New Poll Reveals 8% of Israeli Jews Have Visited Uman

A recent survey indicates that approximately 8% of Israeli Jews aged 18 and older have visited Uman, Ukraine, the site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's tomb. These trips are not exclusively for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the survey found. Among those who have visited, 28.5% went once, 49% visit every few years, and 22.5% travel there annually or more frequently. The majority of pilgrims, 59%, visit Uman outside of the Jewish New Year period, while 26% travel only for Rosh Hashanah, and 15% visit during both the holiday and other times.

The survey also detailed demographic breakdowns of visitors. "Traditional" Israelis, encompassing religious-traditional (26%) and traditional but non-religious (16%) individuals, form the largest group of visitors at 42% of all respondents who have been to Uman. Haredim constitute 26% of visitors, secular Israelis 21%, and religious Zionists 11%. When comparing the proportion of visitors within each group, Haredim lead with 19% having visited Uman, followed by traditional Israelis at 16%. Religious Zionists and non-religious traditionalists each stand at 7%, with secular Israelis at 4%.

Differences were also observed based on origin, with 13% of Mizrahi Israelis having visited Uman compared to 5% of Ashkenazi Israelis and 4% of those of mixed origin. Men were slightly more likely to have visited than women, with 9% of men and 7% of women reporting a visit. However, men and women differ significantly in their travel timing: 55% of men who visited Uman did so for Rosh Hashanah, while only 23% of women traveled for the holiday, with the remaining 77% visiting at other times or combining trips.

Age and income also correlated with visitation rates. 10% of Israelis aged 18-44 have visited Uman, compared to 6% of those over 45. Individuals with below-average incomes were most likely to have visited (12%), followed by those with average incomes (9%), and those with above-average incomes (6%). The poll concludes that pilgrimage to Uman remains a relatively niche activity among Israeli Jews, with travel frequency varying significantly by religiosity, origin, age, gender, and income level.