Since the turn of the 20th century, members of the Jewish community in Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia have been meeting together to celebrate and worship.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I noticed that people were craving a way of reinterpreting tradition and of being Jewish without joining a synagogue.
A Jewish community that is diverse and openly embraces all who seek to lead actively Jewish lives will be a Jewish community that is stronger and more enduring for generations to come.
Our people represent a tapestry of interwoven identities embodying the rich diversity of what it means to be Jewish.
The Jewish people are very diverse, and I believe this rich tapestry of identities and experiences strengthens our community.
We are the meeting place, an entity that's trying to connect faith and culture.
I am meeting Diaspora Jews all the time, and we are developing programmes to prevent distancing. We have a joint history, but we cannot take matters for granted. Israel is home for all of us, and part of the beauty of the country is its social diversity.
We are one family, and the connection between all Jews, all over the world, is very important to the State of Israel.
All the Jewish tradition I had came from my grandmother, who grew up in Palestine and eloped with my grandfather and went to New York. She lived very close to us until she died when I was around 20. She sang a lot of songs, led the Passover seders. It was a very rich part of my life, and my grandmother was a big part of my life.
The Jewish community is all about love and family, which is the most important thing in my life, too.
This type of gathering is unprecedented. The time has come for Christians to publicly affirm our Jewish roots, distinctions and oneness in Jesus Christ.