A Living Memorial: KKL-JNF Reveals Rare Archival Photographs from the Early Years of the Forest of the Martyrs

To mark this day, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) is unveiling a collection of rare archival photographs documenting the early years of the Forest of the Martyrs (Ya’ar HaKedoshim). The forest was created as a living memorial to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. The photographs capture moments of commemoration, planting, and community gatherings in the years that followed.

 

Established in 1946 with the support of B’nai B’rith, the Forest of the Martyrs spans approximately 18,000 dunams near Jerusalem. Beginning in the early 1950s and continuing over several decades, trees were planted by Jewish communities around the world, Holocaust survivors, and new immigrants. Throughout the forest, memorials commemorate the communities destroyed during World War II, and today, it stands as a living site of remembrance.

 

Among the images is a 1953 photograph showing participants gathered during a ceremony in a section of the forest dedicated to children who perished in the Holocaust, with a child holding the Israeli flag standing among the crowd.

 

Another photograph shows tree plantings commemorating the Jewish communities of Yugoslavia near Beit Meir, also from 1953. Additional photographs document commemorative ceremonies held in the early years of the forest’s establishment, including images from the 1950, where participants are seen gathered at memorial events.

 

KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky said: “The Forest of the Martyrs is far more than a memorial site; it is the living and growing testament to the triumph of the Jewish and Zionist spirit. In a place where they sought to cut off our very existence, KKL-JNF chose to plant life. The six million trees planted in the forest are a symbol of continuity, strength, and the revival of our people. These historical photographs from the KKL-JNF archives echo our national commitment, to remember the painful past, while at the same time continuing to put down roots, to grow, and to build our future here. KKL-JNF will continue to carry the torch of remembrance and to be the body that connects the memory of those who perished with the vibrant, renewing life in the State of Israel.”

 

“These photographs represent a shared heritage of remembrance and renewal for Jewish communities in Israel and around the world,” said Efrat Sinai, Director of Archives at KKL-JNF. “They show how memory is preserved through collective action, including planting, building, and preserving continuity, till this day. Together, the images document the involvement of different communities from the early days of the state of Israel and highlight the need for collective responsibility, rooted in values of resilience, solidarity, and continuity.”

 

In the face of rising antisemitism worldwide today, commemorative spaces, such as the Forest of the Martyrs take on renewed significance. They serve as tangible reminders of the consequences of hatred, while reinforcing the importance of education and memory. 

 

The photographs unveiled are part of KKL-JNF’s extensive archive, documenting key moments in Israel’s early years and the ongoing effort to preserve memory through landscape and community.