DESS announces “world’s largest pilgrimage of Jews”

Hasidim in Uman. Photo: telegraf

Ukraine is preparing to host at least 45,000 pilgrims for the celebration of Rosh Hashanah in Uman from September 18 to 24, according to the DESS website. Despite martial law and restrictions on mass events, the authorities are ready to receive this vast number of Jews.

The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience stated that Uman will become the site of the largest pilgrimage of Jews in the world outside Israel.

On August 12, 2025, under the chairmanship of DESS head Viktor Yelensky, a meeting was held with representatives of the relevant ministries, agencies, other state authorities, and local governments to ensure the organization of the pilgrimage and the safety of pilgrims.

The event was attended by representatives of all key ministries and state services: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Culture, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service, the State Customs Service, as well as the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration, Uman mayor Iryna Pletneva, and other responsible officials.

Nathan Ben-Nun, Executive Director of the International Rabbi Nachman of Breslov Foundation, noted that around 45,000 pilgrims are expected to arrive in Uman this year.

Uman mayor Iryna Pletneva confirmed the city’s readiness to receive the pilgrims but stressed that the threats posed by Russian military aggression create significant challenges for the local authorities.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in 2024, Netanyahu asked Zelensky to facilitate the arrival of Hasidim in Uman.

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