Ukraine OKs Uman pilgrimage for vaccinated arrivals
The announcement follows fears that Ukraine would ban the pilgrimage for a second year due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Ukraine will allow vaccinated pilgrims to arrive in Uman ahead of the annual Rosh Hashanah celebration there, authorities said.
The announcement, which comes amid a major increase in infections in Israel, the home of most of the pilgrims, follows fears that Ukraine would ban the pilgrimage for a second year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Currently, the epidemiological situation in Ukraine, high levels of vaccination coverage in the world and timely preparation for this celebration, allows to receive pilgrims,” Deputy Health Minister Dr. Igor Kuzin said in a statement earlier this week.
Before the pandemic, about 30,000 participated in the pilgrimage each year to the gravesite of Rabbi Nachman, an 18th-century Jewish luminary whose teachings are followed especially by the Breslov Hasidic community.
Last year, both Israel and Ukraine put in place measures that prevented the pilgrimage for most participants. Yet some Breslovers attempted to circumvent the bans and measures, convening in the hundreds on the border with Belarus.
Under the current measures in Israel, its citizens may travel to Ukraine but must self-isolate for two weeks upon returning. Self-isolation in Ukraine is not required for travellers who undergo a COVID test that comes out negative.
Ukrainian health authorities have launched a concentrated vaccination effort in Uman, focusing on service providers and health professionals in preparation for the pilgrimage, which will culminate on Rosh Hashanah, on Sept 6-8.
Ukrainian police are patrolling Uman to ensure pilgrims adhere to social distancing measures.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
