Heska Amuna Synagogue has served the Jewish community of Knoxville, Tennessee for over 130 years. We balance respect for tradition with openness to new ideas and practices. We come together as a family in the warmth of Shabbes, the spirituality of Jewish holy days, and the sharing of life’s important passages. We are small enough to be personal, but large enough to meet the needs of a diverse membership. We emphasize education and pride ourselves on the skills of our adult lay leadership and on the accomplishments of our youth. We welcome all to be a part of our family.

Join us for our many Passover services this week:

All services will be in-person and also on zoom. Click *here* to join on zoom.

  • Monday, April 22, Weekday Service. Siyyun, Fast of the First Born study with Ted Besmann, 9 am
  • Tuesday, April 23, 1st day of Pesah, 9:30 am
  • Wednesday, April 24, 2nd day of Pesah, 9:30 am with Rabbi Ahuvah Loewenthal from the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge leading Hallel
  • Monday, April 29, 7th day of Pesah, 9:30 am with Rabbi Adam Rosenbaum
  • Tuesday, April 30, 8th day of Pesah and Yizkor, 9:30 am with Rabbi Adam Rosenbaum

Let’s Count the Omer Together!

This puzzle has 49 pieces, each representing one day of Counting the Omer. (Omer = a measure of barley offered at the Temple in days of old). Beginning the second night of Passover, we count 49 days that lead to Shavuot, the day the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai. Just as our ancestors had these 49 days to prepare spiritually, we too have these days to contemplate our own personal journey to receiving the Ten Commandments.

A few years back, as President of our congregation, Jenifer Ohriner conceived of a wonderful way to use these days to think about and recognize those who help us on our own personal journeys or the journey of our community. We are now resuming her thoughtful program this year. Each week durig the Omer period we will focus on exploring specific Sefirot, personal emotions and qualities.

By giving a chai ($18) donation, or any amount you choose, share the names of those in our community or in your family who have helped you achieve your personal objectives and/or those of our synagogue. For this first week of Counting the Omer, we will focus on chesed, loving kindness and benevolence. Who in your life best represents this sefirah?

Each name that is added will help us put our Counting the Omer puzzle together. Donations received will be used to purchase copies of Lev Shalem, the siddur we use on zoom and will be using in person beginning this summer. Click *here* to add the names of those most meaningful to you. Chag Pesach Sameach!

OTHER SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THIS COMING WEEK:

  • Wednesday minyan at 6:30 let by Jack Love followed by Talmud Chat (zoom only, see link below)
  • Rabbi Rosenbaum’s Lunch and Learn, Thursday, 11:30-12:30 (zoom only, see link below)
  • Friday Kabbalat Shabat led by Jack Love, 6:30 (zoom only, see link below)
  • Saturday morning Text Study, 9:15 in the library (in-person only)
  • Traditional Shabbat services, 9:45 (in-person and zoom, see link below)

JOIN US FOR OUR COMMUNITY SEDER – Sunday August 28 from 5-7pm. RSVP’s and a small donation required. Register *here.*

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO ATTEND THE COMMUNITY SEDER: Monday, April 22.

The Rabbinical Assembly’s 5784/2024 Guide to Pesah is out. Click *here* to learn anything you might be curious about on all things Passover.

It’s a pleasure to welcome Rabbi Adam Rosenbaum to Heska Amuna. He will return to Knoxville on Sunday, April 28 to lead our Community Seder and many Pesach and Shabbat services the first week of May. In the meantime, he is available via zoom for meetings, leading Adult Education classes, and holding his weekly “Lunch and Learn.”

To contact Rabbi: make an appointment with Rabbi here, email him here, or call (865)522-0701.

This week’s RABBI’s LUNCH & LEARN will be on THURSDAY (April 25), zoom only (click *here* to zoom in).
Recordings Now Available: Origins of the Passover Seder, a series led by Jack Love

Click *here* for session 1 notes, *here* for session 2 notes, and click *here* for session 3 notes.

Session 1: Passover in the Bible
What do the Torah and other books of the Bible require and describe as the proper celebration of the Passover holiday? Can we see how the holiday was observed in the historical sources written while the Temple stood (or shortly after its destruction)? Click *here* for a recording of this session.

Session 2: Passover in the Mishnah
What do our earliest rabbinic sources, Mishnah and Tosefta, tell us about the proper way to celebrate Passover? With a little help from our friends in the Gemara and the books of Midrash. Click *here* for a recording of this session.

Session 3: Passover in the Haggadah
What does the Haggadah tell us about the proper way to celebrate Passover? Can we even define a standard text of the Haggadah? Hint: In our house, we write our own! Click *here* for a recording of this session.

Shabbat Morning Text Study Continues!

Text study is led by William Thompson beginning at 9:15 in the synagogue library. Join us any Shabbat for intriguing discussion of Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s book. (We have extra copies if you would like to borrow one).

 

Our community connects in person for Shabbat Morning Services and on Zoom for services, adult learning classes and talks, podcasts, and meditations. Click *here* for our schedule of services and classes. (Please contact our office at 865-522-0701 or the Rabbi and Religious Services committee at  RRS@heskaamuna.org for details.)

Ongoing Services and Classes

  • Tuesdays 8:00 pm – Minyan (Zoom) *
  • Wednesdays 6:30 pm – Minyan (Zoom) *
  • Wednesdays 7:00 pm – Daf Yomi Talmud Study (Zoom) *
  • Fridays 6:30 pm – Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Zoom) *
  • Saturdays – Alternating Traditional (9:45 am) and Contemporary (10:00 am) Shabbat Morning Service (Zoom) ***

Click on Zoom next to a service or class above to join in at the indicated times.

* Zoom only – ** In person in synagogue only – *** Both in person in synagogue and Zoom

  • Heska Amuna Synagogue is a sacred home,
    animated by Jewish tradition:
  • • Finding purpose through reflection (Cheshbon HaNefesh);
  • • Healing lives through service (Chesed); and
  • • Celebrating God with awe and joy (Yirat Shamayim).