Tu B’Shevat, the “Jewish New Year for Trees,” gained a new meaning in the early 20th century. The tree-planting tradition that was renewed and adopted by the Zionist movement became a symbol of connection to the Land of Israel.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) played a central role in embedding this late-winter celebration as a tradition in Israel through mass tree plantings, environmental education and the promotion of nature conservation values.
The holiday became a large-scale national event, as students, youth movements and families ventured out to Israel’s forests and hills to plant trees together—driven by the belief that each sapling was a building block contributing to the growth of the country.
At the same time, in Jewish communities around the world, Tu B’Shevat developed into an educational and social occasion.
Children held ceremonies in schools and synagogues, donated coins in “Blue Boxes” and commemorated the deep connection to the Land of Israel.
“The historical photographs from the years 1942 to 1959 document moving moments of tree plantings across the country, ceremonies in the courtyard of the National Institutions building and community celebrations abroad,” says Efrat Sinai, director of KKL-JNF’s archives. “These are vivid testimonies of a tradition that continues to flourish, connecting generations and Jewish communities around the world.”
The photos include images from Tel Aviv in 1942 by photographer Zoltan Kluger, kindergarten celebrations in Jerusalem in 1944, a girl planting in Jerusalem in 1951, and celebrations held in Germany and Sweden in the 1950s.
The archives document scenes in Israel from the early 20th century through today. In light of the holiday’s importance, Tu B’Shevat celebrations were documented by KKL-JNF photographers throughout the country—in cities, moshavim, kibbutzim and Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
