Lying directly southwest of Jerusalem, the Gush Etzion region embodies a legacy of resilience and renewal. Beginning in 1929, the region endured recurrent attacks and destruction by hostile Arabs, starting with the decimation of Migdal Eder, a small community that was founded by pious Jews from Yemen and Jerusalem in 1927. Nevertheless, valiant pioneers rebuilt over a decade later, establishing four new communities. Sadly, all were destroyed during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. For 19 years, the area lay desolate under Jordanian occupation, symbolized only by a lone oak tree that refugees from the region would gaze upon with hope of eventually returning. That hope was finally realized after the Biblical Heartland was liberated during the Six Day War in 1967! Today, Gush Etzion thrives with over 27,000 residents, many of whom are original pioneers of the newly rebuilt communities.