Good news for travelers on Highway 6: As part of an initiative by the Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, a new synagogue was inaugurated on Highway 6, the first in the southbound direction.
The inauguration ceremony of the synagogue took place today (Tuesday) in the rest area, between the Nitzani Oz interchange and the Iron interchange, in the presence of Minister Regev, MK Uri Maklev, the ministry's director general, Moshe Ben Zaken, the director general of Cross Israel, Dan Schenbach, Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman, and the rabbi of the new synagogue - Rabbi Shmuel Rosenberg.
The construction of the synagogue is part of an overall initiative by the Ministry of Transportation to improve the travel experience for drivers. Until now, a synagogue was only available to road users heading north; now, southbound travelers can also stop for an orderly and safe prayer.
The new synagogue includes a sacred ark, a library of holy books, a tefillin placement station, and an accessible restroom.
It will be open to the general public every day, from sunrise until the stars come out.
Highway 6, which is used by an average of 260,000 vehicles per day, continues to undergo a revolution of upgrades. As part of the expansion project led by the Ministry of Transportation, an additional lane was paved in each direction between the Kesem Interchange and the Ein Tut Interchange, with a total length of approximately 60 km.
In addition, a new interchange will be built in Beit Nehemiah, road lighting will be upgraded, the drainage system will be adjusted, and landscape restoration will be carried out. This move is expected to reduce traffic congestion, improve travel safety, and provide a response to increasing demand.
Minister of Transportation Miri Regev: "I am happy to inaugurate the new synagogue on Highway 6, which connects the values of transportation with the values of tradition and Jewish identity. The new synagogue we inaugurated today will be dedicated to the success of the heroic IDF fighters. Highway 6, which serves as a central and vital transportation artery for the Israeli economy, is used by hundreds of thousands of Israelis every day. It is important to us that they be able to maintain their religious and communal lifestyle even on the roads. This is another step to strengthen Jewish and social identity, even in the transportation space of all of us."
MK Uri Maklev: "There are over twenty thousand synagogues in Israel, and this is a unique and special synagogue, a place for safe prayer for thousands of travelers. Instead of stopping on dangerous roadsides or missing a prayer, there is now a proper, respectful and safe place. This is another step in making compatible services accessible to every Jew, even in traffic and on the roads. This is a continuation of Transportation Minister Regev's vision for connectivity and connectivity in Israel."
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