A group of Gush Emunim settlers in the West Bank have converted an unused mosque into a synagogue near the Arab village of Sanour in northern Samaria. The settlers, consisting of 11 families, said they consulted religious authorities to find out if halacha permitted such a conversion. It was approved by the head of the regional rabbinical council. According to David Segal, chairman of the Samaria Regional Religious Council, “This is the fulfillment of the hazal (early sages) saying: ‘theaters and circuses will end up becoming synagogues and schools of learning’.”
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