In anticipation of the Sukkot holiday, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) is unveiling rare archival photos that capture how Sukkot was celebrated in Israel during its early years.
Among the four images, the oldest is a photograph by Abraham Malavsky—one of Israel’s most esteemed photographers known for documenting the history of Israel before and after the establishment of the state. This 1955 image features a group of young girls at the KKL-JNF’s “Jerusalem Flag” ceremony held in the capital during the intermediate days of Sukkot. At this ceremony, the Jerusalem flag was awarded to the school that excelled in the annual competition for conducting numerous activities in support of KKL-JNF.
A second image, from the “Photo Aviv” studio, captures a blessing on the “Four Species” in Jerusalem from 1967. The collection also includes two photographs from 1979: one depicting a meticulous inspection of a lulav (Photo by Dov Dafnai) and another showing the selection of a lulav (Photo by Dafnai-Ish Shalom).
“These images reveal how the traditions of the holiday have been preserved and remain relevant to this day,” said Efrat Sinai, director of archives at KKL-JNF. “KKL-JNF has documented the development of the land since the early 20th century, and our collection holds many treasures. This is a wonderful opportunity to wish all of Israel a happy, peaceful and safe Sukkot holiday.”