Hasidic Rebbes Embark on Annual Sacred Journey Across Ukraine During Nine Days

Each year during the Nine Days, the leading Hasidic rebbes of the Nadvorna and Kretshnif dynasties, along with branches of their esteemed lineage, undertake a solemn and uplifting pilgrimage across Ukraine. The highlight of this spiritual journey is a heartfelt prayer at the holy gravesite of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna in the town of Bishtna. Hundreds of followers travel to this sacred site, honoring a longstanding tradition passed down through generations, based on Rabbi Mordechai's own testimony that during these elevated days of the Three Weeks and Nine Days, bringing the most difficult and complex petitions to him can invoke supernatural salvation.

In addition to visiting the gravesite in Bishtna, the rebbes conduct an extensive pilgrimage throughout Ukraine, visiting the graves of righteous figures and heavenly angels buried in foreign lands. This region once flourished as a center of Hasidic spiritual power, from which the light of Torah and Hasidism spread worldwide. At each location, the rebbes lead emotional prayers, invoking abundant divine mercy for the salvation of both the community and individuals. The pilgrimage is marked by traditional processions featuring ornate carriages and horses, symbolizing the reverence and grandeur of the occasion.