Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) has released photographs from 1942 to 1959 documenting tree-planting events across Israel, ceremonies at the National Institutions building, and celebrations in Jewish communities abroad in honor of Tu Bishvat, the 'Jewish New Year for Trees.'
“These photographs document a tradition that continues today and connects generations and Jewish communities around the world,” Efrat Sinai, director of KKL-JNF’s archives, said.
The images include photographs taken in Tel Aviv in 1942 by Zoltan Kluger, kindergarten celebrations in Jerusalem in 1944, a girl planting a tree in Jerusalem in 1951, and events held in Germany and Sweden during the 1950s.
KKL-JNF said its photo archive documents scenes from the Land of Israel from the early 20th century to the present. The organization said Tu Bishvat celebrations were widely photographed in moshavim, cities, kibbutzim, and Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
Tree planting symbolizing connection to Israel
In the early 20th century, the Zionist movement adopted tree planting as a symbol of connection to the Land of Israel. KKL-JNF said it played a central role in promoting the tradition through mass tree-planting activities, environmental education, and nature conservation initiatives.
According to the organization, Tu Bishvat has become a large-scale event in Israel, with students, youth movements, and families planting trees in forests and on hills across the country. The organization said participants viewed each sapling as contributing to the country’s growth.
KKL-JNF said that Tu Bishvat has also become an educational and social occasion in Jewish communities abroad. Children marked the holiday in schools and synagogues, held ceremonies, donated to Blue Boxes, and learned about their connection to the Land of Israel.