On Rosh Hashanah in Uman, 30-35 thousand Hasidim are expected, the city is preparing for the celebration, the mayor reported.

This year, Uman expects about 30-35 thousand Hasidic pilgrims for the celebration of the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah. The process of the arrival of the Hasidim has already begun, as reported by the city’s mayor, Irina Pletneva, on September 4, 2025.

The number of expected pilgrims is a matter of forecasts.

Pletneva noted that although 30-35 thousand are officially recorded, community representatives claim a possible number of up to 50 thousand. However, based on past years’ experience, the actual number is usually the specified amount. The city is now actively preparing for the increase in visitors: meetings are being held, and areas and accommodations are being checked.

From September 15, the police will begin operations, conducting inspections. The mayor reported that the first groups of Hasidim have already been observed, with the maximum arrival expected after September 17. An important aspect remains the tourist tax. Pletneva explained that pilgrims are obliged to pay it, although this issue has been observed for several years. The accommodations for the pilgrims are premises that cannot always be classified as hotels. There are agreements with a rabbi-led fund calling for compliance with these obligations. Nevertheless, the current analysis shows no significant revenue from this tax.

Historically, Hasidim are followers of a mystical direction in Judaism that emerged in the 18th century in Ukraine. The founder of this movement was Baal Shem Tov, who grew up in a poor family in the village of Okopy, in the southern part of the Ternopil region. Every year they gather in Uman to pray at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the founder of Breslov Hasidism, with the intention of achieving spiritual purification.

The Hasidic New Year will begin on the evening of September 22 and will continue until the evening of September 24, marking the approach of the year 5786 according to the Jewish calendar.

On August 31, reports of a possible pilgrimage ban appeared in Israeli media, but Ukrainian officials requested to discuss this situation anonymously, emphasizing growing concerns about support from Israel amid Russian aggression. Subsequently, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied information about a ban on the arrival of Hasidim.

Read more at – NANews Israel News