Highlights from the collection include matzah being baked by kindergarten children in 1925, reflecting a tradition deeply embedded in early Zionist education; a Passover meal in the dining hall of Kibbutz Hafetz Haim in the 1940s; and the 1958 pilgrimage to Mount Zion, a symbolic alternative to ascending to the Western Wall during the years when the Old City was out of reach for Jews.
Also featured are photos of children drumming in the three-day Passover march of 1970 - a tradition that later evolved into today’s Jerusalem March and rare documentation of the preparations for the Samaritan Passover sacrifice on Mount Gerizim in 1971, an ancient ceremony still practiced today.
“These rare photographs open a window into the past and allow us to reconnect with the traditions and moments that shaped Passover celebrations in the Land of Israel,” says Efrat Sinai, Director of Archives at KKL-JNF. “The kindergarten matzah baking in 1925 reflects how these customs were integrated into Zionist education from the beginning, while the 1958 ascent to Mount Zion captures the yearning for a united Jerusalem before the city’s reunification. Each image is a world unto itself—rich in memory and history,and KKL-JNF is proud to preserve and share this cultural heritage with the public.”
KKL-JNF’s archive continues to document the story of the Land and State of Israel through tens of thousands of historical photographs, serving as a living record of traditions, holidays, and formative events. As the nation prepares to celebrate Passover, this collection offers a poignant reminder of the collective journey of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.