New Shluchim to Knoxville, Tennessee

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Mendel and Mimi Pinson (nee Sputz) have been appointed as new Shluchim to join the team of Shluchim in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Rabbi Mendel and Mimi, along with their son Yaakov will be moving out from Crown Heights to Knoxville in August, and are excited to help bring the Joy of Yiddishkeit to all Jews in Knoxville.

Knoxville is a city with Southern charm and friendly people, known for its natural beauty and famous as “the Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.” It is also home to the University of Tennessee and the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The new Shluchim couple will serve as Youth Directors, working under the guidance of the Shluchim, Rabbi Yossi and Miriam Esther Wilhelm, to expand the already amazing teen, youth, and children’s programming in Knoxville.

Rabbi Mendel and Mimi Pinson are energetic, innovative, and passionate about Shlichus and will focus on Yiddishkeit among the youth and teens and join the Wilhelms in providing community-wide holiday events.

“Our vision is to empower the youth by giving them opportunities to lead, thereby instilling in them a passion for Judaism,” said Rabbi Mendel and Mimi. “We are passionate about making Judaism a fun and wholesome experience. We can’t wait to hit the ground running in Knoxville!”

In the twenty-two years since Rabbi Yossi and Miriam Esther Wilhelm moved to Knoxville, Chabad has electrified the community and lifted Yidden to new heights. Many unaffiliated Jews have become involved in Jewish life and the small community has grown to approximately 2,500 Jews. Almost every Yid is connected to Chabad in one way or another.

The Pinsons look forward to bringing innovative programming and engaging educational initiatives to invigorate the community and its youth. They aim to establish lifelong friendships, foster personal and spiritual growth, and create a sense of belonging within the Jewish community of Knoxville.

One of the outstanding accomplishments of Chabad has been successfully opening and running the first Jewish day school in Knoxville. The connections formed during elementary school make Cteen of Knoxville a natural next step in keeping the youth of the community connected to Yiddishkeit. An astounding fifty percent of Jewish teens in Knoxville participate in Cteen programs. As Cteen continues to grow and as the Chabad activities grow there is a real need for another Shluchim couple.

“We are excited to be a part in the growth of the already vibrant and flourishing Jewish presence in Knoxville, Tennessee,” Rabbi Pinson says.

Please partner with the new Shluchim and help fund their move and initial expenses as they begin a new era for the Yidden of Knoxville. Click here to donate now.