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Ukraine Warns: “Russia Will Purposely Direct Missiles At Uman On Rosh Hashanah”

Ukrainian security services hold a drill together with the Uman Police, the National Guard, special units, and all emergency services in the city in preparation for Rosh Hashanah. (Photo: Ukrainian Defense Ministry)

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told Israel’s Kan News that “Russia will deliberately fire missiles at Uman on Rosh Hashanah.”

In an interview with Kan on Friday, Podolyak said that the Russian army will deliberately fire missiles at Uman when Jews are gathered there and therefore he doesn’t recommend that anyone travel to the area for Rosh Hashanah.

“We have no doubt that some chassidim will make efforts to reach Uman on foot,” he said. “We understand that they won’t listen to our warnings that there is a danger of rockets being fired at Uman,” adding that there is a chance that Russia “will purposely do this to create global repercussions.”

Podolyak added that Ukrainian security forces will try to ensure the welfare of mispallelim but it’s impossible to provide 100% protection. “We’re warning people but those who come are responsible for their own lives. We’re a free country, we can’t prevent people from coming to Uman. We’ll try to actively intervene to maintain basic security so that if there is missile fire, people can find shelter.”

Last week, the Ukrainian security forces carried out intensive training drills in preparation for the arrival of Jews to Uman.

Ukrainian special forces train in Uman. (Ukrainian Defense Ministry)

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)



16 Responses

  1. Sounds like a great prophylactic strategy. Nothing like an incoming missile to disrupt your kavanah after sneaking in to Uman for rosh hashanah davening. Also minimizes follow up work for Zaka.
    What will it take to convince these idiots to STAY HOME>

  2. I think it’s sakanos nifashos to go to Uman, but there are those who think it’s yehareg v’al yaavor, that they MUST go to Uman for Rosh Hashonoh. How do you reconcile the two? I think that very few Breslover Chassidim will refrain from going this year. I shudder to think of the consequences.

  3. just take a loaded gun, put 1 pullet in it, and just randomly shoot, just do that instead, it will save your airflight and hotel, if you want to end your life, this way is quicker

  4. About a week ago, a Bachur was travelling in Ukraine and he was heading for Uman. Some animal (Ukrainian or Russian) approached him, beat him up and stole his phone and stole his cash.

  5. Never mind the stupidity of going to an active war zone, how is anyone going to get there? What airlines are flying to Ukraine? How would the get from Kiev airport to Uman?

  6. Why can the Chassidim of Rabe Nachman spend one Rosh Hashana with their wife and kids?
    Rebbe know there is a war and Pekoach Nefesh and forgive.
    Unless the Chassidim are playing chicken with their lives.

  7. I have a niece who became Breslov.
    (Both she and her husband were raised in normative Orthodox homes but were pulled into this group during their post-high school year in Israel. Note: BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU SEND YOUR KIDS IN ISRAEL!)

    The Rosh Ha-Shana tradition is holy to them and nonsensical to us. We would never think of abandoning our wives and daughters at such a holy time in order to travel halfway round the world, often on charity, to a Ukrainian city filled with Jew-haters in order to prostrate ourselves at a grave.

    But that’s their custom. I’m not going to call it idolatry or cultic or being דורש אל המתים – though such practices have been called these things by great Torah scholars. I have met too many pious, warmhearted, beautiful Jews from the various Breslov communities to defame them.

    I of course hope that the Jews in both Ukraine and Russia get out before it’s too late. And who knows? Perhaps the story that Rebbe Nachman’s body had been secreted into Israel some years ago is true.

  8. If you really want to do tzedaka and do a good deed, donate to the poor here on Cashapp: $NYTD38.

    AND DON’T GO TO UMAN, for Rosh Hashanah; since it’s an active war zone.. Do I need to spell the obvious?

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