School History

Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) has been a cornerstone of the Tucson Jewish community since 1973. In the timeline below, written by school founder Bertie Levkowitz in "The History of Tucson Hebrew Academy," you can see how various families, community members, and school supporters contributed to building THA as it exists today.

1971 - 1973: The Blueprint

When Rabbi Arthur Oleisky called for the formation of a Jewish Day School in Tucson during his 1971 Yom Kippur sermon, a tradition was born. Rabbi and Betejoy Oleisky, together with the Levkowitz and Leonard families took the first steps to establish the Tucson Hebrew Academy. THA began holding classes at Congregation Anshei Israel in the fall of 1973 with 42 children in four grades.

1973 - 1983: Foundational Years

Fundraising soon became a way of life for everyone involved in keeping the doors open at THA. While the Board of Directors dealt with financial issues, the students continued to study and grow. They became involved in community activities in addition to their school studies. THA's first graduation was celebrated in 1976 when Jonathan Goodman, after three years at the school, graduated in a class of one.

1983 - 1993: Steady Growth

BAs Operation Exodus brought new Americans to Tucson, THA offered the newly settled Soviet Jews full scholarships for their children's first year. Enrollment grew rapidly but created a new challenge for space. Trailers were brought in to accommodate this growth. During this time, THA came under the umbrella of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, and worked with the community to address the increasing needs for expansion.

1993 - 2003: Building Years

Many ideas were explored, including the expansion of the school facilities at Congregation Anshei Israel or upstairs at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. In 1994 THA broke ground for a new 3 million dollar campus, made possible by hard work and support of the Tucson community. In 1997, an additional 10,000 square feet of classroom space was added to accommodate the middle school program.

2003 - 2013: Expansion

As the community made the new campus home, they continued to celebrate more milestones, including the inaugural Kindergarten class in 2006. Thanks to the rapid expansion, THA was able to focus on its commitment to excellence by introducing a school-wide curriculum revision, recruiting faculty from across the nation, and separating the Lower and Middle Schools to better serve students. Facilities improvements were also made during this period, with a complete renovation of the Beit Midrash, a new fine arts studio, and the conversion to a wireless campus.

2013 - 2023: A Pillar of Support

Support, both in fundraising and community, was important during this decade. Fundraising continued to be a central component of the school, with the introduction of the first THA endowment fund at the Jewish Community Foundation. As the school community navigated internal changes and eventually the pandemic, parents, educators, and community supporters stepped up to ensure that students continued to receive excellent instruction, regardless of location. THA emerged on the other side with a close-knit community eager to celebrate five decades of Jewish education and ready to plan for the future.

2023 - Present: Scaffolding for the Future

The 50th year celebration was the first step into THA's future, with an Annual Campaign far surpassing expectations. Over the course of the celebration year, the community recognized the many ways an education at THA impacts children beyond the classroom. THA students are involved in student government, athletic programs, dramatic productions and community service. They are creative and critical thinkers, who go forward with a solid foundation of Jewish values and are well-rounded members of their community.

To learn more about THA, visit our exhibit in partnership with TJMHC.