separate circle, A

By Wendy Lowe Besmann

Book Description

For over a century, a small Jewish community in Knoxville, Tennessee, has navigated the delicate balance between preserving ancient traditions and embracing their Southern surroundings. Through intimate interviews and careful research, Wendy Lowe Besmann reveals how this remarkable group maintained their spiritual identity while becoming integral threads in the fabric of East Tennessee life.

This compelling chronicle traces the transformation of immigrant peddlers and merchants into accomplished professionals who shaped their region in unexpected ways. The narrative weaves together personal stories that illuminate universal themes of belonging, adaptation, and cultural preservation. Readers discover how individuals honored their heritage while contributing to their adopted homeland, from the newsboy who built a media empire to the quiet record store owner who influenced music history.

The book explores how successive generations balanced religious observance with community integration, creating a unique model of cultural coexistence. Through tales of Purim celebrations, basketball teams wearing the Star of David, and families who built businesses and raised children to honor both their faith and their Tennessee home, Besmann demonstrates how spiritual communities can thrive while maintaining their distinct identity.

This intimate portrait offers insights into the complex dynamics of faith, family, and belonging that resonate far beyond one small Southern community, providing valuable lessons for anyone seeking to understand how tradition and progress can coexist harmoniously.