Ten thousand Israelis to make Ukraine pilgrimage despite warnings

Haredi pilgrims ignore warnings against visiting gravesite of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov; Ukraine looks to Israel for intelligence on Iran’s involvement in Ukraine war

Despite several warnings from Israeli and Ukrainian officials, up to 10,000 Israelis are expected to fly out to Ukraine this week to take part in the annual High Holidays pilgrimage to Uman.

Israeli and Ukraine officials have warned the situation in Uman, in central Ukraine, poses a threat to the lives of the Jewish pilgrims.

Americans and Canadians, unable to get insurance for travel to the Ukraine, are forgoing the trip which is traditionally made at Rosh Hashanah by followers of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.

The pilgrimage comes as Israel is drawn into the war because of Iranian involvement.

Ukraine has asked Israel to share intelligence on any support Iran is giving to the Russian military, senior Israeli officials told Axios.

Russia attacked several Ukrainian military positions with “Kamikaze drones” that Ukraine's military said were repainted Iranian Shahed-136 drones.

The US and Ukraine have accused Iran of sending hundreds of sophisticated attack drones to Russia, an allegation Tehran denied.

Ukrainian military commanders told the Wall Street Journal the Iranian drones gave the Russians a significant advantage in several areas.

Following a meeting with Maksym Subkh, Ukraine's special representative for the Middle East, Israeli officials said Ukraine wants to establish a “dialogue channel” with Israel about Middle East issues in order to share information and coordinate positions.

They said Ukraine expects Israel to take a much clearer position regarding the Russian aggression and unequivocally support Ukraine, which Israel has avoided because of its own relations with Russia.

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10,000 Israelis to make Uman pilgrimage despite Ukraine-Russia war (Jerusalem Post)

Defying Ukraine’s wartime warnings, thousands of Hasidic pilgrims have made it to Uman for Rosh Hashanah (JTA)

Ukraine asks Israel to share intel on Iranian support to Russian military (Axios)

Photo: A banner reads “We are praying for peace in Ukraine” near the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the site that the pilgrims have to come to see. (David Saveliev/ JTA)

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