An official letter of the Ukrainian government states that Israeli Jews will not be allowed to enter Ukraine to spend Rosh Hashanah at Uman – the site of the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov.
The increasingly popular tradition of tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world traveling to Uman every year for Rosh Hashanah has now joined the list of activities that have been halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the letter, Ukrainian government officials convened on July 9 to discuss whether to allow Israeli Jews to enter the country for Rosh Hashanah despite the coronavirus pandemic. Representatives of all government ministries were present at the meeting and they unanimously decided that allowing tens of thousands of people to enter the country and gather in Uman amid a pandemic was too risky.
The letter listed the various reasons for the government’s decision:
- Israel’s current epidemiological situation puts it on the “red list.”
- According to Ukrainian law, gatherings are currently forbidden.
- Ukraine’s hospitals are not properly prepared for heavy caseloads.
- The authorities are not prepared to track such a large number of people for the safety of Ukrainian citizens as well as thousands of foreign nationals.
- The police are not sufficiently prepared to enforce the guidelines of quarantine, masks, social distancing, etc.
The letter stated that many many discussions and meetings between Israeli and Ukrainian representatives and health officials took place at the beginning of July. The Israelis officials understand and agree with Ukraine’s decision in light of the situation.
“We’re updating early and not at the last minute,” the letter stated. It added: “For all those who are trying to make this a political or anti-Semitic issue, we deny this – there is no connection to politics or anti-Semitism.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
20 Responses
Just more shmad, banning religion by the new world order
It says Israeli Jews. What about American Jews?
People will be in and out in 3 days. They shouldn’t have to worry about their hospitalization capabilities.
A. What about American or European Jews?
B. This year will be like during the Soviet period.
@PleaseStayCalm
what religion is “Uman Rosh Hashanah” anyway
This hasn’t been confirmed. The mayor (who is a huge anti semite although I’m not sure if that factored into this decision) is trying to appeal to the Ukrainian government that they should forbid it. Meanwhile, the government hasn’t agreed. My feeling is that even if the government is for it, if the local municipality is opposed, they’ll probably unsafe to go with or without Corona.
What about American or European Jews? TBD
for people asking if this will apply to people coming from America…it most probably will. Israel and USA are both red zone countries. It doesn’t make a different really where you come from if you are going to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. They don’t want the huge gathering to happen.
Oy, people will have to spend Yom Tov with their family…How will they manage?
Why is it that when a Government bans something relating to Jews people automatically scream Anti Semeitisim? Um in case no one realized, we are in a middle of a Pandemic and no country wants a large gathering where anyone can infect others. One person can infect many…
@ezzy
Unless I missed something, the article stressed that they do not believe that it’s antisemitism. Also, the majority of commenters believe that it was not antisemitism. Who is screaming antisemitism?
They must be thrilled. Now they can compete with each other about who really believes in “Rabbenu” and will still go. For the record only a tiny group went before and during Communism. Only over the past decade did it turn into Woodstock thanks to the free airline tickets that were initially given out. The idea of gathering around a grave for Rosh Hashanah in a blood soaked land during a Magefah rch’l will be a new level of insanity never before imagined. They have formed their own religion and are not part of Klal Yisrael.
There goes my Rosh Hashana.
Why is nobody here commenting on the fact that there is even a consideration to have uman opened? What a danger to chas vishalom to spread the virus in our communities
Of course…. This reluctance to allow people to flock from all around the world to their town amidst a pandemic in anti semitism.
How self absorbed and uncaring must someone be to say it’s 3 days, why worry about hospital beds? Its so obviously for all the locals that may catch a virus because other people thought it more important that they pray, rather than the health and well being of others….
We need human, the amount of teshuva and deveikus that happen in human benefit not only the individuals but their wifes,kids and the klal. Ofcourse hashem listens to all tefilos bechol mokom,but the hisorerus generated by makom is a help like miron kosel..uman
This is by far the most disturbing news I have heard in a long time. Married men will actually have to spend their rosh hashana with their family
Just imagine for a moment that Uman would be open R’H:- Has anyone even bothered to stop & think that then they would be spending Y’K & Sukkos in quarantine:- Is this what they really wish to do?
Rebbe Nachman said בסוף כולם יהיו ברסלב he knew exactly what he meant and wanted Yes he wanted us away from our family and he wanted us to quarantine if need be even for you kipper it’s not a question we listen to rabbanu at all costs we all belong there This hock and shtusim ain’t gonna get us anywhere let’s keep on davening that we Will be zoche let’s jump over these obstacles ein shu, yiush
How tragic!!
No Brisk and now no Uman??!!