The pilgrims, already stuck for a few days in transit, have started contacting various MKs and Ministers pleading for assistance, asking for Israeli intervention at the borders with the Romanian authorities... Some have said they are trying to help (though in practice, maybe they are, maybe they arent), while others have been less than helpful saying you were told in advance not to go, there is a war, flights have been canceled by almost all the airlines, there is no way for me to help.

I don't really feel bad for them. This is what they felt they need to do with their dedication to the Uman cause, isnt it? It is all a test to see if they are really dedicated to going to Uman? They need to overcome all challenges and tests and do it anyway - so this is that. There are literally almost no flights to Israel nowadays, besides for all the other travel difficulties, yet they went anyway knowing that.

That being said, if people are in a position of power and are in a position to help, they definitely should. The Breslavers dont need to be punished for their stupidity and left to rot in Romania just because they didnt listen to the travel advisories and pay attention to the war situation. If government officials can work things out with the Romanian authorities and help get them out, they should. It might even require an emergency airlift. I kind of feel saving them is not fair to many other people. People have been stranded all over the world due to canceled flights and Israel did not do anything to help them, leaving them to scramble on their own and pay lots of money to find ways home, but these people who went against all warnings and knowing the current situation should be rescued?

Despite all that, if Israeli officials are in a position to help work things out, they should.

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(source: N12)

I am not quite sure what the Israeli police can do against possible incoming rockets from the Russians and how 20 officers will protect the tens of thousands of pilgrims, but Zelenskiyy said he can't offer any security, so Israel decided to send some police. Uman is no longer defenseless! 20 Israeli policemen will protect them!

Ukraine has all their defense systems protecting the major cities, leaving the small cities and hamlets defenseless. I think the Breslav organizations and Meir Porush should protest in the United Nations and in other international bodies that Ukraine does not consider Uman a large and important city worthy of protection and defense.

  -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

after passing some sort of funding for travel to Uman, PM Netanyahu warned, similarly to Minister Orit Struk, that it is not safe to travel there right now. I don't know how he voted but I am guessing he voted in favor - if he opposed it the package would not have passed.

This statement seems to be causing a bit of a coalition crisis with the Haredi members angered at his statement that God did not always protect us in Europe... probably nothing will come of it other than Netanyahu being pressured to issue a retraction or clarification...

Struk says that at a time when Ukraine is at war with missile attacks, with no shelters or reasonable preparation for protection and safety in no way can it appear as if the government of Israel supports and encourages this dangerous trip. She then pleads with people to not endanger their lives, to not go, there are enough other places to go and daven...

Honestly, I am shocked the government of Israel funds this. I never knew that before. I dont know if it is a new thing or if it is something that has been done in the past as well. I dont know why they should fund a trip abroad for people who think it is important. Can they fund my vacation, to wherever I decide to go? What about if I daven at a kever while there? Maybe the USA or Dubai or a trip to Eastern Europe. I asked in response to her tweet but have not yet received an answer, and dont really expect one.

I thought for a moment that Israel funds March of the Living and probably some other trips abroad for things so why not this. Those however are the national interest, holocaust memorials, a large part of the impetus for the foundation of the State, and definitely for the international support for it. A trip to Uman seems very sectorial and a narrow segment, even if it is a big crowd...

I would not even be surprised if Minister Porush is behind this as another way to help his buddy Berland...

I should add, I did see some people comparing it to trips to kever yosef - will she call on people to stop going to kever yosef considering the danger always present? I am not sure it is the same. In Uman, the Ukranian governemnt is saying dont come, it is dangerous, we are at awar, we cant protect you. In kever yosef the IDF secures the trips and they are part of the original Oslo agreements (as far as I know) and as long as the IDf says they can secure it and ensure safety, it is ok. There are times where they cancel planned trips to kever yosef and other such locations because of known dangers.

While often they use their political dogheadedness for good, or at least for advancing their agendas, sometimes it can be upsetting and frustrating.

Like how Minister Meir Porush has in recent years taken it upon himself to help Eliezer Berland, the rapist, thug, criminal from Breslav in various ways. He ensured that berland would get to light and lead a bonfire for his followers in Meron on Lag B'Omer when in general the lighting were being limited. In recent years Porush has helped Berland get permission to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashana, despite having travel restrictions on his passport due to being convicted for violent crimes. And now once again Meir Porush is stepping up to the plate for Berland. 

It turns out Berland is on a no fly list in Ukraine, due to his crimes and convictions. He was given a black passport. Ukraine does not want him there. Porush is stepping up and trying to use his influence to get Berland special permission from Ukraine to travel for Rosh Hashana to Uman. He has so far spoke to the Ukranian Ambassador, but supposedly the Ambassaor said that to make such an exception the Israeli government would have send an official request which it did not do. And I guess it won't because Porush is looking for other ways instead of getting the government to issue a letter. At least some of the other ministers are not willing to help Berland.

So now that the Ambassador protexia route did not pan out, Porush is petitioning the Ukranian courts to get permission for Berland. We'll see how that pans out.

If anything Porush should at least get him permission to go but then not let him return. Leave him stranded outside of Israel. But we know that won't happen.

This is the bad and frustrating side of the Porushes. they dont care what anyone else has to say, so they are willing to even help an evil person like Berland if it behooves them. 

When Litmzan helped Malka Leifer evade trial for a long time, eventually he was indicted for it (among other things) and then resigned for politics. I don't know if he is getting something in return for helping Berland or if he is just playing to his constituents but I hope one day he is made to pay for helping such a criminal.

It looks like a new issue just came up that might run all the work he put in...

According to Hamechadesh, based on the Kiev Post, President Zelenskiyy is considering canceling the visa arangement with Israel that allows Israeli travelers (and Ukranian in the other direction) to travel to Ukraine without first applying for a visa. According to Zelenskiyy, Israel has not helped Ukraine at all in this war with Russia and has, additionally, been too pro-Russia.

Additionally, according to the report, Ukraine suspects Israel of leaking information to Russia from their RAMSTEN meetings, which is an alliance of 54 countries that meet monthly to discuss and coordinate aid to Ukraine. Israel might already have leaked information or they might leak information in the future. Whatever it is, Ukraine seems to be a bit upset at Israel and might take it out by canceling the visa travel arrangement.

It is hard to believe they will cancel it so quickly, quick enough to make trouble for the Breslovers about to embark on their holiday trip in just about a month from now, but with Zelenskiyy one never knows. He can turn on a dime if he thinks it might get Ukraine more military aid. This situation could get interesting very quickly

I dont know why or how they approved it, considering who he is, what he has been in jail for, and what he is still under investigation for. And that is before we even consider that Israel is warning citizens to not go to Uman this year.

The only logic that makes sense to me is that they are letting him go and hoping for a Russian attack on the city while he is there so that he will no longer be our problem.

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I think the same now, with the war in Ukraine.

The PMO, Prime Minister's Office, tried to bring in the heads of the Haredi parties for a consultation to determine policy on travel to Ukraine. It ended up not happening because the Haredi MKs decided there was no point, largely because Breslavers would not listen to them anyway.

In my opinion, Israel can publicize its opinion that people should not travel to the Ukraine, it is unsafe, etc. Whatever they want to say. But anything beyond that is the decision of the pilgrims themselves and the Ukranian government. Every potential pilgrim can decide for himself if he wants to go despite the risks or not. And more importantly the Ukranian government can decide if it wants to let foreign travelers in or not. Israel should not be a part of this situation, except to issue a travel advisory.

Because of the war with Russia, the entire issue is a big question mark. Some in Ukraine have said the pilgrimage wont be allowed this year due to the danger of the war and Ukraine cant take responsibility for having people come into their danger zone, while others have said that region is relatively quiet (even though there was a recent attack in the area) so the pilgrimage will be fine.

According to the report, the Ukranians are saying that if they agree to allow it, it will only be allowed if Israel takes full responsibility for the event, including local security with Israeli police. honestly this sounds weird to me. I get the idea of overall responsibility for Israeli citizens (and Jews from elsewhere somehow represented symbolically by Israel) traveling into a war zone with danger, but they want Israel to send in the police forces and operate on Ukranian soil? That's just weird. Besides for the fact that the Israeli police are barely able to keep things under control in Israel, they want the police to travel to another country and keep things under control there, where they might not even have full authority? 

Either way, it seems funny and ironic that it is Yair Lapid, the big hater of Haredim and lousy prime minister (sarcasm to be noted), who it seems likely will make arrangements for the Breslavers to go to Uman while Netanyahu as PM didnt do anything to help them when Ukraine said no during Covid times... and Ukraine said no when the Israeli officials told it to...

There is a war going on, but that part of the country is supposedly somewhat quieter than some other parts. A little while back Ukranian authorities said Uman would almost definitely be closed this year on Rosh Hashana because of the war and Breslav pilgrims would not be let in - unless the situation changes drastically by the time the holidays roll in.

The Breslavers in general were not happy, and while waiting for better news and maybe a change in the status of the war, they did express belief that Rebbe Nachman would end the war in time for them to travel to an open Uman, but they said they would go anyway and people would find their way in, by hook or by crook.

Now Ukranian authorities, including the mayor of Uman, have said again that Uman will be closed to visitors, there is no way they can allow people in for the holiday. People might think it is ok and be willing to take the risk, but they dont have enough bomb shelters and other resources necessary to keep people safe, and they have to take responsibility because if something should happen with all those visitors, they would be held responsible. 

In general there is disappointment and anger, and some disbelief with many still think Rebbe Nachman will save the situation at the last minute. I am hearing from some Breslavers, and maybe this is the general attitude, that they will find ways to get in despite the ban. They point to Corona when Uman was closed and they got in anyway, but back then only a few slipped through and got in while most were stuck at the border in Belarus (and in other countries)..

I dont know what will happen, but I watch with curiosity. I know the Breslavers will try, but whether they succeed in getting in or not remains the question. Will Rebbe Nachman come through at the last minute?

The Breslav community in Uman is sheltering local residents in the mikva under the "kloyz"

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the investigation has been cancelled because the investigators realized, as many of the Breslavers have been claiming all along, that the local PCR tests in Ukraine had been negative, and the tests upon landing in Ben Gurion airport had been negative for them, while only the MDA, Magen David Adom, tests in Ukraine had been positive. The investigators decided based on the official information they confirmed that there was no fraud and the problem was with MDA testing, not with the Breslavers and any possible fraud. The investigation is closed. The Breslavers returning from Uman did no wrong.

That's great news.

Now I hope they open an investigation into MDA. What was faulty in their testing? With MDA doing a lot of the testing within Israel are there also a lot of false positives and the numbers are totally wrong and unreliable or was the system used in Ukraine different in some way? Was there any intention by MDA to make the Breslavers look bad or was this all innocent? I don't know any of the answers to these questions, but if the government found it necessary to launch an investigation into 150-200 possible fraudulent tests, that should be enough to launch an investigation into MDA now that they have been found to be the source of the problem.

the big item in the news right now is that hundreds of people returning from Uman have allegedly forged PCR test results, and many are actually positive. MDA claims 13.5% have tested positive, while Breslav spokespeople say that is not true, though I don't know how they can know if someone is positive or negative and if MDA is right or wrong without testing the same people or at least a similar sampling, with other testing systems. They might be smart but I doubt they have the power to just look at someone and determine if he is positive or negative. 

Besides for the issue of positives, news media are claiming that many of the Breslavers have forged test results. First, that s not surprising as people all over the place are faking tests for travel and for green passport, along with faking green passports (no, I have no numbers but I have heard a lot of anecdotal talk about this). Second, it is not surprising as many of them do not believe Corona is a real thing anyway.

the thing is, the Breslavers could or should have learned from the prison break terrorists the other day and just used a spoon to dig their way out of the airport without getting tested. then the story would be silenced and the police would try to just make it go away because of the egg on their faces.

Of course people are all huffy about this requirement saying that on other flights vaccinated/recovered people do not need to get tested before flying.

I dont know what the current rules are for travel to any specific place but back at the end of June and early July  to travel to the USA I had to take a negative PCR test within 72 hours of my flight to the USA. Despite being vaccinated. So people should just stop complaining, go do what they need to do and go where they want to go. yes, these are the rules and many people have to do seemingly unnecessary or unhelpful procedures to travel to where they want or need to go right now. They make rules and the rules apply across the board even if they do not always make sense. Especially now when vaccinated people are also catching the CoronaVirus, even if not getting seriously ill - they will still spread it. With a lot of Uman pilgrims likely not vaccinated, that could spell danger without testing.

That being said, the most egregious aspect of this, I think, is that this decision is being made last minute. There is hardly any travel time left to go to Uman. Rosh Hashana is Monday night. there are only a few travel days left. Anyone wanting to go to Uman that has not yet gone will have to get tested either today or tomorrow, to get results back in time for the trip, and anyone traveling today or tomorrow likely wont be able to get the results back fast enough. Most Uman pilgrims are likely already there, as it is already fairly close to Rosh Hashana, so this new rule will only affect a relatively small percentage of the pilgrims. Making these decisions last minute just makes it harder for people to plan, harder for people to follow the rules, and harder for people to willingly comply. Had the decision been made a week or two ago, maybe people would be grumbling less.

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