This autumn, twice as many Hasidim may come to Uman to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, as last year. Last year, more than 37,000 Hasidic pilgrims arrived in Uman. Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Komersant ukrainskyi
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“According to our forecasts, this year there will be almost twice as many as last year. I think last year there were still concerns about the security situation, but since nothing extraordinary happened, they believe it will be safe. Although we keep saying that Ukraine is not the safest place in the world, there is a war going on and anything can happen. Since Ukraine has not restricted the entry of pilgrims in any way, and Israel cannot do so technically, cannot and does not want to do so, tens of thousands of pilgrims will come this year as well,” he said.
Brodsky added that, just like in previous years, this year Israeli police officers are expected to arrive to help their Ukrainian colleagues ensure order and safety of pilgrims in Uman.
“I hope that, like last year, everything will go more or less smoothly, and just as they arrive, they will leave in a few days,” the ambassador said.
Michael Brodsky added that Israel has very good contact with the Ukrainian services that ensure security and order in Uman.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the National Police of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Emergency Service for their long-term cooperation and for the assistance they provide in ensuring the safety of our citizens who come here,” he concluded.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year holiday. Every year, Hasidim come to Uman to celebrate it. The date of Rosh Hashanah changes annually and depends on the lunar cycle.
In 2024, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is celebrated from 2-4 October.
It is worth noting that even despite the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine, Hasidim have not stopped their mass visits to Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
Last year, more than 37,000 Hasidic pilgrims arrived in Uman. In 2022, Rosh Hashanah lasted from 25 to 27 September. Then 23,000 Hasidim came to Uman, in 2021 there were 30,000, and in 2020 – two and a half thousand.