Ukraine to limit pilgrimage to Uman over Rosh Hashana due to COVID-19

The Ukrainian interior minister said annual mass pilgrimage of hassidim and others to the grave site of Rabbi Nachman of Uman could cause mass spread of COVID-19 among visitors and locals.

By JEREMY SHARON
Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish pilgrims pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov on the eve of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the Jewish New Year, in the town of Uman, Ukraine September 20, 2017 (photo credit: REUTERS/VALENTYN OGIRENKO/FILE PHOTO)
Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish pilgrims pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov on the eve of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the Jewish New Year, in the town of Uman, Ukraine September 20, 2017
(photo credit: REUTERS/VALENTYN OGIRENKO/FILE PHOTO)
The Ukrainian interior minister said annual mass pilgrimage of hassidim and others to the grave site of Rabbi Nachman of Uman could cause mass spread of COVID-19 among visitors and locals.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Monday that the government had decided to limit the annual mass pilgrimage to the city of Uman by tens of thousands of hassidim and other Orthodox Jew over the upcoming Rosh Hashana holiday.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that the mass gathering could create a large spike in COVID-19 infections, spreading it amongst both participants and the local population.
The minister did not say however that all pilgrimage to the site would be stopped however.
And in a joint statement, the Israeli and Ukrainian governments said they urged those considering going to Uman not to do so “because of the threatening epidemiological situation,” which they said would not the Rosh Hashana holiday to be celebrated as normal.
In the statement, the governments said that for those who do decide to visit Uman despite these concerns “distancing restrictions will apply to all public events and will be strictly enforced.”
Earlier this month, Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein expressed opposition to the pilgrimage this year, saying that it would lead to “a tragedy” and mass spread of the coronavirus disease.
“We respect the national traditions of different peoples and religious communities and every year we do our best to ensure that they comply with the highest standards of security,” said Avakov on Tuesday.
“However, in recent weeks, Ukraine has seen an increase in outbreaks of coronavirus among the population,” he continued, adding that “the epidemiological situation in the country and the world does not allow to organize and hold mass events, especially with the participation of foreigners.”
The minister noted that religious processions which were to be held shortly by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate have also been cancelled due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, stating that he therefore “hopes for understanding in this matter from the representatives of the Hasidic religious community.”
It is unclear however how the Israeli and Ukrainian governments will deal with those who do make the journey.
Nachman Benchaya, chairman of the National Secretariat of Bresolv Hassidim in Israel, was highly critical of the Israeli government, arguing that it was unreasonable to lobby other governments to allow tourism but to prevent religious pilgrimage.
Benchaya said that he and the Breslov community are in ongoing negotiations with the Ukrainian government on the basis of a detailed plan that has been drawn up to make pilgrimage to Uman feasible during the current global health crisis.
He said that the plan would limit the number of visitors to between 5,000 to 10,000 people from Israel, compared to average annual figures of around 35,000.
The plan would also require visitors to present a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival in Ukraine, and go into quarantine for two weeks upon their return to Israel.
“Why is going to Greece ok, but going to Uman isn’t? Is it because we are ultra-Orthodox?” demanded Benchaya.


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