"Shalom, Orthodox Christians!": Security measures will be stepped up in the Vinnytsia region in connection with the arrival of Hasidic pilgrims for Rosh Hashanah

Authorities in the Vinnytsia region held a coordination meeting focused on ensuring the safe transit of more than 30,000 Jewish pilgrims traveling to Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Regional authorities and law enforcement agencies have developed an action plan to ensure the orderly passage of the pilgrims from September 6 through 13. This was reported by the Department for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration.

Logistical issues were discussed during the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the National Police, the Border Guard Service, and the Jewish community. The main flow of pilgrims is expected to arrive via checkpoints in the Mohyliv-Podilskyi district, traveling from airports in Romania and Moldova, as well as by rail through Poland. Particular attention is being paid to compliance with martial law, including the curfew and controls on the transport of prohibited items.

Yulia Mandryka, acting head of the regional Department for Ethnic and Religious Affairs, emphasized that under the current circumstances, security is the top priority. For his part, Nathan Bennun, president of the Rabbi Nachman Foundation, expressed his gratitude to the regional authorities and assured them that community representatives would make every effort to ensure that pilgrims strictly adhere to the established safety rules.

As a reminder, it was previously announced that the traditional annual religious procession, which was scheduled to begin on August 19 from the Holy Trinity Brailov Women’s Monastery to the Dormition Pochaiv Lavra, , will not take place this year. The decision to cancel the event was made due to the martial law in effect and a corresponding order from the Vinnytsia Regional Administration.