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Class photos: KKL-JNF snapshots of pre-state and early school days

They showcase students and teachers engaged in Hebrew and nature lessons, along with other documentation of teaching practices across the country.

Kids in class doing their homework in Ben Shemen in central Israel, 1938. Credit: Joseph Schweig, KKL-JNF.
Kids in class doing their homework in Ben Shemen in central Israel, 1938. Credit: Joseph Schweig, KKL-JNF.

In anticipation of the new Israeli school year starting on Sept. 1, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund is unveiling an exclusive collection of photographs from before the establishment of the state and during its early years—a glimpse into the daily life and operations of education during that time.

They showcase students and teachers engaged in Hebrew and nature lessons, along with other documentation of classrooms and teaching practices across the country.

The images highlight how educational values were central to shaping identity and how schools served as a crucial social fabric nearly 80 years ago. They also reveal the evolution of classroom settings and teaching methods, offering valuable insights into the foundational elements of Israel’s education system, now a comprehensive system.

Efrat Sinai, director of Archives at KKL-JNF, says: “These newly revealed photographs allow the public to see how deeply rooted educational values are in Israeli society. They stand as a testament to our nation’s ability to provide education and social frameworks from the very beginning of the state, shaping generations and contributing to our advancement and integration across various professions.”

At KKL-JNF, she continued, “we are committed to gathering rare materials and pieces of history that offer an inside look into the formation of the State of Israel.”

Israel Early School Days Photos KKL-JNF
At a school in the Eshtaol work village, 1950. Credit: Photo Zion, KKL-JNF Archive.
Israel Early School Days Photos KKL-JNF
Learning Hebrew in Jaffa, 1910. Credit: Michael Biran, KKL-JNF Archive.
Israel Early School Days Photos KKL-JNF
Kids learning in a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv, 1941. Credit: Zoltan Kluger, KKL-JNF Archive.
Israel Early School Days Photos KKL-JNF
Nature class in a school in Givat Brenner in central Israel, 1944. Credit: Yaakov Rosner, KKL-JNF.
Israel Early School Days Photos KKL-JNF
Kids in a class in Revivim in the Negev Desert, 1967. Credit: Werner Brown, KKL-JNF.
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