The Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund has released a new collection of rare archival photographs that capture Shavuot holiday celebrations from the 1930s and 1940s, predating the establishment of the modern-day State of Israel.
The images portray children and young adults in festive attire, dancing and carrying traditional baskets filled with first fruits (bikkurim). The holiday took on renewed agricultural and symbolic meaning, celebrated in schools, kibbutzim and cities as a reflection of national revival and a deep connection to the land.
“These are powerful moments of pride and joy that illustrate how an ancient custom was revived and brought to life in the homeland,” said Ifat Ovadia-Luski, chair of KKL-JNF. “This continuity of the Zionist enterprise—from the early days of Zionism to the present—lies at the heart of our identity as a people.”
She said they are “far more than historical documentation; they tell the story of the renewal of the Jewish people in their land.”
