Rabbi Nachman Of Breslov's Grave Is In Uman, Ukraine

Despite Warnings, Hasidic Jews Still Making Annual Pilgrimage To Ukrainian City

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The Judean Staff
International

For centuries, Ukraine was home to a vibrant Jewish community and, in many ways, is considered the birthplace of Hasidic Judaism. Due to this, it is customary for Jews of all religious backgrounds to visit the European country during Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year) and pay their respects to the many of the Jewish leaders buried there, including the father of all Hasidic sects, Rabbi Nachman who is buried in the town of Uman.

However, traveling to Ukraine has been difficult for the past few years. At first, this was due to the pandemic, but now it is dangerous and very difficult to get to as a result of Russia's ongoing assault on the country. Rabbi Moshe Azman, A well-connected rabbi in Kyiv, spoke with an Israeli radio program on what needs to be considered while considering a pilgrimage to Ukraine this Rosh Hashanah.

First, Rabbi Azman referred to the travel warnings of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry amid the war with Russia and said that "From what I saw, Ukraine said they do not recommend traveling to Uman, they do not forbid, but they cannot secure the town. I also recommend trying not to arrive this year". Despite these recommendations, according to him, "there are already hundreds, maybe thousands of Jews who have already arrived in Uman."

Rabbi Azman further pointed out that the battles between the Russian and Ukrainian armies are near Uman: "The battles continue, in the south, in the east. The war is in full swing. There were alarms, missiles, and shelling in Uman at the beginning of the war. I am afraid that there could be provocations as well. A Russian general already claimed that the Ukrainians had made a weapons cache in a synagogue. I went there, checked, and found nothing." Rabbi Azman addressed the claim that the Russians might try an act of provocation and added: "They can also just send soldiers. Who will take responsibility for people's lives if they do?".

A statement from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says there is a clear call for worshipers to refrain from the pilgrimage. Along with this statement, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also referred to those who will still decide to observe the annual tradition regardless: "If you decide to visit Uman contrary to these warnings, you should note that Ukraine has instituted martial law in the country."

"This government established several additional regulations, including restrictions on freedom of movement, a curfew and increased patrols, a ban on holding events and mass gatherings which one would think should prevent any Uman gathering, as well as the application of coercive measures against people who do not comply with the established restrictions."

Why Ukraine is not outright forbidding the pilgrimage is unknown. On the one hand, they are warning against it, talking about the Martial Law and loss of freedoms anyone in the country has during the war, and yet they are not preventing people from flying in. It is a given that many zealous Jews will make the pilgrimage this year; Hasidim often have little regard for local rules and customs. Few of their leaders are warning them off; many are encouraging it because of the war, as if taunting Russia while flouting Ukrainian rules will make the trip more meaningful. Regardless of the fact many are already there, and many more are set to go, the recipe for a humanitarian disaster is there.

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