Rare historical photos of Chanukah celebrations in Israel
As part of its ongoing commitment to preserving history, the JNF archive offers these striking black-and-white images, providing a unique glimpse into the holiday traditions of Jewish communities throughout the Land of Israel in the mid-20th century.
Lighting the Chanukah candles in Jerusalem, 1950. Credit: KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Preschool children donating to Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF)during Chanukah candle lighting. Jerusalem, 1957. Credit: Fritz Schlesinger, KKL-JNF Archive.
Chanukah torch-lighting ceremony, 5723. Jerusalem, 1962. Credit: David Hirschfeld, KKL-JNF Archive.
Lighting the Menorah during Chanukah in Jerusalem, 1967. Credit: Martha Haloig, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Chanukah candles lit for the first time in Israel by children of the Jewish Yemenite community of Luzim. The moshav, established on Mount Eitan in 1950, later became part of Moshav Even Sapir. Credit: KKL-JNF Photo Archive
A Jerusalem girl, representing the young generation of Jewish life in Eretz Israel, lights a Chanukah Menorah as a symbol of the revival of light. Jerusalem, 1947. Credit: KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Lighting of a torch brought from Modi’in in a race commemorating the Maccabees, on the roof of KKL-JNF’s main office in the National Institutions building. From the early 1930s to the early 1950s, the building housed the headquarters of Jewish and Israeli leadership. Jerusalem, 1950. Credit: KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Kindergarten children wearing candle crowns light Hanukkah candles on Mount Carmel and contribute to the building of young Israel through the KKL-JNF Blue Box. Haifa, 1955. Credit: KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
The Yemenite community celebrates the lighting of candles with a large handmade Hanukkah menorah. Moshav Eshtaol, 1954. Credit: KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
A representative of the young generation lights Chanukah candles with a soldier from the Jewish Brigade, whose members had just liberated Europe at the end of World War II. Jerusalem, 1945. Credit: KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
