- September 9, 2024
- 3:52 pm
- World News
Without the war unleashed by Russia, such difficulties would not exist. Russia is not only destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure and killing Ukrainians, but also preventing people from praying and observing their religious rites. Tens of thousands of pilgrims used to visit Uman without problems every year, but now they are forced to take detours through Moldova and Romania, which only underscores the global implications of Putin’s war, which affects even such peaceful and spiritual events.
Moldova has refused to accept charter flights of Bratslav Hasidim heading to Uman, citing security concerns. Chisinau airport cannot handle the flow of flights, threatening the traditional Hasidic pilgrimage to Ukraine to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, especially on the eve of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.
Negotiations between the Moldovan authorities and Rabbi Nathan Bin-Nun, who represented the interests of the Ihud Bratslav movement, were conducted with the aim of resolving issues related to air transportation for tens of thousands of pilgrims. However, the Moldovan government made a number of demands on the airlines and the organization of the flights, which led to the refusal to accept these charters.
The travel agency Nativim Tour, which sells tour packages for pilgrims, reported this on the morning of September 8, 2024. writes Haaretz sent its customers a notice that the Moldovan government had cancelled flight permits to Chisinau. The tour operator said in a statement: “Unfortunately, the rumors turned out to be true. We learned of the Moldovan government's decision a few days ago and have begun active efforts to change their minds, but the chances of success are slim.” The agency promised to notify all those who bought tickets about further actions in the coming days.
Given the difficulties, the most likely solution is to reroute most flights to the Romanian city of Iasi, which is close to the border with Moldova. Rabbi Nathan Bin-Nun said that talks are underway with the Romanian and Moldovan governments to increase the number of border inspectors to ease the crossing during peak traffic hours.
It is worth noting that the current situation is also complicated by financial issues. Israel has still not paid the debt for organizing last year's pilgrimages. The Israeli Finance and Foreign Ministries agreed to pay the Moldovan authorities 700,000 shekels (about 200,000 dollars) to cover the debt for last year, when Israel asked Moldova to strengthen security measures at the Chisinau airport and border crossings for pilgrims. However, Jerusalem has only found funds to pay off last year's debt, which does not solve the problem for the current year.
Moldova's Chief Rabbi Pinchas Salzman stressed that this time the Israeli government should focus on financial aid, leaving organizational issues to local communities. However, this demand has not been met so far, which increases tensions between the countries.
Every year on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, tens of thousands of Breslov Hasidim travel to Uman to pray at the grave of Rabbi Nachman. After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, the site became an important spiritual center and is officially recognized as the “Historical and Cultural Center of Breslov Hasidim.” However, the war in Ukraine has made its own adjustments: direct flights have been cancelled, and pilgrims are forced to seek alternative routes through other countries, including Moldova and Romania.
Pilgrims heading to Uman choose the route through Moldova for several reasons:
- Closure of Ukrainian airspace: Due to the war in Ukraine, direct flights to the country are unavailable. Pilgrims are forced to look for alternative routes, and Moldova, located next to Ukraine, is a convenient transit point.
- Proximity to Uman: Chisinau airport is relatively close to the Ukrainian border, and traveling through Moldova allows Hasidim to enter Ukraine by land. This is one of the most convenient routes given the restrictions.
- Transport agreements: Moldova previously allowed Hasidim to cross the border and use local infrastructure for safe transit to Uman. Last year, Israel even made an agreement with the Moldovan authorities, paying for additional security measures at the Chisinau airport and border checkpoints, making Moldova an important pilgrimage destination.
The annual pilgrimage of Breslov Hasidim to the grave of Rabbi Nachman in Uman on Rosh Hashanah has become extremely difficult and dangerous due to the aggression of Putin's Russia. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has changed the situation dramatically, and pilgrims who could previously reach the holy site without problems now face many obstacles. Direct flights to Ukraine have been canceled due to the war, and now thousands of Hasidim are forced to seek alternative routes through neighboring countries.
Moldova, located close to Uman, has become one of the main transit routes for pilgrims, but even here the situation has become complicated. Chisinau airport has refused to accept Hasidic charter flights, citing security concerns. The increased danger, directly caused by Russian aggression, has forced Moldovan authorities to tighten security measures at the border, which has limited the Hasidic transit opportunities.
It is worth emphasizing that without the war unleashed by Russia, such difficulties would simply not exist. Russia is not only destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure, but also hindering people who want to pray and observe their religious rites. Tens of thousands of pilgrims used to visit Uman every year without problems, but now they are forced to take detours through Moldova and Romania, which only underscores the global consequences of Putin’s war, which affects even such peaceful and spiritual events.
As a result of Russian aggression, not only Ukrainians suffer, but also Jewish pilgrims, for whom a visit to Uman is a sacred tradition.
Putin's war thus violates religious customs and condemns tens of thousands of people to dangerous and difficult routes to fulfill their spiritual obligations. Russia is not only destroying peace and stability in Ukraine, but also depriving Hasidim of the opportunity to pray in a place that has the greatest spiritual significance for them.
Read us in channels Israel News Nikk.Agency
