More than 35 thousand pilgrims arrived in Uman (Cherkasy region) to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, and no emergencies occurred, said Ivan Vygovsky, head of the National Police of Ukraine.
“Despite the increased risks and the large number of arrivals, law enforcement officers are keeping the situation under control, no emergencies have occurred,” Vygovsky said in a statement on the National Police telegram channel following his visit to Uman.
As noted, the police are working in an enhanced mode, three filtration points with baggage scanners, stationary posts, a visa support point, control and inspection groups have been organized, and the number of investigative teams has been increased.
A coordination headquarters consisting of representatives of the National Police, the National Guard, the State Emergency Service, the State Migration Service and other services is working around the clock.
“Police officers from the State of Israel are also on duty with our police officers, who arrived to strengthen security measures and help tourists,” the National Police said.
In 2023, Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) is celebrated from September 15 to 17.
Cherkassy regional military administration on the eve of Rosh Hashanah recommends Hasidim to refrain from visiting Uman, but takes measures to strengthen security measures, according to the head of Cherkassy OVA Igor Taburets.
“In a month – Rosh ha-Shana. We recommend pilgrims to refrain from visiting Uman as much as possible, given the war, regular massive shelling of our country and possible provocations from Russia,” the head of the OVA said in a message in his Telegram channel on Tuesday.
At the same time, as Taburets notes, some of the believers, as last year, will still decide to come, so the authorities are taking the necessary measures to strengthen security measures for guests and locals. “Today on this issue held a meeting of the special commission with the participation of the Deputy Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel in Ukraine Mrs. Liron Finkelstein,” – said Taburets.
“First of all, we coordinate the work on security measures. They, like last year, will be strengthened . …We are working on other areas, having the experience of previous celebrations. We are talking about the provision of medical care, the functioning of catering establishments, the work of utility workers, anti-epidemic measures and others. The key priority is unchanged – the safety of local residents and visitors,” Taburets wrote.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, which is celebrated for two consecutive days on the new moon of the fall month of Tishrei according to the Jewish calendar. From this day begins the counting of the days of the new Jewish year.
The arrival of 5,000 to 10,000 Hasidim in the city of Uman, Cherkasy region to celebrate the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah is expected in 2020, and this causes great concern both within Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleh Nemchinov said.
“Today, a meeting of the State Commission on Manmade Disaster and Emergency Response was held. One of the key issues that were discussed was the planned mass pilgrimage of Breslov Chasidim in September 2020 to the city of Uman, Cherkasy region to celebrate Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year),” Nemchinov wrote on his Facebook page.
In this regard, the commission instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen communication to inform foreign citizens about the restrictions in force in Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs to strengthen and ensure security during the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the State Border Guard Service to develop a booklet of stay in Ukraine and distribute it at the crossing Ukrainian border, as well as inform about a possible ban on entry to Ukraine for several years in case of violation of lockdown.
“In addition, at the meeting of the commission, it was noted that in 2020, Ukrainian Christians and Muslims abstained from mass events during the celebration of their largest religious holidays,” Nemchinov said.
