Netanyahu's Secret Tunnel to Synagogue Unused; Family Prays Elsewhere

A secret, sterile tunnel, between 15 and 20 meters long, was constructed from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence to the "Yad Tamar" synagogue in the Rehavia neighborhood ahead of Yom Kippur. The tunnel, reportedly built by the Shin Bet and the Prime Minister's Office security division, was intended to allow Netanyahu to attend prayers without public exposure. Despite the elaborate security measure, Netanyahu ultimately did not use the tunnel or attend services at the synagogue.

Instead, Prime Minister Netanyahu, his wife Sara, and their sons Avner and Yair prayed at a private minyan (prayer quorum) at the residence of Rabbi Moti Sonnenfeld, also in Rehavia. They attended services for Kol Nidre and Maariv, led by cantors Rabbi Yosef Heller and Rabbi David Walpa, with Rabbi Sonnenfeld leading the Maariv service. The private minyan included 30 attendees who underwent Shin Bet security clearance. Sara Netanyahu sat in the women's section, while the Prime Minister and his sons wore kippot. At the conclusion of the prayers, Netanyahu thanked the congregants, who wished him a good final sealing of the judgment for the new year.