Hasidic pilgrimage to Uman may turn into a raid on draft dodgers, media

Illustrative photo: Avi Dishi/Flash90

Military observer of the Israeli Channel 12 Nir Dvori reported that the army is preparing a large-scale operation at Ben Gurion Airport to detain yeshiva students (current and former students of Jewish religious schools) who are evading military service. As reported by the news.israelinfo website, this year’s pilgrimage to Uman will be a major challenge for Hasidic Jews.

"Not everyone will be able to fly to countries neighboring Ukraine to reach the grave of Rabbi Nachman. Many will instead have to go to the army — or to prison," comments the media.

It is reported that a large contingent of military police will be deployed in the departure hall, and "those departing will witness heart-wrenching scenes of the detention of pilgrim evaders."

Those who have not yet passed 540 days since the issuance of the mobilization order, as noted in the publication, will be taken to recruitment centers. For those who have passed, the final destination of their journey will be prison.

According to Dvori, those who break through the border will face the same procedure in the arrival hall: they will be caught at passport control and filtered according to the above principle.

This year, about 40,000 Hasidim planned to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. There are already cancellations among those who fear detention. 

As reported by the UOJ, Israel has begun large-scale preparations for the Hasidic pilgrimage to Uman.

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