HASIDIM
LEAVE UKRAINIAN-BELORUSSIAN BORDER EN MASSE
In the
morning of 18 September, Hasidim began to leave the
Ukrainian-Belorussia border en masse.
Most of
the pilgrims will celebrate the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah)
in Belarus, since the Ukrainian side will not permit the Hasidim
to cross the border in order to visit Uman, where their
spiritual teacher Rebbe Nachman is buried, because of the threat
of a worsening of the epidemiological situation and an increase
in the number of sick from the coronavirus.
On 17
September, the pilgrims from Israel who are on the
Ukrainian-Belorussian border were urged to return home, since
Ukraine will not give permission for the entry of Hasidim, Fakty
reports.
A
corresponding declaration was made by Israeli Minister of Higher
Education Zeev Elkin. He noted that the government of the
country had done all it could in order to obtain for them the
possibility of getting into Ukraine and reaching Uman, but it
received a negative response.
The
Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs recalled that until 28
September, the country has closed its borders for foreigners
because of the coronavirus pandemic, and Hasidic pilgrims are no
exception. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 September 2020)
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