Hasidic Jews celebrate 2022 Rosh Hashanah in Uman despite war

Hasidic Jews celebrated Rosh Hashanah

to the sounds of an air raid siren in Uman. According to RFE/RL, more than 23,000 pilgrims arrived from Israel, the US, UK, and France in 2022 despite the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Pilgrims flock to the grave of Rabbi Nachman

of Breslov, the founding father of the Breslov Hasidic movement. The grandson of the founder of Hasidic Judaism, the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Nachman was buried in Uman, at a local Jewish cemetery, in 1810. https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1574892079355920384 Following a decade-long tradition, the Breslov Hasidic Jews come to worship every year.

Hasidic jews Uman — The entrance to Rabbi Nachman's grave on 27 September 2022. Photo by Zarina Zabrisky.

The local authorities, police, Ukrainian military, and a special NGO work hard on making sure the celebration goes smoothly.

Hasidic jews Uman pilgrimage — Vul. Pushkina. Uman. Photo by Zarina Zabrisky.

Oleksandr Benjamin Khmara, the head of Magen NGO in charge of communication and security and the shooting instructor of the Ukrainian army, spoke to Euromaidan Press about this year's hopes and fears. Explaining the necessity of the curfew and no alcohol rules to the pilgrims were among the main challenges. Of special concern was the chance of a Kremlin's provocation in support of Putin's "de-nazification" narrative. These provocations had a chance of materializing: the Ukrainian media Babel, citing its sources in Ukrainian intelligence, reported that on 27 September, Russian troops purposefully launched Shahed-136 Iranian kamikaze drones towards central-Ukrainian Uman to attack Hasidic Jewish. According to the media, these acts of terrorism were part of Iran's conditions for supplying the drones to Russia. However, Ukrainian air defense shot them down and the only real threat during the celebration were the air raids. The sound of sirens mixed with religious singing and chants.

Ukrainian NGO works with the government and local authorities to ensure the smooth celebration of #RoshHashanah in #Uman, amidst the fears of the Kremlin provocation. @ZarinaZabrisky speaks to the head of the special Magen Ukraine force Alexander Benjamin Khmara. pic.twitter.com/PdLM7lxmpU
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) September 28, 2022

The local residents spoke warmly and with respect about the festivities. A woman who fled Kharkiv's bombardment and currently stays in Uman, in an interview, said that the more people pray for peace, no matter what faith, the better it is.