[ad_1]
Thousands of pilgrims, mostly from Israel, try to break into Uman to celebrate the Jewish New Year.
On the border of Ukraine with Belarus, there are more than two thousand Hasidim who want to arrive in Uman for the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko wants to negotiate with Ukraine a green corridor for the Hasidim.
Israel is also asking to let the pilgrims in. Kiev remains adamant and calls on Hasidic representatives to respect Ukrainian laws. Meanwhile, a combined detachment of police from 20 regions arrived in Uman. Correspondent.net says the details.
Israel asks, Lukashenko asks
Every autumn, Hasidim from around the world come to Uman, where the tomb of the leader of the Bratslav Hasidim, Tzadik Nachman, is located to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. More than 30 thousand pilgrims came to Uman in 2019.
The Hasidic pilgrimage to Uman was limited on August 25 by decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky at the request of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Subsequently, the government decided to close the border to all foreigners. However, the ban on entry to Ukraine did not stop the pilgrims.
About 2,500 Jewish pilgrims have been stranded at the border with Ukraine in recent days, said Chief Rabbi of Kiev Yonatan Binyamin Markovich. Most are at the Novye Yarylovichi checkpoint.
“Several thousand Hasidim are on different borders with Ukraine. Most are from Israel, a large part from France. From the United States, of course, too. Rumors have arisen from somewhere that Ukraine’s borders with Belarus are open. , so people come, “Markovich said on air. Radio Hromadsky.
They issued an exit from Belarus, but the Ukrainian border guards would not let them in due to the coronavirus restrictions in place in Ukraine.
In anticipation of the decision on the passage of the Hasidim camped in the area between the Ukrainian and Belarusian territory, hundreds of them spent the night on land and with their suitcases.
The border checkpoint has been closed to pedestrians and vehicles since September 14, people are sent to neighboring crossings. At this time, around 200 trucks have already managed to enter the neutral zone; They are not allowed to pass, some trucks have been stopped for a day.
Breslev live
The truckers demand that they be given a corridor and that they clear the way for the pilgrims who do not let them pass. Meanwhile, the Hasidim are praying, playing traditional musical instruments, and probably still waiting to cross the border in some way.
According to the head of the State Border Service, Sergei Deyneko, some four thousand more Hasidim should arrive at the border in various regions of Ukraine.
To prevent them from entering the territory of Ukraine, the border guards, together with the National Guard and the police, installed a barrier 700 meters from the Novye Yarilovichi checkpoint. The border is patrolled by three helicopters, an airplane and drones.
Daineko arrived at the checkpoint on the night of September 15 to personally explain to the Hasidim why they would not be able to reach Uman this year.
“You knew about those decisions three weeks ago. I understand your traditions and customs, I understand how important it is for you to be in Uman, but this year it is impossible … To prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Ukraine, the entry of foreigners is still prohibited “. he said.
For their part, pilgrims are asked to make an exception for them. The fact that people are now ready to wait for a decision at the border in rather uncomfortable conditions speaks to the strength of their desire, how important it is for them to get to Uman these days, said Irina Rybnitskaya, a lawyer for the Foundation. Rabbi Nakhman International Charity.
In an interview with Radio Liberty, he said that this could be the basis for the exclusion and admission of pilgrims to the territory of Ukraine.
The representative of the State Border Service, Andriy Demchenko, pointed out that the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers on the prohibition of the entry of foreigners will not allow the passage of people whose purpose is the pilgrimage.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that pilgrims at the border receive kosher food and drinks. Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin pointed out that Belarus, the Israeli embassy and several Jewish communities in Ukraine are assisting the Ukrainian authorities in this matter.
On September 15, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov held a meeting with representatives of the Hasidic community on the situation of the pilgrimage in relation to the pandemic.
“We urge the pilgrims to respect Ukrainian law and not provoke the situation at the border of our state,” Avakov said.
The meeting was attended by Nathan Ben-Nun, President of the Rabbi Nachman International Charitable Foundation of Breslav, Ionatan Markovich, Chief Rabbi of Kiev and Executive Director of the Braverman Sagi Foundation.
Ministry of Interior
The Israeli Interior Ministry is calling for the Hasidim to be allowed to enter Ukraine at the border, says Yevhen Yenin. However, according to him, this issue can only be resolved through negotiations between the governments of the two states and Kiev is in favor of continuing communication on these issues.
On September 15, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the government to contact Ukraine and agree on the provision of a green corridor for the Hasidim.
“At the same time, Belarus is ready to provide transportation. For example, buses in which pilgrims will be delivered to their destination (Ukrainian shrines) and back, and then to the airport to depart for their homeland,” said the secretary of Lukashenko press.
The Israeli press writes that the Hasidim are trapped on the border with Ukraine “in inhumane conditions”: they lack food and water.
Hasid Chaim Weitshandler, who is waiting for the border with others, told the Jerusalem Post that people have almost no food, they have to go to the bathroom in the bushes and have to sleep in the cold.
The Red Cross distributed water and blankets, he said. They brought sandwiches from benefactor Bratslav, but this was not enough for half the people on the border.
Weitshandler blames the crisis on Israel for allegedly pressuring Ukraine to close its borders. And he criticizes ultra-Orthodox politicians for failing to help those trapped at the border.
Israeli MP Yaakov Margi said that those who went to Belarus, knowing the ban on entry to Ukraine, are responsible for the situation.
News of Correspondent.net on Telegram. Subscribe to our channel https://t.me/korrespondentnet
