Thousands of Breslav Hasidim make the last preparations in the city of Oman before Rosh Hashanah and the official start of the huge revelry near Rabbi Nachman's Zion.
More than 20,000 people arrived in Uman in Ukraine, despite the fact that there is a war going on in the country, and also that there are no flights to Ukraine, so they had to make an arduous journey from various European countries.
In a normal year, it should be noted, there are about 40,000 Hasidic who arrive there, but considering the war, the fact that there are thousands of Hasidic who left their families and came to the city of Uman is not at all obvious.
"I was surprised to see how many people came to the city. There are a lot of people, thousands of Hassidim, and the Zion is being blown up all the time," says Yehuda Peretz, a photographer for "Israel Today" who came to the city three weeks ago because there was a fear that it would not be possible to reach the place.
"People are constantly arriving in minibuses and buses from the borders. There is tremendous joy here. Even though people say they wait three or four hours at the border crossings, they see it as the sweet before Rosh Hashanah at Rabbi Nachman's."
In a normal year - about 40 thousand Hasidim come, photo: Yehuda Peretz
An arduous and cross-country journey, photo: Yehuda Peretz
Final preparations for Rosh Hashanah, photo: Yehuda Peretz
Shlomi Elisha, deputy director of the organization Rescue Ukraine, said that there is strict adherence to the strict instructions of the state and the curfew due to the war. "I am amazed to see the public discipline.
There is a curfew here from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., and once the curfew comes in, there is not a soul on the street.
The strict guidelines will continue even on Rosh Hashanah and will affect the Jewish agenda there.
It is allowed to gather during the day, but Shabbat meals will be cut short due to the curfew," says Elisha and says that his organization is prepared to deal with any harm to Jews there.
"We maintain tension and pray that the event will pass peacefully and everyone will return safely to their homes. We are all praying for the country of Ukraine, that the war will end and that the Russian enemy will be defeated. I wish all citizens of Ukraine a happy and sweet new year, a year of security."
"Praying for the peace of Ukraine".
Alif Bauman, photo: Yehuda Peretz
The followers fill the streets of Oman, photo: Yehuda Peretz
Preparing for the new year in the shadow of the war.
Hasidim next to the Ukrainian security forces, photo: Yehuda Peretz
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