Holidays
At Mishkan Shalom, we follow the calendar of Jewish holidays with depth and joy throughout the year celebrating the full round of holy days and holidays. Watch for details as each of our holiday celebrations approach. Find details on past holidays, and general resources as you explore below.
Yamim Nora'im: Days of Awe: (online and in person) : Calendar of Services and Additional Information
Please check out Rabbi Shawn's RH sermon: RH Video and to read the RH sermon
Returning to the Home of Our Soul: As we gather in person and online we will enter the Jewish Year of 5784 together. Who will we become during these times, individually and communally?
Each of us has had discoveries and losses, breakthroughs and disappointments, moments of isolation and meaningful connections. The Yamim Nora'im - The Days of Awe, ask us to face the truth of our circumstance, strengthen communal bonds to live in solidarity with all beings, and explore for the long haul, the connections and tools for resiliency.
Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Saturday. Sept. 30, Sukkot Day 1 10a.m. Shabbat Morning, (outdoors at Mishkan Shalom in sukkah, weather permitting). Torah study; Sukkot Service including Hallel with Rabbi Shawn Zevit and Rabbinic Intern Noah Dor Lind. Register to attend here .
1pm Walk the Talk: Join Steve Jones for a guided hour and a half outdoor experience in which participants learn about “reading” the natural landscape as a text. Participants walk in the nearby Wissahickon forest, observe the elements of the natural world, learn about ecological relationships, and study short Jewish texts. Please register and pay in advance via the website.
1 pm in memory of Mindy and Sid’s son Sam Ozer: Guest Teacher Prof. Dr. Christoph Schulte, Philosophy and Jewish Studies, University of Potsdam, Germany. Head of the Department of Jewish Studies and Comparative Religion, 2023. "The History of the Kabbalistic Idea of Zimzum (the withdrawal of G-d in order to create the world) Among Jews and Christians from the 16th to the 20th Century"
Friday, Oct. 6, 5:45 p.m.-Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Potluck and family program outside in the Mishkan Sukkah 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. with Rabbi Shawn and Rabbinic Intern Noah. Celebrating the end of the fall holiday cycle and the completion of the year-long cycle of reading the Torah. RSVP for in-person is required here
Saturday, Oct. 7, Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 9:00-10:00 a.m.- Torah study: R. Eugene Fleischman Sotirescu (In person/online)10 a.m.-noon- Shabbat Shemini Atzeret/SimchatTorah with Rabbi Shawn and Rabbinic Intern Noah. RSVP for in-person is required here
Saturday, Oct 7: Harvest Huts: Mishkan's Fall FUNraiser! Booths: appetizers, entrees, & deserts-- harvest themed! Featuring: Near Sighted Boys of Mount Airy. $72 adults/ $18 kids. To register: fill out form here
Chanukah/ Hanukah/ Hanukkah!
However you spell it, you can be sure we are eager to celebrate the Festival of Lights this year! Our community will be lighting candles together almost every night and all our regular programming will reflect the themes of the season.
As you prepare for the holiday, here are: 5 important things to know about making latkes!
Each year Mishkan Shalom hosts a community seder for our members. There is sacredness in this connection.
Purim 
Purim is celebrated with great joy each year at Mishkan! We celebrate with a customized shpiel each year and with a Carnival which is held biannually at Mishkan Shalom with another Reconstructionist congregation. Purim Pie-in-the-face video! It is one of the highlights of our year!
Mishkan Shalom offers an overflowing plate of gatherings, services and resources to help you prepare for and celebrate the Passover holiday and explore ways of Counting the Omer. See our full schedule and access all resources.
SEVEN WEEKS OF THE OMER FROM PASSOVER TO SHAVUOT. Join us in weekly practices of spiritual middot (qualities) to cultivate a good heart in preparation to receive the Torah on Shavuot:
1. Hesed (Lovingkindness) 2. Gevurah (Discipline) 3. Tiferet (Compassion) 4. Netzakh (Endurance)
5. Hod (Humility) 6. Yesod (Connectivity/Generativity) 7. Malkhut (Immanence/Self-Realization)
Shavuot
Shavuot: Celebrate our Feast of Weeks. Mishkan often celebrates Shavuot with other area congregations.
The Ten Commandments, Revelation -- receiving the Law -- at Sinai, having an all-night study session, reading from the Book of Ruth, eating dairy foods, King David, paper cutting...many traditions are associated with this third of the traditional pilgrimage holidays.
For a quick guide, click here.
Resources from Reconstructing Judaism