Six Draft Dodgers Detained at Ben Gurion Airport Trying to Reach Ukraine

Six young Haredi men, evading IDF conscription, were apprehended at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday, September 2, as they attempted to secretly leave Israel for Uman, Ukraine. Two were detained in Terminal 1 and four in Terminal 3. All six were handed over to the Population and Immigration Authority. Investigations revealed they had failed to report for their draft notices and were subject to exit bans. In the past two weeks, dozens of Breslov Hasidim who evaded IDF draft notices and tried to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah celebrations have been detained at Ben Gurion Airport. Others were apprehended at the Taba border crossing, planning to reach Europe via Egypt before continuing to Rabbi Nachman's tomb in Ukraine. Last week, senior Breslov rabbis circulated an audio recording urging draft evaders not to go to the airport and to avoid initiating the conscription process solely to have their travel bans lifted. The leadership is concerned that some young men, who previously evaded the draft, are now reporting to the IDF, enabling them to get travel bans rescinded and go to Uman, only to avoid service upon their return. The recording, made before last year's Rosh Hashanah, features Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter advising, "Breslov Hasidim are accustomed to the trip to Uman requiring self-sacrifice, and this is true. But one must understand when self-sacrifice is required for it. Here, one must exercise self-sacrifice so as not to sacrifice oneself." On August 26, the IDF posted an AI-generated video on Instagram featuring an ultra-Orthodox character in uniform advising draft evaders on how to avoid detention before flying abroad. The character suggested reporting to a draft office, providing personal details, and then legally departing Israel. This tactic, known within the Haredi community, had been used previously by many to travel abroad without intending to serve. The video faced sharp criticism and was removed by the IDF hours after its publication.