David Morrison

The Gush: Center of Modern Religious Zionism David Morrison

During the Six Day War, Israel recaptured Gush Etzion, after it was in the hands of the Arabs since 1948. At the time, Moshe Moscovic, a charismatic and devoted Zionist leader, predicted that the Gush will transform into a center of Jewish learning. Less than forty years later, the reality has surpassed the dream. The Gush Etzion region has been transformed into the capital of modern religious Zionism. Its yeshivot are headed by such Torah luminaries as RAV YEHUDA AMITAL, RAV AARON LICHTENSTEIN, and RAV SHLOMO RISKIN. Graduates of yeshivot from Gush Etzion make up a disproportionately high percentage of fighting men in the elite units of the Israeli Defense Forces. WHAT compelled these leaders of Torah to leave much more comfortable surroundings in order to settle the Judean Hills? HOW did this region become the center of Torah study that it is today? THE GUSH is the story of these inspiring historical developments.