Thousands of Hasidic Jews defied travel warnings by making a New Year’s trip to war-torn Ukraine.

• Hasidic Jews make the annual pilgrimage to the central Ukrainian city of Uman during Rosh Hashanah.

• This year, thousands are traveling to Oman despite warnings, The New York Times reported.

• By the celebrated 19th-century rabbi, they worship at the grave of Nachaman of Brislov.

Thousands of Hasidic Jews are defying travel warnings by heading to war-torn Ukraine for the annual pilgrimage, The New York Times reports.

The pilgrims are traveling from Israel, the United States and other countries to Uman, the central Ukrainian city of Uman, where the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement is buried, the newspaper reported.

In the year Since 1811, ultra-Orthodox Jews have traveled to Uman on Sunday sunset on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year 5783), to the grave of the venerable Rabbi, Nachman of Breslov.

In normal years, tens of thousands go. Fewer are expected to make the journey this year, but about 4,000 Israeli pilgrims have already entered, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman estimated, according to The Times. This number could rise to 5,000 or more, the spokesperson said.

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel urged people not to travel for Hajj. A warning posted on Facebook on September 11th says “Please avoid Hajj” as ongoing Russian attacks pose a real threat to your life!

In another warning, the Ukrainian embassy in Israel asked pilgrims traveling ahead to “pray for the return of peace to Ukraine” instead of going to Oman for the Jewish New Year.

The US has warned against travel to Ukraine for any purpose, and has issued a clear warning to US citizens not to travel to Oman for the Jewish New Year.

And Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that “it’s obviously not a good time” to visit. “Better times will come after our victory,” the news agency reported.

Still, the Israeli news media inside the country said they could not feel the impact of the war.

The story continues

A Jewish tourist in Uman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Koller: “Do you see any Russian missiles? Everything is fine here. We have a curfew from 11 to 5 at night.”

Central Ukraine, The Times reported, is currently not as dangerous as eastern cities. However, Israeli and Ukrainian officials have warned of missile strikes in the area, The Times reported.

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