45,000 Hasidic pilgrims arrive in Uman
Around 45,000 Hasidic pilgrims have already arrived in Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This is the largest number of pilgrims in recent years, Ukrinform reports, citing the United Jewish Community of Ukraine.
Up to 50,000 Jewish pilgrims are expected in Uman this year.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine said this year’s number of pilgrims is the highest recorded in recent years.
The annual pilgrimage is associated with Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, the founder of Bratslav Hasidism, whose grave is located in Uman. Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” in Hebrew and falls on the first two days of the month of Tishrei, marking the beginning of the new year in the Jewish calendar. This year, the holiday runs from the evening of September 11 through the evening of September 13, ushering in the year 5787.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Hasidic pilgrims in Ukraine are being transported to Uman in Ukrainian Armed Forces buses.