Breslov Rabbis Urge Followers to Avoid Uman Pilgrimage to Evade Military Draft

Senior rabbis of the Breslov Hasidic community have circulated a recording urging followers who are draft evaders not to attempt traveling to Ben Gurion Airport or initiate draft deferment procedures just to secure permission to fly to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah prayers at Rabbi Nachman's grave. This message responds to a troubling trend where some draft-dodgers agree to enlist or start the draft process solely to lift their travel bans, enabling them to attend the pilgrimage.

The recording, released ahead of the upcoming Jewish New Year, originates from a meeting held before last year's holiday. In it, Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter emphasizes the need for "self-sacrifice not to sacrifice oneself" by refusing to cooperate with the draft, even if it means missing the pilgrimage. The late Rabbi Natan Libermansh also warned against underestimating the hardships of military imprisonment and forbade young men from risking incarceration to evade service.

The rabbis discussed the dangers of attempting to cross borders without resolving draft issues, noting some youths claim they would not enlist even if detained. They rejected the idea of "draft deferment procedures" that some consider a loophole to travel abroad, stressing the uncertainty of consequences from the military authorities. The rabbis resolved to publicly declare a strong prohibition against traveling to Uman under such conditions, prioritizing religious principles over the pilgrimage.

This stance follows similar appeals last year amid a surge in draft evasion within the community. The release of the recording by the rabbis' families aims to reinforce the message and prevent followers from risking legal or military repercussions for the sake of the annual spiritual journey.