RELATED:Peres to Ukraine for strategy forumAsked if that number was sufficient, Rosenfeld said the onus of providing security to tens of thousands of visiting Jewish worshipers is on Ukraine, not Israel.“At the moment it’s their job to provide security for the event,” he said.The Ukrainian embassy in Israel on Thursday did not respond to inquiries about preparations for the event expected to draw a record number of participants this year.Jewish worshipers have been visiting the sage’s gravesite since his death in 1810. During the early 20th century, thousands of Orthodox Jews would travel to the small Ukrainian town over Rosh Hashana, but the tradition was suppressed by the Soviet Union, only being reborn after its disintegration.Over the past decade the number of Jewish worshipers to the grave has skyrocketed.Last year’s gathering in Uman – the largest ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union – drew about 40,000, but was marred by violence.Several riots between visiting worshipers, local residents and police erupted and had to be forcibly dispersed.Shmuel Tobul, a 19-year-old hassid from Israel, was stabbed to death in an altercation with a thief on Succot. His murderer has not been found.The ZAKA rescue and recovery organization said it was taking added safety measures.“This year we’re putting up cameras around the gravesite,” said ZAKA spokesman Moti Bokjin. “There was simply no evidence to work with last year.”
Violence feared ahead of yearly pilgrimage to Uman
Israeli police say they will not increase number of liaison officers to be sent to beef up security at annual Rosh Hashana pilgrimage.
RELATED:Peres to Ukraine for strategy forumAsked if that number was sufficient, Rosenfeld said the onus of providing security to tens of thousands of visiting Jewish worshipers is on Ukraine, not Israel.“At the moment it’s their job to provide security for the event,” he said.The Ukrainian embassy in Israel on Thursday did not respond to inquiries about preparations for the event expected to draw a record number of participants this year.Jewish worshipers have been visiting the sage’s gravesite since his death in 1810. During the early 20th century, thousands of Orthodox Jews would travel to the small Ukrainian town over Rosh Hashana, but the tradition was suppressed by the Soviet Union, only being reborn after its disintegration.Over the past decade the number of Jewish worshipers to the grave has skyrocketed.Last year’s gathering in Uman – the largest ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union – drew about 40,000, but was marred by violence.Several riots between visiting worshipers, local residents and police erupted and had to be forcibly dispersed.Shmuel Tobul, a 19-year-old hassid from Israel, was stabbed to death in an altercation with a thief on Succot. His murderer has not been found.The ZAKA rescue and recovery organization said it was taking added safety measures.“This year we’re putting up cameras around the gravesite,” said ZAKA spokesman Moti Bokjin. “There was simply no evidence to work with last year.”