[ad_1]
Thousands of Orthodox Jews have made their traditional pilgrimage to the Ukrainian city to celebrate the Jewish New Year, despite Russian rocket attacks and warnings.
Up to 23,000 worshipers are thought to have made their way to Uman to visit the grave of revered 18th-century Hasidic leader Rabbi Nachman.
The city of Uman, which had come under fire from Russian artillery earlier in the war, is 160 miles south of the front line around Kherson.
‘2,000 Russians Arrested’ for Protesting – War Latest Updates
The annual pilgrimage brings tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews to the city to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
Few devotees are expected to travel Ukraine A kibbutz or gathering for this year after the Russian invasion in February. Both Israeli and Ukrainian officials urged against the trip.
Many pilgrims gathered in Oman on Sunday, the start of Rosh Hashanah and the first of the Jewish high holy days.
Hasidic Jewish pilgrims near Rabbi Nachman’s grave in Brislov
Why do Jews travel to Oman?
The city is steeped in Jewish history. In the year It is the site of the massacre of Jews, policemen, and others during the 1768 uprising, and is also associated with the famous Hasidic figure Brelov Nachman.
He was born in the small town of Medzhibyz, Ukraine, traveled to modern-day Israel, and later returned to the Ukrainian city of Breslov.
He encouraged them to make followers and strive to be tzaddik (righteous) by worshiping God.
During his lifetime, thousands of Hasidic Jews traveled to Ukraine to be with him on Jewish holidays, especially Rosh Hashanah.
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the flow of pilgrims to Oman stopped, but the annual pilgrimage continued 200 years after his death.
Has the war stopped this year’s Oman march?
Israeli and Ukrainian officials have issued strong warnings against travel to Oman because of the conflict in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian embassy in Israel said: “We must take care of ourselves when the Russian enemy’s blasts against Ukraine do not stop.
“Please refrain from coming to Oman on Rosh Hashanah and pray for the return of peace to Ukraine and the restoration of the blessed Hajj.”
The risk of rocket attacks from Kremlin forces did not deter thousands of pilgrims from making the pilgrimage, some reports put the number at 23,000.
Chaim Kramer, a teacher of Rabbi Nachman’s teachings, said it is up to each individual to accept the “reality of the current situation” and do what they believe is right.
However, speaking last month, he added, “Right now, we are preparing to help as many people as possible come and fulfill Rebbe Nachman’s promise, to come for Rosh Hashanah.”
[ad_2]
Source link
