Uman Rosh Hashana
(→Revivos - Kanfi Nesharim) |
(→Derech Tzadikim) |
||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
===Travel Agencies=== | ===Travel Agencies=== | ||
====Derech Tzadikim==== | ====Derech Tzadikim==== | ||
| + | Run by the Gabbi family, also does cross country tours to various Kivray Tzadikim in Ukraine and Europe in general, an industry they helped create through their Ohali Tzadikim organization. | ||
| + | |||
====Revivos - Kanfi Nesharim==== | ====Revivos - Kanfi Nesharim==== | ||
Kanfi Nesharim recently changed their name to Revivos. | Kanfi Nesharim recently changed their name to Revivos. | ||
Revision as of 11:55, 30 September 2012
 | |
| Hebrew: | |
|---|---|
| קיבוץ ברסלב באומן ראש השנה | |
| Other Names | |
| Rosh Hashanah Kibutz, Uman Uman Rosh Hashana, Breslov Rosh Hashana Gathering | |
| Description: | |
| Annual gathering of Breslov Chasidim at the grave of their leader, Rebbe Nachman in the city of Uman, Ukraine for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana. |
An annual pilgrimage of the Breslov Chasidim to the grave of their founder, Rebbe Nachman in Uman, Ukraine during the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Originally the gathering took place during the life of Rebbe Nachman and was then continued by his student Rebbe Nasson after his masters death. In recent years an average of 40,000 Jews attend the gathering each Rosh Hashana.
Contents |
Tickets and Flights
Many people try to take advantage of the visitors to the Rosh Hashana gathering and ticket prices from Israel to Ukraine jump from an average $300 to $750 - $1100 in the days surrounding Rosh Hashana. Prices from other countries do not vary much since there is not enough of an influx. Tickets from the USA average around $1100.
Charters vs. Set Flights
Often the leading travel agencies book charter flights where they control all the seats. These charter flights are often cheaper then set flights but are less reliable, they often are more likely to be subject to delays and mistreatment. Additionally travelers using charter flights do not return via the regular terminals in Odessa and Kiev, instead they are forced to use makeshift tent terminal in back of these airports. There they are often made to wait for long periods in the freezing cold and are subject to much mistreatment. Some chasidim prefer to use the charter flights since they do not allow women on them and make it easier for them to guard their eyes from immodesty.
Airports
Kiev and Odessa are the two main airports used to travel to Uman, both are 3.5 to 4 hours away. Recently flights started arriving in the new Vinnitsa, which is only 2 hours away, and are increasing by the year. Transportation from the airports to Uman is either via private Ukrainian drivers or through vans, organized by Uman Express and Euro Pnim. In early years most visitors who could not afford the private taxis would travel in large buses organized by the travel agencies. Use of buses has greatly decreased since the innovation of the faster and more efficient vans.
Free and Discounted Tickets
Travel Agencies
Derech Tzadikim
Run by the Gabbi family, also does cross country tours to various Kivray Tzadikim in Ukraine and Europe in general, an industry they helped create through their Ohali Tzadikim organization.
Revivos - Kanfi Nesharim
Kanfi Nesharim recently changed their name to Revivos.
Nachali Eytanim
Nachlay Atanim is run by Shuvu Banim, sometimes they offer discounted and subsidized tickets but are not reliable and sometimes cancel a little before Rosh Hashana.
Self Booked Tickets
Some people prefer to avoid the Charadi travel agencies and prefer to book tickets via the internet or regular travel agents. This opens up many more options including stopovers in Egypt, Poland, Romania and Turkey which and drastically lower the overpriced fares.
Kohanim
There is a long on going debate of whether Cohanim are allowed to visit the graves of Tzadikim since they do not carry impurity. Some people say it is permitted, others say it is a Biblical transgression for Kohanim to do so. This is further complicated in situation like the Kever of Rebbe Nachman that is located in middle of a cemetery, surrounded by many other graves of which many are not Tzadikim. Yet there were many Kohanim that still would visit the Tziyon itself, causing controversy.
Initially a small ramp was built for kohanim which led to a small room in back of the Tziyun using Halachic technology to prevent the transfer of impurity, this allowed Kohanim to get relatively close to the Tziyon with out any worries. Recently the old ramp was removed allowing for the expansion of the Nanach minyan behind the Tziyun. In its place a large bridge was built from the entrants of the Gabbi Mikvah to center of the outside half of the Tziyun. A large split was then created in the roof of the outside part of the Tziyun running across its entire length, Halachicly separating 80% of the room and making it permissible for use by Cohanim.
Kivrei Tzadikim
Many visitor to Uman often try to visit other Kivrei Tzadikim during their trip to the Ukraine. Locally they visit the Kevraim of Rabbi Shimshon Barskey and Rabbi Avraham Chazan. Often visitors will travel to Rebbe Nasson, the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev and return to Uman, a route that takes 18 hours. Some visitors will only go to part of the three or do it on their way to or from the Kiev or Vinnitsa airports to save time.
New Jewish Cemetery
The entire area around the Rebbe Nachman's Kever is the 'Old Cemetery'. On the bottom of the hill a little past the lake on the right side of the road is the 'New Jewish Cemetery'. This cemetery was almost completely razed during WWII and the following communist reign. It now appears like an empty field. Based on the testimonies of elderly locals the approximate locations of the graves of Rabbi Shimshon Barsky and Rabbi Avraham ben Nachman Chazan were established and Matzavous were erected. Also buried in this cemetery are Rabbi Elyakim Getzel, Rabbi Naftali a main disciple of Rebbe Nachman, Rabbi Nachman Chaylus a grandson of Rabbi Nachman, Rabbi Yosef Yonah the youngest son of Rebbe Nasson and Rabbi Nachman Tulshiner one of Rebbe Nasson's main students. A memorial was also built for the 3,000 Jews that were murdered by locals during 1919 and buried in the cemetery in a mass grave.
House of Rebbe Nachman
Also visited is the house where Rabbi Nachman passed away, which is still standing in its original condition.
Breslev
Rebbe Nasson of Nimirov is buried in the city of Breslov which is around and hour and a half away from Uman.
Mezibuz
Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov is buried in Mezibuz around 3 hours away from Uman along with his grandchildren and other tzadikim. Visitors to Mezibuz often stop by in the old Bais Medrash of the Baal Shem Tov as well.
Berditchev
Kever Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev is located around 3 hours away from Uman.
Other Kevarim
There are dozens of other kevray tazadikim and Jewish cemeteries throughout Ukrainian. Ohalei Tzadikim, an organization run by Yisroel Meir Gabbai attempts to prevent the destruction and maintain upkeep of these locations. They publish a book and map with the location of these various kevarim.
- Uman Rosh Hashana Photo Gallery
Group of Breslov Yeshiva students on the way to Uman.
Minyon in Keiv tent terminal.
Checkin at Ben Gurion.
Passing through Ben Gurion.
