Uman Pilgrimage Data Reveals Broader Visitor Base Beyond Breslov Hasidim

Ahead of the Jewish New Year, the Israel Democracy Institute released a survey detailing travel patterns to Uman, Ukraine, the site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's tomb. The study indicates that approximately 8% of Israeli Jews over 18 have visited the site at least once in their lifetime. Of those who have visited Uman, nearly half (49%) return every few years, and an additional 22.5% visit annually.

Contrary to common perception, the majority of Israeli visitors to Uman do not travel there specifically for Rosh Hashanah. The survey found that 59% of Israeli visitors have never visited the site during the New Year period. Among those who did visit Uman for Rosh Hashanah, 26% only visited during that specific holiday, while 15% visited at other times of the year as well.

A significant finding is that most Israeli visitors to Uman do not belong to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector, which includes Breslov Hasidim. The data shows that 42% of Israeli visitors identify as traditional (26% religious traditional, 16% non-religious traditional), 26% are Haredi, 21% are secular, and 11% are national religious.