Hasidic Rabbis Warn Youth Against Airport Travel Amid Military Draft Crackdown

Spiritual leaders of the Breslov Hasidic community have issued a warning to young followers ahead of the mass pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah prayers at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman. Rabbis Efraim Kanig and Shalom Arush advised "problematic" youth, specifically those with outstanding military draft notices, desertion warrants, or travel bans due to legal issues, to avoid Ben Gurion Airport.

The rabbis cited intelligence suggesting increased military police presence and intensified Interior Ministry checks at the airport targeting ultra-Orthodox individuals attempting to leave the country. While the Knesset has temporarily suspended arrests of yeshiva students who have not registered with the military until their status is resolved, authorities are reportedly tightening exit controls. Those evading conscription may be prevented from traveling abroad and could face temporary detention at the airport, which the rabbis note is not formally considered an arrest.

According to the rabbis, such measures would not only prevent pilgrims from reaching Rabbi Nachman's tomb for holiday prayers but also cause "grief and spiritual harm" to their families. They also cautioned against the "terrible desecration" that public detentions of religious Jews at the airport would represent.

Consequently, the rabbis urged anyone aware of "defense, legal, or other obstacles to traveling abroad" not to risk attempting to depart. The Breslov Hasidic community is diverse, including many with military backgrounds, such as Rabbi Shalom Arush himself, a former combat medic. However, the community also includes "pure yeshiva students" who dedicate their lives to studying Torah and avoid contact with secular authorities, particularly the military, as service is seen as contradictory to their ultra-Orthodox lifestyle.

Earlier reports indicated that Israeli police had arrived in Uman to bolster security during the Rosh Hashanah holiday.