More than 20 thousand Hasidic pilgrims have already arrived in Uman: video
19 September 2025 11:56
More than 20,000 Hasidic pilgrims have already arrived in Uman, Cherkasy Oblast, to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Iryna Rybnytska, executive director of the Historical and Cultural Center of Uman, told this in an exclusive commentary to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Every year tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world come to Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. This time we already have more than 20 thousand guests, and their number is growing,” she said.
As of September 19, more than 20,000 Hasidim have already arrived in Uman, mostly from Israel, the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Preparing the city and services for 2025
Authorities and emergency services began preparations several months before the holidays. Meetings were held at the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration and chaired by Viktor Yelensky (DESS) with representatives of key ministries, law enforcement agencies, local authorities, and charitable organizations. Local authorities were checking shelters, establishing cleaning and sanitary control, coordinating public order and parking, and strengthening medical and fire and rescue preparedness.
Additional police patrols, rescuers and medical teams are working in the city. The main task is to ensure order and safety for both pilgrims and local residents.
The executive director of the Historical and Cultural Center of Uman noted that for the third year in a row the foundation has been helping to organize the pilgrimage: from communication with Ukrainian services and providing Hebrew translators to logistics at entry points.
Tourist tax
A new system for paying tourist tax for pilgrims is being launched in Uman. The State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine, in partnership with the Uman City Council, the Uman Historical and Cultural Center Charitable Foundation, Sense Bank, and researchers from Lviv Polytechnic National University SID City Scientific Park, have launched a project for a fast and transparent system for paying tourist tax for pilgrims visiting Uman.
The new system will solve this problem and ensure transparency of budget revenues. From now on, pilgrims will be able to pay the tourist tax in advance through a banking resource via a link on the official website of the Uman City Council. The funds will be transferred directly to the account of Kommunalnyk, which is designated as a tax agent.
After the payment is made, the pilgrim receives a receipt with a QR code, which allows employees of the Municipal Guard to verify the fact of payment of the fee. For convenience, payment is also available on-site through self-service terminals.
According to the decision of the Uman City Council, foreign tourists and pilgrims must pay a tourist tax of 5% of the minimum wage, which is currently UAH 400 per day per person, if they live in residential buildings, annexes, estates, apartments, cottages, rooms or any other temporary accommodation.
Emphasis on safety
This year, the foundation placed a special emphasis on security: four introscopes, which are X-ray baggage scanners used at international airports, were rented. In previous years, the foundation rented only two such devices, so increasing their number will speed up the screening of pilgrims.
The introscopes are located at three entry points for pilgrims to Uman. The systems are operated by specialists at the airports of Odesa, Vinnytsia, and Dnipro. The equipment, also known as X-ray television systems, allows for contactless checking of the contents of luggage and hand luggage, and detection of prohibited items, weapons or explosives.
“We want to make the screening of pilgrims as quick and safe as possible. This relieves tension, reduces queues and increases the comfort of coming to Uman,” explained Rybnytska.
Interpreters and communication
Hebrew interpreters are working in the pilgrimage area to help pilgrims communicate with the police, doctors, the State Emergency Service, and city services.
“Thanks to the American company Plan It Rite, our foundation was able to organize the work of interpreters who speak Hebrew and English,” said Iryna Rybnytska, a representative of the foundation.
According to her, such support allows to quickly resolve all organizational and domestic issues for pilgrims, ensuring safety and comfort during their stay in the city.
In addition, there is a hotline for consultations and solving everyday issues.
Every year, pilgrims come to the city to pray at the grave of Rabbi Nachman, the founder of Bratslav Hasidism. In 2024, about 35 thousand pilgrims visited Uman. This year’s number of guests is expected to be similar or even higher.
In 2025, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of September 22 and will last until the evening of September 24.
According to the Jewish calendar, these are the first and second days of the month of Tishrei, which mark the beginning of the new year 5786.
