[1] The congregation was founded in 2011 by Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann[2] and was loosely modeled after IKAR in Los Angeles, where Heydemann served as a rabbinic intern.

The congregation describes its mission as "to engage, educate, empower, connect and inspire people through dynamic experiences of Jewish prayer, learning, social activism and community building.

"[4] It also engages in support of refugee resettlement in the Chicago area.

[6] The community serves over 5,000 people each year,[2] including over 1,400 for annual High Holiday services.

[3] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mishkan transitioned its services to a wholly-online format using Zoom[7] and held High Holiday services using a mix of asynchronously-recorded video, live video, and socially-distanced events.