Thousands of Hasidic Jews defy travel warnings by making New Year pilgrimage to war-torn Ukraine

Pilgrims are travelling from Israel, the US, and other countries to Uman, a Ukrainian city that features the burial site of the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement

Earlier this month, the Ukraine embassy in Israel urged those intending to travel for the pilgrimage not to

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Ultra-orthodox Jewish pilgrims pass a security checkpoint on their way to pray next to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman ahead of Rosh Hashanah in Uman, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 1:04am, 26 Sep 2022

Thousands of Hasidic Jews are defying travel warnings by heading to war-torn Ukraine for an annual pilgrimage, according to The New York Times.

The pilgrims are travelling from Israel, the US, and other countries to Uman, a central Ukrainian city that features the burial site of the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement, the newspaper reported.

Since 1811, ultraorthodox Jews have travelled to Uman around the time of Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year 5783), which starts at sundown on Sunday, to pray at the grave of the revered rabbi, Nachman of Breslov.

An armed police officer stands guard as Hasidic Jewish pilgrims cut their hair after praying at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in the town of Uman, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: AFP

In usual years, tens of thousands go. This year, fewer are expected to make the trip, but some 4,000 Israeli pilgrims have already arrived, according to estimates by a spokesperson for Israeli’s foreign ministry, per The Times. This number is likely to rise to 5,000 or more, the spokesperson said, according to the paper.

Earlier this month, the Ukraine embassy in Israel urged those intending to travel for the pilgrimage not to. “Please avoid pilgrimage,” said the warning posted on Facebook on September 11. “Continuous Russian attacks cause real danger to your lives!”

In another warning, Ukraine’s embassy in Israel asked prospective pilgrims to “pray that peace will return to Ukraine” instead of going to Uman for the Jewish New Year.

The US also warned against travelling to Ukraine for any purpose, explicitly advising US citizens not to travel to Uman for the Jewish New Year.