Community
Tisha B'av
Israel
Spirituality
Exodus
Healing
Passover
Rosh Hashanah
High Holidays
Hanukkah
Prayer
Justice
Gratitude
Yom Kippur
Anti-Semitism
Moses
Community Support

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes401Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
JudaismReligion & SpiritualitySpirituality

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Artwork for Contact Chai

Latest Episodes

Rabbi Lizzi is joined by Alex Sinclair, noted Israeli academic and celebrated author who was detained for wearing a kippah with both Israeli and Palestinian flags.

Do you appreciate this dose of Jewish inspiration? Support Mishkan's 5787 Tzedakah Ca... more

Today's episode is a Shabbat Replay of our service on October 10th, when Rabbi Steven delivered a drash reflecting on the polarized reception to an October 7th vigil attended by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.  Did the mayor's statements downplay the ... more

On the anniversary of October 7th, we gathered to reflect on poetry and prayers written about the evil endured on this day, the cruelties inflicted afterward, and our undying hope for peace.

• Donate to Hersch's Fridge, the first kosher community fr... more

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.

mishkan.shulcloud.com/form/reg-morning-minyan-evergreen

Supp... more

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Recent Guests

Manuel Gauto
Blueprint graduate; recent convert-to-be sharing his story
Mishkan Chicago
Episode: Building My Judaism — Manuel Gauto
Irwin Lowenstein
Guest drosh presenter
Episode: The Spiritual Danger of Abundance
Daryl Davis
Producer and civil rights activist discussed in intro
Interfaith collaboration partners
Episode: Tisha b'Av: Same Goals, Same God, Different Ways Of Getting There (Re-Release)
Daniel Kutcher
Non-binary individual and organizer sharing their Torah portion reflections
Family of the Kutcher-Richards
Episode: Pride Shabbat! Ft. Daniel Kutcher and A Very Mishkan Auf Ruf
Matt Kutcher
Father advocating for Daniel and for inclusive language and practices
Kutcher family
Episode: Pride Shabbat! Ft. Daniel Kutcher and A Very Mishkan Auf Ruf
Rebecca Richards
Mother advocating for Daniel and for inclusive school and community practices
Richards family
Episode: Pride Shabbat! Ft. Daniel Kutcher and A Very Mishkan Auf Ruf
Rodger Kamenetz
Author and mystic; scholar-in-residence during Shavuot
Author; National Jewish Book Award winner
Episode: The Poetry Of Torah
Rabbi Lizzi
Rabbi delivering the sermon
Mishkan Chicago
Episode: We're Counting (On) You — Rabbi Lizzi Sermon
Nigel Savage
CEO and founder of the Jewish Climate Trust
Jewish Climate Trust
Episode: Jewish Climate Trust — Interview With Nigel Savage

Host

Rabbi Yochanan / Rabbi Lizzi / Rabbi Steven / Shai
Core hosts representing Mishkan Chicago; frequent voices for Shabbat sermons, prayers, and spiritual reflections.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 104 ratings
  • Grateful !

    So appreciate of these episodes which enrich my continuing Jewish education. Amazing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jill17
    United Statesa month ago
  • 10/10 100% of the time

    Mishkan Chicago’s sermons and discussions are consistently enriching, thought-provoking, and joy-sparking. They have become an important part of my Jewish practice and I’m grateful to have access to this wonderful community.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hillary3636
    United States6 months ago
  • Mishkan has been my spiritual home since I began thinking of moving to Chicago. Rabbi's Lizzie and Steven have created a beautiful and welcoming community. Come, listen, learn.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ysb
    a year ago
  • Great

    I have been a student at Mensch academy for 8 or more years and am happy to find recordings of sermons! Thank you Rabbi Lizzie

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EHN27
    United States2 years ago
  • Grateful to stumble across this podcast!

    What a refreshing and present approach in gathering ancient knowledge and constructing and delivering it into the modern day. The sermons are very insightful and listening to Hebrew is beautiful. The approach that Mishkan takes, is very transformative. I wasn’t born Jewish, yet constantly stumble across many spiritual teachings(through people and online/digital world) I’ve been applying a lot of these teachings into my life which resonates on many levels. I look forward to attending an event in ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    h DAT TBH
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for being enriching, thoughtful, and practical in applying Jewish ideas.
Audiences highlight the mix of traditional teachings with accessible, down-to-earth discussion.
Praise for inclusivity and modern relevance in Jewish life.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When Judaism Began — Rabbi Steven Bob
Q: What inspired you to write this book on Ezra and Nehemiah and their role in beginning Jewish identity?
The author describes moving from Jonah studies to Ezra/Nehemiah due to their dusty nature and the fact that current discussions didn't widely address how those books shape identity; he wanted to show how sacred history, Torah reading, and the public rededication ceremony began to define Jewish identity.
A.I. Yai Yai! — Josh Cynamon w/ Rabbi Lizzi
Q: What policies do you hope to influence to steer AI development in a more responsible direction?
The key is broad conversation, public information, and outreach to lawmakers. People should demand plans for AI from their representatives, and we should push for transparency about the companies and models that shape everyday technology.
A.I. Yai Yai! — Josh Cynamon w/ Rabbi Lizzi
Q: What did you think when the AI singularity was mentioned, and how do you see those timelines?
I think it's important to acknowledge the uncertainty and to separate the hype from plausible futures. There are many possible outcomes, with probabilities varying by domain, and we should prepare with flexible policy and robust systems rather than fixating on a single endpoint.
In the Midst of Darkness: Interview With Author Rob Don
Q: What made you feel like now was the right time to write this story?
The author explains that with the shrinking pool of living Holocaust survivors, there is a sense of urgency to capture the next generation's perspective and keep these lessons alive, arguing that the trauma and its intergenerational effects demand attention.
Supporting Democracy In Israel — Jeremy Ben Ami, President of J Street
Q: What are the five founding principles of J Street, and how have they held up over time?
The five principles remain consistent: (1) Israel should be the national home of the Jewish people in the land of Israel; (2) the Palestinian people have a right to national self-determination; (3) being pro-Israel means you can disagree with the government; (4) open discourse and healthy argument are essential, not a threat to unity; (5) the values of justice, equality, and humane treatment must apply both to Israel and to how we hold ourselves and our allies accountable.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Contact Chai

What is Contact Chai about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful program centered on Jewish life, tradition, and contemporary relevance. Episodes frequently explore Torah portions, prayers, and liturgical reflections through a modern lens, with emphasis on healing, community, and inclusive leadership. Listener conversations span topics from Tisha B'Av and mourning to celebration of Pride Shabbat, weaving personal stories with teachings to make ancient wisdom feel practical and meaningful today. Notable strengths include engaging guest teachers, practical spiritual practices, and a warmly inclusive tone that invites both Jewish and non-Jewish listeners to explore tradition with curiosity and compassion.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Contact Chai. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Contact Chai and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Contact Chai get?

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How many subscribers and views does Contact Chai have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Contact Chai has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Contact Chai?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Contact Chai:

1. Judaism Unbound
2. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy
3. Chutzpod!
4. IKAR Podcasts
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Contact Chai are there?

Contact Chai launched 7 years ago and published 401 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Contact Chai?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Contact Chai?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Contact Chai from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Contact Chai?

Recent guests on Contact Chai include:

1. Manuel Gauto
2. Irwin Lowenstein
3. Daryl Davis
4. Daniel Kutcher
5. Matt Kutcher
6. Rebecca Richards
7. Rodger Kamenetz
8. Rabbi Lizzi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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