Heska Amuna Synagogue dedicated its new building on Kingston Pike in December, 1960, but had no sanctuary until the Spring of 1969. This scene from a community Seder, most likely in 1965 or 1966, shows many of the participants, with the Ark off to the side and a memorial plaque behind the head table.
Today’s community members have identified several people at the Seder. In front are Julius Gruenfeld, Isadore Schwarzbart, and Mary Linda Schwarzbart. At the table behind them are Steven Shersky, possibly Anne Wolf with Max Wolf facing her, the next couple less certain though some think that’s either Harold Shersky or his father Robert with Addie opposite (at least one is certain that is not Addie).
At the table across from Steven Shersky’s table are Harvey and Marilyn Liberman. Across from Harvey is David Liberman; next to him most likely is his wife Lillian.
Behind the Shersky table is Barbara Corkland (profile visible). The table across from hers includes Isadore Rosenblatt and Mary Corkland. Across from Isadore, partly obscured by Harvey’s head, may be Jake Corkland. Standing behind Isadore is Max Weinstein. Behind Mary Corkland is Sanford Weinstein. The man with glasses and dark hair whose profile is partially seen between Sanford and the server might be David Weinstein or Barry Wolf. To the right of the server’s elbow is either Gert Cohen or Sarah Robinson.
The head table has Rabbi Max Zucker, the cantor (who was Prosper Krief if the year was 1965, or Gershon Levin if 1966) to his left, and Michael Burnett to his right. To Michael’s right are several children. If this was the 1965 Seder, in Heska’s “HaShofar” newsletter following the Seder Rabbi Zucker thanked, among others, “our Hebrew School and Sunday School children who together with the Rabbi and Cantor conducted a truly beautiful Seder.” The Archives holdings do not include the 1966 “HaShofar” issues that would have discussed a Seder. There is reason to suspect the 1965 Seder may have been the first complete traditional Seder conducted at Heska Amuna. “HaShofar” issues preceding the Seder include instructions, among them that smoking would be permitted at the Seder (held on Saturday night) only after the candles at the head table were lit, denoting the conclusion of Shabbat.
Mary Linda Schwarzbart continues to live in Knoxville, as do Harvey and Marilyn Liberman, Barbara Corkland, and Michael Burnett. Brenda Krauss lives in Oak Ridge. Julius Gruenberg was Arnold Schwarzbart’s uncle; Isadore Schwarzbart was Mary Linda’s father-in-law. Steven Shersky was the son of Harold and Addie. Anne Wolf was a sister of Harold Shersky. Max and Anne Wolf were the grandparents of Knoxvillians Angie Sanders and Todd Wolf. Knoxvillians Doug and Jeff Weinstein are the sons of Sanford Weinstein, grandsons of Mary and Jake Corkland and Max Weinstein, and nephews of David Weinstein. Gert Cohen was Knoxvillian Arnold Cohen’s mother. Sarah Robinson was the mother of Joyce Diftler, who moved to California a few years ago.
The Archives thanks the many people who’ve contributed to identifying the event, its likely years, and some of the participants, particularly Mary Linda Schwarzbart, Michael Burnett, Deborah Roberts, Barbara Bernstein, Arnold Cohen, and Doug Weinstein.
If you can help identify any other people in the photograph, or offer an opinion on those noted here, please email the Archives at archives@jewishknoxville.org.
The Archives needs your photographs! Send your photos of “The Way We Were” (identifying who, what, when, where) to archives@jewishknoxville.org, or contact the archivist at (865) 690-6343.