Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) unveiled a collection of photographs documenting the early years of the Forest of the Martyrs (Ya'ar Hakedoshim), a living memorial to the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust, to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Spanning approximately 18,000 dunams (about 4500 acres) near Jerusalem, the forest was established in 1946 with the support of B’nai B’rith, while Jewish communities around the world, Holocaust survivors, and new immigrants helped plant the trees.
Symbol of continuity, strength, and revival
“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,” said KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky.
“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," he said, adding that "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."
KKL-JNF’s photo archive
The photographs are part of KKL-JNF’s archive, which documents key moments in Israel’s early years and the ongoing effort to preserve memory through landscape and community.
Among the images is a 1953 photograph showing the planting of a section of the forest dedicated to children who were killed in the Holocaust, with a child holding the Israeli flag standing among the crowd.
Another one, also from 1953, shows the moment trees were planted to commemorate the Jewish communities of Yugoslavia, while additional photographs document commemorative ceremonies held in the early years of the forest’s establishment.
“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, to 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," she added.