In January 1927, the Zikhron David society, a group of [[Orthodox Jews]] from the [[Mea Shearim]] neighborhood of [[Jerusalem]], established a small farming community, Migdal Eder, on land near to the present site of Kfar Etzion.<ref name=Kark1>{{cite book | last1 = Kark | first1 = Ruth | last2 = Oren-Nordheim | first2 = Michal | title = Jerusalem and its Environs; Quarters, Neighborhoods, Villages 1800–1948 | publisher = The Hebrew University Magnes Press | year = 2001 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KzOAxmHDzHUC | pages = 342–345| isbn = 0814329098 }}</ref> The name was taken from a verse in the [[Bible]], [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 35:21, which referencedreferred to a [[Migdal Eder (biblical location)|tower]] byof the same name.<ref name="Settlements in Focus: Gush Etzion"/> A group of 15 families, including 12 Yemenite families, settled on the land.<ref name=Kark1/> The farming outcomes were very disappointing and pleas for help from the [[Zionist Executive]] and the [[Palestine Jewish Colonization Association]] were rejected.<ref name=Kark1/> After one year, only 7 families remained.<ref name=Kark1/> At the onset of the [[1929 Palestine riots]], the remaining settlers fled and local Arabs destroyed the buildings.<ref name=Kark1/> Residents of the neighboring [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] village of [[Beit Ummar]] sheltered the farmers, but they could not return to their land.<ref name="Settlements in Focus: Gush Etzion">{{Cite web|url=http://peacenow.org.il/eng/content/gush-etzion|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628142645/http://peacenow.org.il/eng/content/gush-etzion|url-status=dead|title=Settlements in Focus: Gush Etzion|archivedate=28 June 2016}}</ref>
