Traditional Rosh Hashanah kibbutz takes place in Uman

These days Breslover Hasidim are celebrating the arrival of the New Year (Rosh Hashanah). This year they celebrate it on September 16 through 18. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS) Department in Cherkasy oblast, approximately 30,000 pilgrims from 25 countries of the world were supposed to come to Uman. They all want to commemorate Reb Nachman buried in Cherkasy oblast. The Uman authorities have prepared well for the pilgrimage and met the Hasidim “well armed.” On the eve of the event the head of the Cherkasy Oblast State Administration Serhii Tulub came to the city in order to check the level of preparation. The governor visited local markets, talked to the sellers, and had a meeting with the representatives of the pilgrims. In the meanwhile, reportedly by the Oblast Department of the MVS, 436 policemen are securing the public order in Uman. Phrasebooks in English and Hebrew have been printed out for them to simplify the communication with Hasidim. The pilgrims, on the other hand, have received approximately 30,000 copies with the instructions how to behave properly in order not to fall victim to crime. Like previous year, law enforcement officials from Israel will help Ukrainian policemen to come to an understanding with the Hasidim.