David Labkovski Project Launches New Exhibit “Through the Eyes of David Labkovski: Sholom Aleichem and His Heroes” at The Soraya Art Gallery at CSUN

Exhibit Dates: September 13 – December 23, 2025
Location: The Soraya Art Gallery, Loge Level
Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts at CSUN
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330

The David Labkovski Project (DLP), in partnership with the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), launched its newest traveling exhibit, Through the Eyes of David Labkovski: Sholom Aleichem and His Heroes, at The Soraya Gallery.

The debut coincided with performances of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, creating a unique cultural experience that connected Jewish literature, visual art, storytelling, and Holocaust education.

Featuring original illustrations by Litvak, Yiddish-speaking artist David Labkovski (1906–1991), the exhibit highlights scenes inspired by the stories of Sholem Aleichem, including Tevye the Dairyman, the literary work that inspired Fiddler on the Roof. The collection is being displayed in the United States for the first time.

Through Labkovski’s artwork, visitors are invited into the humor, humanity, traditions, and everyday life of Eastern European Jewish communities before the Holocaust. The exhibit reflects DLP’s mission to preserve Jewish history and foster meaningful engagement through art, education, and student leadership.

During opening weekend, DLP student docents guided hundreds of visitors through the exhibit in a curated educational experience developed by DLP co-founder Stephanie Wolfson. The exhibit continues DLP’s peer-to-peer educational model, where students serve as docents, educators, and ambassadors through immersive public programming.

The collaboration between DLP and The Soraya represents an interdisciplinary partnership that fuses art, education, history, performance, and community engagement. DLP extended special thanks to Connie Marco and Dr. Noah Marco for helping make the partnership possible.

Since opening, thousands of visitors have attended Through the Eyes of David Labkovski: Sholom Aleichem and His Heroes at The Soraya Gallery. The exhibit remains on view through December 23, 2025, with docent-led tours available for schools, organizations, and private groups.

As part of the ongoing partnership, DLP and The Soraya will also host a special school day experience on December 8, 2025, featuring The Klezmatics: Happy Joyous Hanukkah alongside exclusive student exhibit viewings. Students will explore Labkovski’s artwork while learning about storytelling, creativity, and the importance of bearing witness to history.