Record 57,000 Jewish Pilgrims Flock to Uman for Rosh Hashanah Amid Air Raid Sirens

A record-breaking 52,000 Jewish pilgrims gathered in Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah celebrations, marking the largest attendance in the history of the pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman. This figure could be as high as 57,000, according to Ukrainian authorities, with some individuals arriving before the holiday or not undergoing official registration. The influx of pilgrims is significant given Uman's resident population of approximately 75,000, effectively doubling the city's size for several days.

To manage the massive crowd and ensure security, Ukrainian authorities deployed around 1,000 personnel from various law enforcement and security agencies, including the National Police, National Guard, and Security Service. A delegation of 17 Israeli police officers, including Russian speakers, was also present to assist their Ukrainian counterparts, at the request of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry and National Police. The Israeli delegation, led by Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Samush, is working alongside Ukrainian police on joint patrols and at checkpoints, employing security equipment for checks.

The security measures are heightened due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with air raid sirens a nightly occurrence and a curfew in effect from midnight to 4:00 AM. Pilgrims are reportedly adhering to Ukrainian regulations to avoid sanctions such as arrest or deportation. Despite the challenging circumstances, the situation in Uman has remained largely calm, though several arrests were made for drug-related offenses and passport violations prior to the holiday.

The mass prayer event, Tikkun HaKlali, saw an estimated 50,000 people participating. The Israeli police delegation is scheduled to remain in Uman until the conclusion of the main holiday events and is expected to return to Israel on September 16. The Israeli police attaché to Ukraine is also working with the delegation.