Alon shvut
When Alon Shvut was established 45 years ago, its founders dreamed of it serving as a center for the other communities of Gush Etzion which were small and few in number. Today Alon Shvut is home to 3,500 residents, 400 of whom are youngsters aged 13-18. A number of important institutions are located in Alon Shvut. They include the Har Etzion Hesder Yeshiva, with hundreds of students; the Tzomet Institute which develops technologies that address the halakhic challenges of the modern state and includes a visitors’ center; the Shalva Center for children with disabilities; and others.