The isolation of Kfar Etzion was relieved in October, 1945 with the establishment of another Jewish settlement in the area, Kibbutz Massuot Yitzchak. Its founders were young pioneers, principally from Hungary and Czechoslovakia who had escaped the horrors of the holocaust. Upon arrival, they immediately undertook the difficult task of building terraces and planting thousands of trees. A small, local spring, served as a primary source of water. The kibbutz, which was named in honor of the Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Halevi Herzog, numbered some 111 inhabitants including 12 children. In a short time, they made significant strides in strengthening their community as they transformed a desolate site in the Judean Hills into a promising agricultural settlement.

"Perhaps you have seen my mother? My sister?... ! have survived in order to mourn for my family... in the daytime I see their faces and in the evening I am troubled by them in my dreams...

Let us begin everything anew. We shall believe in solemn faith that this was all the will of God. We must continue the way of life which our parents of blessed memory led, but

not here! Let us move to the Land of Israel to build up our homeland and to make a new beginning.

I heard of a group of young settlers in the Judean Hills, on the path between Hebron and Jerusalem, the path taken by Abraham and Isaac on their way to perform the great sacrifice. Their sacrifice was to serve as a symbol for all ages. I was drawn to the path of the great sacrifice and felt privileged to join this community."

B'leyvav Shalem, Nahum Levavi of Massuot Yitzchak


Two additional pioneering groups took up the challenge of establishing settlements in the Judean Hills. Kibbutz Ein Tsurim was founded in October, 1946 by a group of idealistic native-born Israelis of the Bnei Akiva youth movement. It was followed by Revadim in February, 1947. The members of this kibbutz, also Israeli born, were inspired by the ideology of the Hashomer Hatzair secular Zionist youth movement. These settlements also began to contribute to the development of the barren hill-country. Land reclamation and reforestation were the major pursuits of the young, dedicated pioneers. They also succeeded in establishing neighborly relations with the nearby Arabs of Hirbet Zacharia as had the members of Kibbutz Kfar Etzion with the Arabs of the village Beit Umar. There were fifty five members in Kibbutz Ein Tsurim and eighty in Revadim.

Ein Tzurim on the first day of settlment

Revadim on the first day of settlment

The Etzion Bloc in the autumn of 1947 was composed of four Jewish settlements in various stages of development. Its total population was slightly more than four hundred inhabitants. There were approximately 2,500 acres of land in Jewish ownership in the Etzion Bloc region. The pioneers had begun to strike roots in their ancient homeland. Plans for the future included the introduction of light industry, the planting of additional orchards and the further construction of permanent quarters. The possibility of founding a fifth community was under serious consideration. The Etzion Bloc was growing and its future appeared promising in November of 1947.