The IDF Officers School 'Bahad 1' has a new synagogue, thanks to the generosity of several donors in Israel and abroad. Senior military brass took part in the inauguration ceremony this week, and brought two Torah scrolls to their new home.
The synagogue has a total of 268 seats. The old Bahad 1 synagogue has been left standing as well.
The building was designed with soldiers in mind. Each seat provides a place for a praying soldier to rest his gun during the service.
The new synagogue is the latest in a string of measures making life easier for religious officers and soldiers in Israel's military. Recently some large bases with swimming pools have begun offering separate hours for men and women, allowing religious soldiers to make use of the pools as well.
Polls show that the proportion of IDF officers who are religiously observant is growing, with roughly 50 percent of new combat officers and 40 percent of officers overall describing themselves as religious.