Photograph of 11 committee members of Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael (later known as the Jewish National Fund) in Pasvalys. This organisation, founded in 1901, has the purpose of buying and developing land in Palestine, in line with the Zionist intention of settling in the Jewish homeland of Israel (aaliyah).
This non-profit organisation is particularly interested in sustainable living, and therefore collects donations and raises funds to buy land in Palestine, and to develop it for sustainable agriculture, to build trees and dams, and to practice water conservation. The name 'Keren Kayemet' comes from the Mishnah Peah, which lists various good deeds that Jewish people can practice on earth so that they may enjoy rewards in the afterlife. Kayemet loosely means 'exists' or 'remains', while Keren refers to the 'sum of merit' that awaits the Jew who has fulfilled the commandments of the Mishnah Peah. Therefore, the term together means 'an enduring possession', referring to the acquisition and maintenance of the land and peace in Israel (hence ':'Yisrael'). [Source: https://knowledge.unccd.int/cso/keren-kayemeth-leisrael-jewish-national-fund; https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/keren-kayemet-1.13618]. This photograph includes: Chonke Moier, Balshar, Josef Bremner, Chaim Bremner, Bremner (a teacher), Rosin (a teacher), and Mr Blesovsky (the headmaster).