Despite the ongoing war, regular shelling, and calls to refrain from traveling, thousands of Bratslav Hasidim, as they do every year, plan to arrive in Uman for the Rosh Hashanah celebrations.
A meeting of the interagency working group on preparations for the annual pilgrimage of Bratslav Hasidim to Uman was held under the chairmanship of Viktor Yelensky, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience. The event was attended by representatives of all key government agencies responsible for addressing security, logistics, and the organization of the pilgrimage: Iryna Pletnyova, Mayor of Uman; Oleksandr Shabatin, Head of the Department of Culture and Cultural Heritage Protection of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration (RSA); Iryna Rybnytska, Executive Director of the “Historical and Cultural Center of the City of Uman” Charitable Foundation; Nathan Ben Nun, Chair of the Rabbi Nachman International Charitable Foundation, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other officials.
The priority issues currently being addressed include: procedures for crossing the Ukrainian border, ensuring the safety of pilgrims, setting up the pilgrimage area in Uman, accommodations and meals for pilgrims, as well as the creation of other appropriate conditions for them to express their religious sentiments.
Uman Mayor Iryna Pletnyova confirmed the city’s readiness to welcome pilgrims, noting that adequate sanitary conditions have been ensured and an emergency response plan has been developed. At the same time, she noted that due to the limited number of accommodations needed to accommodate such a large number of pilgrims, the city cannot guarantee 100 percent safety. This poses significant challenges for local authorities and requires maximum coordination of efforts among all parties involved.
Following the discussion, relevant protocol decisions were formulated, and an action plan was finalized to ensure proper coordination among all parties involved in organizing the pilgrimage.