Congregation Bikur Cholim, the oldest continuous synagogue in Seattle (established 1889), inaugurated the first Cheder (Jewish elementary school) in Seattle. In 1894, the Hebrew Free School was established as an after-school center for Jewish learning. From 1895-1898, Hebrew and Bible classes were held at the Seattle Central Building on 5th Avenue and Washington Street. By 1898 education advocates at the Bikur Cholim decided to form a separate corporation. The Hebrew Free School became the Seattle Talmud Torah.
The concept of the Talmud Torah stemmed from a national movement. The idea was that students would meet after school to attend classes two or three times a week. From 1914 until 1948, the Talmud Torah convened in many different locales, but always with the mission of fostering a supplemental Jewish education program. By 1920 the school, founded under the auspices of an orthodox religious institution, was renamed the Seattle Talmud Torah and became an "an institution for all Seattle Jews" ("The Jewish Experience in Washington State," p. 6).
The end of the 1940s ushered in a new era of Jewish education. Post-World War II optimism, the lessons of the Holocaust, the stirrings of the new state of Israel, and the emergence of Boeing as the major economic force in Seattle forced the Jewish community to re-examine existing institutions.
The promise of the baby-boomer era became the catalyst to try new things. The Seattle Hebrew Day School formed in 1947 to provide an integrated program of Jewish and secular studies during regular school hours. By 1948, the Seattle Talmud Torah and Seattle Hebrew Day school had consolidated. In 1969, with the initiation of an early childhood center, the name of the school changed to the Seattle Hebrew Academy.
The collection includes photographs documenting students, faculty, activities and buildings of the Seattle Hebrew Academy.
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Collected by the Washington State Jewish Historical Society.
Processed by Don Romero; processing completed in 2017.
Photographs were relocated from the Seattle Hebrew Academy records, accession no. 1892. Collection was originally titled: Seattle Talmud Torah Hebrew School photograph collection.
See also the Seattle Hebrew Academy records, accession no. 3713.
Written on verso: Sponsored by the children's parents and held in the home of Miss Johanna Olswang. Row 1: Perry Gershonovitch, Dov Cohen, Beryl Nelson, Louis Lawson. Row 2: Rita Malakoff, Dora Cohen, Rose Aronin, Simmie Gershonovitch, Ann Aronin, Mr. Eliezer Kurshner, Mr. Zak, Rose Steinberg, Fannie Goldman, Sol Levinson. Row 3: Isadore Nelson, Abe Aronson, Ichkie Rabinovitch, Albert De Leon, Gordon De Leon, Simon Hurwitz, ?, Sam Bachrach. Row 4: Harry Cohen, Harry Bergman, Sam Aronin, ? Plotkin, Joseph Cohen.
Note on verso of 8: This was the scene at ceremonies when the cornerstone of the new $65,000 Talmud Torah Hebrew School was laid. The new school will open this autumn.
Written on photo: March to the Talmud Torah building.
Written on mount: Future "Yiddish Mommas" get a good start at the SHA, under Rabbi Samuel Graudenz's watchful eye!
Written on mount: Rabbi Samuel Graudenz teaches in Workshop A.
Written on mount: Courtesy of Rabbi Samuel Graudenz.
Mr. Chernicovsky, M. Mottleson, Bettie Steinberg, Ephraim Wolpin, and L. Greenfield.
Saul Porusch, Mrs. Saul Porusch, Principal Rabbi Harry Mandelcorn, Ephraim Wolpin and Herschel Walkow.
Jean Genauer, Anna Lebow, Louis Fine, Sheldon Steinberg, Meyer Twersky, Jack Greenberg, Isidor Feinberg.
Items 183-235 were attached to two large pieces of paper, possibly for display.
This is a print from a negative scan.
Left to right: Front row: Amy Levin, Frances Schmulman, Mary Ann Wolpin, Pearl Poplack, Della Etkin, Miriam Elyn; Second row: David Rubenstein, Kenneth Poplack, Henry Isaacson, Melvin Wolpin, Merton Cohen, Samuel K. Wohlgelernter; Third row: Joseph A. Hasson, Marvin Luban, Herschel Tavris (principal), Joseph N. Benezra, David A. Alhadeff .
Written on mount: From Rabbi Samuel Graudenz' era.
Written on mount: Courtesy of Rabbi Samuel Graudenz.
Written on mount: Courtesy of Rabbi Samuel Graudenz.
Written on mount: Courtesy of Judy Offman.
Written on verso: First graduating class.
Michael Azose, Esther Lee Scharhon, Marvin Genauer, Joan Genauer, Dverah Appel, Janet Maimon.
Written on verso: Before Talmud Torah classes discontinued.
Note with photo: Front row, L to R: Jim Benoliel, Irwin Frand; second row, L to R: Marsall Lubin, Rita Shulman, Esther Schlossberg, Ruth Funk, Leon Angel, Rabbi Samuel Graudenz; third row, L To R: Mr. Porush, Robert Baronsky, Manny Schrieber, Herbert Mannhalt, Harold Woron, Joseph Radinsky.