Earlier this fall, Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA), in partnership with the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center, launched a new exhibit, Tucson Hebrew Academy: The First 50 Years. Serving Tucson families for more than fifty years, THA was founded by the Levkowitz and Leonard families in response to Rabbi Arthur Oleisky of Congregation Anshei Israel’s call for a Jewish day school in Tucson 1971.
Tucson Hebrew Academy: The First 50 Years serves to illuminate just a small portion of this powerful history. Bringing together objects donated from THA’s vast alumni network, longstanding archives and collections, and the broader Tucson and Southern Arizona community, The First 50 Years highlights moments in THA’s story and brings a spotlight to this integral part of our Southern Arizona Jewish community. The artifacts included in the exhibit span a wide breadth of experiences at the school: from playbills of THA theatrical production, to siddurim (prayer books), to objects significant to the school’s growth such as the commemorative teddy bear given the school’s first kindergarten class in 2006. The exhibit prominently features interactive elements, as well, such as a photo slide station where visitors can observe scenes from THA over the decades.
For its 50th school year, THA adopted the tagline “Celebrating Success. Ensuring Our Legacy.” Over the course of the celebration year, the community recognized the many ways an education at THA impacts children beyond their years on campus. The First 50 Years provides a physical manifestation of this motto, showcasing the diverse successes and accomplishments of THA staff, students, and alumni over half a century in Southern Arizona. Throughout the decades, THA students have been involved in a wide variety of activities in the arts, athletics, community service, and naturally, within the Jewish community.
At the opening reception, educators, current families, alumni, community members, and more gathered to reflect on the legacy of THA.
Speaking about the importance of this collaboration between THA and TJMHC, Head of School Johanna Shlomovich said “how special, that the first synagogue in the Arizona Territory, now has an exhibit showcasing the first Jewish Day School in Southern Arizona. Structural integrity of our Tucson community relies upon the strength of our organizations. Tucson Hebrew Academy is proud to partner with Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center for this exhibit, which will then travel to the other pillars of our community.”
Tucson Hebrew Academy: The First 50 Years will be on display at the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center, open to the public Wednesday through Sunday 1-5 PM through the next several months and is slated to travel to other Jewish communal organizations afterwards.
