Over 35,000 Hasidic pilgrims arrive in Uman for Rosh Hashanah

More than 35,000 Hasidim have already arrived in Uman in the Cherkasy region to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, has said.

“According to our estimates, over the past few weeks, more than 35,000 Hasidim pilgrims have sought entry into Ukraine, most of whom traveled in organized groups. There were also refusals to enter,” he said during a Telethon on Monday morning.

As Demchenko explained, the reasons for the refusal to enter Ukraine were problems with documents or previous violations of Ukrainian legislation.

According to the State Border Guard Service, the movement of Hasidim pilgrims to Ukraine has been observed for several weeks, but the main number has arrived in the last five days, crossing the border with the European Union and Moldova.

“On some days, their number could fluctuate between 4,000, 8,000 and 11,000,” Demchenko added.

As reported by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU), the previously expected number of pilgrims has already arrived in the pilgrimage area. According to a preliminary estimate, up to 38,000 Hasidic pilgrims are expected at the beginning of the celebration in Uman. UJCU is monitoring the situation in the area of ​​the Rabbi Nachman Memorial Complex, where pilgrims gather.

Tonight, September 22, the celebration of Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - will begin, and will last until the evening of September 24.