Annual Events

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited CMI as a guest speaker on October 20, 1961. Our annual MLK Service began as a way of celebrating Dr. King’s contributions to our community and our nation and keeping the spirit of his visit alive. Since then, a range of local clergy and activists have come each year to speak about the intersection of religion and civil rights. Guest speakers have included Michael Wishnie, Stephen B. Bright, Rev. Jerry Streets, Rev. Dr. Michael Christensen, Imam Abdul Majid Hasan, Professor Clarence Hardy, then-Mayor-elect John Daniels, and Amistad Master William Pinkney. The service is held the Friday evening before the January holiday honoring Dr. King.

Abraham’s Tent

As part of the Interfaith Cooperative Ministries, CMI is one of several congregations to open their doors to our neighbors in need of temporary housing during the winter. CMI hosts clients of Columbus House’s homeless shelter for one week in December or January. Volunteers cook a meal, work an evening or overnight shift, and make these individuals’ cold nights a bit brighter with a warm word and a smile.

Peace & Justice Service

CMI’s annual Peace & Justice Service aims to educate and challenge the community by addressing current-day topics. Since its creation in 1967 by CMI’s then-Rabbi Robert E. Goldburg, guest speakers such as Daniel Ellsberg, Christopher Hitchens, Robert Jay Lifton, Julian Bond, Howard Fast, Paul Robeson, Jr., Linda Greenhouse, Arthur Miller, and William Sloane Coffin, Jr. have explored issues such as the economic consequences of war, LGBTQIA rights, racial discrimination, Palestinian rights, and governmental use of torture.

High Holy Day Food Drive

Our high school youth group, MITYOR, conducts a food drive each year for Jewish Family Services’ food pantry. Bags are handed out on Rosh Hashanah, and everyone is asked to return them on Yom Kippur filled with nonperishable food items. We collect over 2,700 pounds of food each year.

Annual Cantor’s Concert

Each Spring, Congregation Mishkan Israel holds its annual Cantor’s Concert and Fundraiser. This in-person musical celebration represents the single most important fundraising event of the year and we count on its financial success to support our vibrant spiritual, educational and community programming.