If you grew up in Israel or attended a Jewish day school or Talmud Torah abroad, you probably remember those colorful KKL-JNF posters hanging in classrooms,- scenes of pioneer life, holidays, and kids in white dresses and shirts carrying baskets of fruit.

These posters, created by the Teachers’ Movement for KKL-JNF starting in the 1920s, were no mere decoration. They taught generations of children about the land, its seasons, and the values of working the soil and rebuilding a homeland.

Among the most beloved are the Bikkurim posters for Shavuot, capturing the joyful spirit of children presenting the season’s first fruits.

More than charming artwork, they reflect the rebirth of ancient traditions in modern times. 2000 years after the destruction of the Temple ended the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the offering of first fruits (bikkurim), early Zionist educators revived the ancient practice through public bikkurim processions on Shavuot, in schools and public institutions across the length and breadth of the country.