Over 35,000 Hasidic Pilgrims Cross Ukrainian Borders to Celebrate Rosh Hashanah in Uman
Uman, a city in Cherkasy region, has become a surprising hub for the annually celebrated Jewish New Year—Rosh Hashanah—as thousands of Hasidic pilgrims from around the world arrive there.
According to Andriy Demchenko, a colonel and spokesman for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, more than 35,000 Hasidic worshippers have already crossed Ukrainian borders to participate in the festivities in this historic city.
The influx of pilgrims has been ongoing for several weeks, with the highest surge in arrivals recorded over the past five days.
This flow of faithful is not limited solely to Ukraine’s borders—Hasidic groups actively cross borders with the European Union countries and Moldova, creating a significant cross-national movement.
Demchenko highlighted that most pilgrims are organized into groups, though some experienced refusal of entry due to passport issues or previous violations of Ukrainian law.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged pilgrims to consider that the safety guarantees for foreign visitors during this period are currently uncertain.
It is also known that approximately 40,000 Hasidic followers come to Uman for Rosh Hashanah annually.
The history of this large-scale pilgrimage and Ukraine’s role as a center of Hasidism in Eastern Europe has been a subject of profound academic interest and cultural analysis.