The annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews to the Ukrainian town of Uman, located 200 kilometers south of Kyiv, has been canceled over coronavirus concerns. Uman Mayor Oleksandr Tsebriy announced the decision in a post on Facebook.
“The common opinion is that the arrival of tens of thousands of Hasidic pilgrims to Uman to conduct the celebration in the traditional format is impossible,” Tsebriy wrote.
Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Joel Lion has also called on Hasidim to not travel to Uman during the pandemic.
Uman is the site of the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, one of the most important figures in Hasidism. An ascetic and scholarly man, he taught about the importance of becoming a “tzaddik,” who can redeem lost souls and who is dedicated to prayer. His sermons form the basis of the Breslov branch of Hasidism. Thousands of pilgrims travel to Uman during the Jewish New Year, called Rosh Hashanah, to pay respects to the rabbi.
The event is no stranger to controversy. The celebrations bring in Jews from all over the world, who speak many different languages and who belong to different religious sects and cultures. In 2016, writer Natan Odenheimer described the event as “Jewish anarchy,” a mix of religious reverence and all-night partying.
“Inside, despite the traditional spirit, a pluralistic ‘everything goes’ kind of atmosphere prevailed. Those who wanted to smoke, even weed, were welcome, and the alcohol kept pouring. Even not wearing a kippa was okay,” he wrote.
Concerns over the transmission of COVID-19 may be well-merited. In 2019, the New York Times reported that a deadly outbreak of measles that led to a state of emergency in New York’s Rockland County had in fact originated from pilgrims returning from the Rosh Hashanah celebrations in Ukraine.
Faced with the coronavirus pandemic, many religious communities have been forced to adapt. In France, Christian communities are being instructed to conduct a “virtual pilgrimage” to the Sanctuary of Lourdes. In Saudi Arabia, pilgrims are barred from entry to the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat without special legal permits.
