Seven hundred new synagogues are now under construction, according to figures announced here today by the Ministry for Religions Affairs. The new houses of worship include one in the Arab city of Nazareth, and most of them are in settlements for immigrants and in new towns that are part of Israel’s development program.
The Ministry’s figures show there are about 4,000 synagogues now in Israel. Only about 1,000 of the congregations seat more than a few score of worshipers. A spokesman for the Ministry said there are under consideration applications for loans for the construction of other new synagogues or for the expansion and furnishing of existing synagogues.
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