A Lulav from the Past: KKL-JNF Archive Reveals 80-Year-Old Photographs of Sukkot in the Land of Israel

Ahead of Sukkot, the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) archive is unveiling a series of historical photographs that have been preserved for decades and are now being presented to the public for the first time. The images document Israeli celebrations in the Land of Israel during the previous century, evoking nostalgia alongside a deep connection to tradition.

At the center of the series are two photographs by Yaakov Rosner, taken exactly 80 years ago on the eve of Sukkot 1945. In Jerusalem, Rosner captured a bearded Jew blessing the lulav in a moment of reverent devotion and spiritual connection. On that same holiday evening in Tel Aviv, he documented the bustling Four Species market - etrogim, lulavim, and hadassim carefully examined by buyers in an atmosphere that bridged tradition and commerce, holiness and everyday life.

Two years later, in 1947, Avraham Melavsky, photographed the celebration of the “Flag of Jerusalem”: a young girl holding a tall lulav during a ceremony held on the intermediate days of Sukkot, marking the culmination of a nationwide school competition in which schools participated in activities benefiting KKL-JNF.

Another notable photograph in the series, taken in 1970 near the Western Wall, depicts a large crowd of worshippers holding the Four Species in their hands. This image reflects the religious and social renewal of the Old City after the Six-Day War and highlights the central role of Sukkot in community life.

“The photographs now being revealed remind us that Sukkot has always been more than a religious tradition, it has been a moment of gathering, unity, and continuity,” says Efrat Sinai, Manager of Archives at KKL-JNF. “KKL-JNF photographers documented both pivotal and everyday moments in the Land of Israel, and the archive preserves these invaluable treasures, allowing us to relive the unique atmosphere of that time.”