Local authorities in Uman have yet to return the passports of six Breslov Chassidim who were arrested for various minor offenses last week, indicating they will be ousted on motzei Rosh Hashanah and black listed, banned from ever returning.
According to a Chadrei Chareidim report, violations include walking in a local town street with beer, driving without a license, and other unspecified crimes. The report state the youths were taken into custody and questioned for hours but they were released within 24 hours.
One detainee, Rachamim Alkobi, appears to be in the most trouble, apparently for illegally entering the country. Alkobi and his wife and family were living in Uman for a period of time, but eventually returned to Israel after being ousted. He was charged with assaulting a policeman, leading to his immediate deportation.
Somehow, Alkobi managed to enter the country this year ahead of Rosh Hashanah, despite being banned, but when he was detected he was placed under arrest. His is scheduled to appear before a local court on Monday (20 Elul). Askanim succeeded in getting tefillin and kosher food to him in jail.
Shimon Buskila, of Breslov International, who is working towards gaining his release, remains hopeful that ongoing efforts will be successful. Three attorneys have been hired as a defense team towards actualizing this hope.
It appears local authorities have had enough of the annual disorder, and this year, they plan to turn this around towards eliminating the pandemonium that exists due to the arrival of tens of thousands of Rosh Hashanah visitors. Askanim fear that they may make an example of Alkobi.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
If the charges are correct, it seems the Ukranian authorities are acting reasonably (and the Breslovers should see that he spends yuntuf in a place where he’ll be less embarassing).
1) These beer drinkers are obviously not “Breslover Chasidim,” as you refer to them.
2) Run this by me again, but why exactly is somebody actually paying money to defend this guy? He sounds like a common criminal (or worse). Let him sit for a bit, nish geferlach.
Rav Nachman said לכל מקום שאני הולך אני הולך לארץ ישראל. So maybe, in view of all the trouble and dangers relating to these trips to Uman, at this point in time Rav Nachman might want to be brought to kevura in Eretz Yisrael.
Good deport them, but don’t wait until after Rosh Hashana. Put them on the first plane out and restrict them from entering the country for the next 10 to 20 years.
Why give money to Ukrainian anti-Semites?
in the Ukraine a good bribe will let him state
#3 – As much as the Ukrainians hate the Jews and the mess that comes along with such a huge crowd, they’ll never let Rav Nachman out of Ukrain, because there would go their incomes for the year. So they hate the Jews in their hearts and love their money.