Base LNCLN

04/24/2025

Register now for LEARN with Rav Sarah Mulhern !

Looking for meaningful learning and connection this spring? Join a cohort of folks for snacks, wine and conversation. We’ll make new friends and explore what Jewish texts say about life’s big questions. Register now at https://bit.ly/3YbIBbD

04/07/2025

New dvar Torah from Rav Sarah Mulhern! Inspiration for Pesach from this week's parsha :)

On the Meanings of Matzah Dvar Torah, Parashat Vayikra 4/6/25 Rav Sarah Mulhern [email protected] Much has been written about the dual meanings of matzah, and the ways in which they conflict with and enhance each other. Matzah is “Lachma Anya” - the bread of affliction, the bread of the...

10/08/2024

Thank you so much to the four incredibly kind humans who came over to help with the Sukkah today! It now has walls and lighting, which are kinda useful in a Sukkah :) If anyone else is looking to be a huge mentch, I could use a few more superheros to help bring down tables and chairs and also do some fun decorating if that's your thing on Sunday - lmk if you're able to drop by and help for a few!

08/26/2024

In very upsetting news, I'm in a national newspaper for the first time, and it's because Miss Manners has determined that my spouse is right and I am wrong. Please send cookies and hugs.

07/03/2024

Not even a full day in Jerusalem, but already my heart is overflowing and also breaking. A few snapshots:

- Walking down the Park haMesillah sipping fresh squeezed juice with my firstborn, with whom I was pregnant here 8 years ago.
- Dropping off the little guy for a trial visit to gan, and being turned away when we came back to get him because he's having such a great time ("Leave him alone until the end of the day!") (Thanks Moadon Kol Chadash / Gan Gani, he really does understand Hebrew!)
- Running into five old friends in the space of a few hours of walking around in Baka
- Shopping at the grocery store where Will and I used to shop when we lived here, showing our kids the building where we fell in love (from the outside, for now.)
- A great burger at Segev and a great salad at a cafe at Tachana Rishona
- Playing in the beautiful neighborhood park next to our apartment and teaching the kids how to drink shoko basakit.
- A quick trip in a cab, the driver is listening to an interview with the father of a young soldier who has just been announced to have fallen in battle.
- Signs calling for redemption of the captives everywhere, and especially reminders everywhere of Hirsch Goldberg Polin, whose family lives in the neighborhood.

06/14/2024

In truly shocking news, tomorrow is Friday. If you, like me, did not process that before chag - come for Shabbat dinner! We have room and food for a few more. Let's say the first five people to DM me are in :)

06/10/2024

I'm not sure how a holiday I've been literally counting towards for weeks can sneak up on me, but here we are: Shavuot is this week! Here's what you need to know if you're in Chicago:

Tuesday night the Lakeview Community Tikkun at Anshe Emet Synagogue is the place to be. I'm excited to be on the panel at 10pm with a wonderful collection of local clergy arguing about stuff, but the night will be filled with cheesecake and Torah, including many sessions taught by Base LNCLN community members :)

Most important note: bring non-perishable, ready to eat food to donate to a local food pantry, thanks to the wonderful Repair the World Chicago!

Thursday you'll want to come to my place for beautiful davening with Trad Egal Shtiebel, followed by a delicious dairy lunch (more cheesecake!). After that, if you (like me) prefer your Torah at 1:30PM to 1:30AM, you won't want to miss the chance to learn with Rav Will! (https://www.facebook.com/events/1470262523623005) on the intriguing topic of "What Does It Take to Observe the Torah?: Obedience, Boldness, and Righteous Sinfulness".

Hope to see y'all there :)

05/28/2024

What do you want to hear your rabbis fight about y'all?

On Tuesday, June 11th, our community learning session, Machloket L’Shem Shamayim:
Disagreement for the Sake of Heaven will feature a clergy panel from Chicago Sinai Congregation, KAM Isaiah Israel,Temple Sholom of Chicago, Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation, Emanuel Congregation, Mishkan Chicago, and Base LNCLN.

You still have a chance to submit a question you'd like discussed by clergy at the session. Submit your question before Friday, May 31: https://ansheemetsynagogue.shulcloud.com/form/Shavuot%202024%20Community%20Learning%20Session%20Questions

05/23/2024

Lakeview folks: The opening session at the Tikkun this year is themed around machloked, and is going to feature rabbis from across the community discussing questions where they disagree. What questions do you want on the table? Submit them here: