Ukraine’s interior minister said his country will implement a ban on the convergence of foreign pilgrims at Uman for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage as a coronavirus restriction.
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Arsen Avakov also stressed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs will provide “all technical measures to implement the above quarantine restrictions in Uman,” according to a statement on the ministry’s website.
Avakov noted in the statement that the mass event of up to 50,000 Hasidim from different countries to Uman, who for at least three days celebrate and perform religious rites, and visit holy places, “creates huge risks of spreading the virus not only to the participants of the event, but also to the local population.”
Ukraine has seen a marked increase in cases of the coronavirus in recent weeks.
Avakov called for “understanding in this matter from the representatives of the Hasidic religious community.”
In previous years, tens of thousands of pilgrims, mostly from Israel, have gathered for the Jewish New Year in Uman, home to the burial place of Rabbi Nachman, an 18th-century luminary and founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement.
Ukraine and Israel released a joint statement on Tuesday.
“Following the recommendations and warnings of the Ministries of Health of Ukraine and Israel, we urge all pilgrims who have planned or are planning to take part in this year’s Rosh Hashanah celebrations in Ukraine to refrain from visiting the city of Uman due to the threatening epidemiological situation,” said the statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office in Israel.
Pilgrims who visit Uman despite the plea will be required to adhere to the country’s restrictions put in place for all public events to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including wearing masks and social distancing.
Rosh Hashanah this year begins on the evening of Sept. 18.
Maybe it should be made crystal clear that no insurance covers pandemics and if a person gets hospitalized they may be up for hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’m waiting for the pikuach nefesh Chesed Fund appeals for money.
It is sad that that the messages of Rosh Hashanah, teshuvah, etc. are completely obliterated in the frenzy to engage in pilgrimage – something that has no such importance. It is certainly wonderful to visit kivrei tzaddikim. But this never did or will supersede the basics of taryag mitzvos, one of which is the express requirement to safeguard and protect one’s health. I know many who do this annual visit to Uman. Some of them are in floods of debt, financing the trip, and loss of wages while away. Others abandon their families during this special time, and return to salvage a relationship with spouse and family that has been damaged. I purposely avoid the discussion of how much of this is frank mental illness, and the volume of indulging in alcohol, drugs, and illicit relationships that go on in Uman every year.
As someone who has been to Uman for Rosh Hashana numerous times in the past I feel the need to comment.
I do not go every year religiously. For anyone that has not experienced a Rosh Hashana in Uman should not be commenting on whether someone should go or not. For every single one of them Rosh Hashana infuses them with the Ruchniyus and carries them through the year. Not only for themselves but for their wives and the rest of their family.
For the ones who comment about the drugs…. There are 50,000 chasidim in Uman for Rosh Hashana. How many do you think come for the drugs? How many of them would have been doing the same thing had they stayed home? But how many of them daven which is something they would not do had they stayed home? Almost every one of them.
For the commenters who decide what others marrriages should be like…. has it ever occurred to you that maybe the wives are also involved in the decision? And that they also benefit from it?
Another point…. It’s none of your business…. Why can’t you just live and let live?
I just hope no one is stricken with Corvid 19.