Ultra-Orthodox Pilgrims Defy Draft Evasion Warnings for Ukraine Trip

Despite stern warnings from prominent rabbis, many young Haredi men classified as draft dodgers intend to risk arrest at Ben Gurion Airport to travel to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah prayers at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Natan Mashi, a Breslov Hasid and radio host, explained that the pilgrimage is a vital spiritual anchor for adherents, comparing the prohibition to not observing Shabbat. He noted that this devotion has persisted through past COVID-19 restrictions and the height of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Mashi revealed that security forces and prisons are preparing for potential mass arrests of draft dodgers at departure terminals. He anticipates an increase in reported arrests as Rosh Hashanah approaches. This situation arises from an unusual letter by Rabbis Sholom Arush and Natan Ephraim Koenig, explicitly forbidding anyone with a draft order, arrest warrant, or exit ban from approaching the airport.

The rabbis' letter detailed strict checkpoints by military police and immigration officials, warning that attempts to leave would lead to immediate detention, disrupting travel and causing deep family distress. They emphasized that trying to "gamble" on passing through the airport is ill-advised. The letter also addressed the complex travel logistics due to the closed airspace over Ukraine, requiring overland transfers and connections in other countries.

For those who choose to comply with the rabbis' directive and forgo the trip, alternative prayer gatherings are being organized in Israel, notably at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, as well as in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak. This presents a significant dilemma for young Haredi men, balancing adherence to rabbinical authority against the tradition of making the pilgrimage, even at the risk of imprisonment.