Viktor Yelensky, Chairman of the DESC, and Viktor Voynalovich, First Deputy Chairman, held a working meeting with Rabbi David Niederman, President of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and Northern Brooklyn. This was reported on the official website of the DESC.
During the meeting, the parties discussed preparations for the traditional pilgrimage of Bratslav Hasidim to the grave of Tzadik Nachman in Uman, which takes place every September to mark the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.
Special attention was paid to security issues, the organization of the pilgrims’ stay, and the coordination of cooperation between Ukrainian authorities and representatives of the Hasidic communities.
Rabbi David Niederman expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian government for ensuring that the pilgrimage could take place even amid the Russian Federation’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine and for its consistent support of freedom of religion.
In turn, Viktor Yelensky, Chairman of the State Committee for Religious Affairs, emphasized that Ukraine remains committed to the principles of religious freedom and continues to make every possible effort to ensure the right of believers to engage in religious practices and pilgrimages.
During the conversation, the parties also exchanged views on previous experiences in organizing pilgrimages, discussed the specifics of the upcoming pilgrimage season, and addressed broader issues of contemporary Jewish religious life.