Tagged Jon Ben-Asher

THA Passport2Peace teaches kids importance of giving

Tucson Hebrew Academy students make cards for kids at local children's organizations during THA's annual Passport2Peace fundraiser benefiting local charities, Sept. 18. (David J. Del Grande/AJP)
September 22, 2017 / David J. Del Grande, AJP Staff Writer

On Monday, Tucson Hebrew Academy held its annual “Passport2Peace” fundraising event, which educates students about local charitable organizations and allows them to donate funds to their favorite charities. Informational booths are set up throughout THA’s courtyard. Professional or student liaisons explain how the charities help the community. When the… Read more »

Long-awaited Israel trip full of wonder for THA eighth-graders

(L-R) Eliana Siegel, Ellah Ben-Asher, Elana Goldberg, Sigal Devorah (Tucson Hebrew Academy teacher), Breanna Yalen, Lily Isaac, Shira Dubin, Eliana Tolby, Dani Lee, Ava Leipsic and April Glesinger (THA parent) at the Western Wall. (Courtesy Breanna Yalen)
June 22, 2017 / Korene Charnofsky Cohen, Special to the AJP

Seeing, hearing, smelling, actually being in Israel is magical for Tucson teens who spent years studying about the Jewish state at Tucson Hebrew Academy. It is a powerful experience for eighth-grade graduates to travel with classmates and teachers, building lifetime friendships and memories. Twenty-one students made the trip this… Read more »

In focus 3.17.17
March 16, 2017 /
Back row (L-R): Shira Barel; Weintraub Israel Center Director Oshrat Barel; Jim Liebeskind of Congregation Or Chadash, which had a separate tree planting project with THA; Tucson Fire Dept. Capt. Bruce Avram; Greater Tucson Fire Foundation volunteer Patty Vallance; Nogales Fire Dept. Capt. Pete Ashcraft; Mt. Lemmon Fire District Chief Randy Ogden (Ret.); Nogales Fire District firefighter Marcela Donavan Hammond; front row: Weintraub Israel Center Co-Chair Steve Weintraub; THA Director of Judaics Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz; THA Head of School Jon Ben-Asher

Trees for THA on Tu B’Shevat On Friday, Feb. 10, local firefighters who’d visited Israel joined Tucson Hebrew Academy for a Tu B’Shevat seder and tree planting. The firefighters gave a brief talk before joining the students and staff for Shabbat lunch.… Read more »

Jon Ben-Asher

Jon Ben-Asher
September 22, 2016 / Phyllis Braun, AJP Executive Editor

Back when he attended Tucson Hebrew Academy, Head of School Jon Ben-Asher was a bit of a Dungeons & Dragons geek. Ben-Asher, one of nine students in THA’s 1982 graduating class, remembers “this whole life of connectedness,” which encompassed the school, Congregation Anshei Israel (where classes were held and… Read more »

In Israel for eighth grade trip, THA students feel ‘like family’

THA trip participants head to the Dead Sea. Front row (L-R): Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz, Lulu Youngerman, Eva Prouty; back: Head of School Jon Ben-Asher, Moshe Rast, guide Yakov Lopez, Katie Kanter, Ana Rosman, Lucila Thal, Janae Newhouse-Waine, Danika Selmon (Courtesey Jon Ben-Asher)
June 23, 2016 / David J. Del Grande, Special to the AJP

As Louisa (Lulu) Youngerman waded effortlessly in the Dead Sea, making playful attempts to reach its bed, she was awestruck by the experience. “This is everything that I heard about and more,” says Lulu. “This is magical.” Lulu attended the Tucson Hebrew Academy from kindergarten through eighth grade, and… Read more »

New brand identity reinforces THA values

Students, faculty and staff in the forecourt of Tucson Hebrew Academy on Nov. 3 after THA’s new sign was revealed. (Courtesy Tucson Hebrew Academy)
November 19, 2015 /

Tucson Hebrew Academy introduced its new brand identity to the community on Tuesday, Nov. 3, celebrating with morning coffee, cocoa and refreshments. THA is the only school in Tucson providing K-8 education that combines a strong secular program, integrated Jewish education, and a warm sense of community celebrating Jewish… Read more »