Early History

The Etzion Bloc, or Gush Etzion as it is called in Hebrew, is located on the "Path of the Patriarchs" in the heart of the historic homeland of the Jewish people. Nestling in the Judean Hills, the Etzion Bloc is situated on the ancient mountain route midway between Jerusalem - the city of David, and Hebron - the city of the Patriarchs. A short distance to the west of Gush Etzion, a different geographic area is readily distinguished. It is comprised of low hills and valleys, and is known as the "Shfela" or Lowlands of Judea. The Bible relates that it was here in the Valley of Elah that David defeated Goliath. Several miles to the east of Gush Etzion the scenery again changes radically as one is confronted by the magnificent Judean desert. It was at nearby Tekoa overlooking this desert that the great prophet Amos was born. Subsequently, Herod, built a lavish palace-fortress in this area and called it Herodium.

The Etzion Bloc is thus surrounded by significant historical sites. This area played a central role in Jewish history for nearly two thousand years, from the period of the Patriarchs until the Bar Kochba rebellion. The leading tribe of Judah, prophets and kings, the Maccabees and other Jewish freedom fighters, scholars and saints - they all left their mark in these Judean Hills. Thriving Jewish communities flourished in the Southern Judean Hills during the Talmudic period and until the Moslem conquest of the Land of Israel in the 7th century. Thereafter, Jewish presence was maintained in the city of Hebron almost without interruption throughout the Middle Ages and until the 20th century. The continuous flow of Jewish pilgrims to Jerusalem and the surrounding holy sites of Judea serve as further evidence to an ongoing link.


"Two thousand years ago these slopes reverberated with the sounds of a multitude of trees and life that teemed all about. Today they stand bleak and desolate. We have taken this oath upon settling in Kfar Etzion: We shall not rest nor know no peace until we cast off the shame of barrenness from these highlands, until we shall cover them with fruit and forest trees which together shall give forth a song of rebirth which the Prophet Ezekiel foresaw: "But you, mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people, Israel."

Plantation Scroll, Kfar Etzion (Written by Sholom Karniel z"l, January, 1944)

Shalom Karniel, famous leader of the Hashomer Hadati youth movement in the area of Cracow poland & among the founders 
of Kibbutz Kfar Etzion in 1943 was killed in a convoy coming from Jerusalem to Kfar Etzion on the 3rd night of Chanuka 1947 along with 
9 other settlers & defenders of the Etzion Bloc when hordes of armed Palestinian rabble ambushed their convoy. Shimon, Shalom's son 
became the first orphan of Kfar Etzion. He also returned after 1967 to rebuild his father's dream in Kfar Etzion. Now, his son, 
Shalom is one of the 3rd generation children participating in the rebirth of the Etzion Bloc.