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Sunday, August 31, 2025
Reports: Ukraine won’t allow annual Hasidic pilgrimage to Uman to go ahead next month
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Ukraine will not allow the annual pilgrimage of tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews to Uman to go ahead next month due to security concerns caused by the ongoing war with Russia, Hebrew news outlets have reported.
The decision to prevent pilgrims from visiting the grave of Hasidic leader Rabbi Nachman of Breslov over Rosh Hashanah is due in part to a ban on mass gatherings that has been in place across Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the Maariv news outlet reports.
In previous years, Ukraine has strongly advised pilgrims against visiting the area due to safety concerns, but tens of thousands have nevertheless made the journey, entering Ukraine via its shared border with Moldova.
An unnamed Ukrainian official tells i24 that Kyiv is frustrated by Israel’s lack of support in the face of Russia’s threats, and has demanded that Jerusalem provide both financial support and a physical police presence on the ground in Uman in the event that the pilgrimage is allowed to go ahead as planned.
Separately, the news outlet reports that the Moldovan government is also demanding various assurances from Israel before it agrees to allow Hasidic pilgrims from Israel to fly into Moldova and head to Uman from there.
Among its demands are that Israel fund a temporary terminal for the additional flights ferrying pilgrims to and fro, to the tune of eight million shekels; police presence along the route and on the flights; and that it fund any necessary security and logistical equipment.
The report says that Israel has until September 3 to transfer the full funds for the operation to the Moldovan government, or it will not be allowed to proceed.
The Times of Israel Community.