Preparing for Rosh Hashanah in Uman: The Ukrainian government's message to Israel

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Religious Services Yariv Levin spoke this evening (Tuesday) with the Ukrainian Minister of Religious Affairs Viktor Yelensky, as part of the preparations for the expected arrival of tens of thousands of worshipers in Uman for Rosh Hashanah. The conversation was also attended by the Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services Yehuda Avidan and Nachman Steinberg, representative of the World Zionist Organization in Ukraine.

The conversation took place as part of the preparations by professional authorities for the expected arrival of tens of thousands of worshipers for Rosh Hashanah prayers at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine.

Minister Levin opened the conversation by expressing appreciation to the government of Ukraine and Minister Yelensky for the cooperation in providing a response for the arrival of the masses to the holy site, while dealing with the complexities on the ground. Ukraine, which is in a harsh and threatening war reality, finds itself this year facing the challenge of absorbing tens of thousands of worshipers seeking to visit the holy grave in Uman.

Levin asked his colleague to act and do everything in his power to ensure the arrival and safety of the tens of thousands of worshipers. Minister Yelensky noted the commitment of the authorities in Ukraine to ensure the safety of the visitors, despite the complex security challenges in the country.

Minister Yelensky expressed deep solidarity with the stance of the Israeli government in its war against the Iranian enemy, and emphasized:

"The Iranian danger is a global threat that unites all Western countries on one front."

During the conversation, the parties also discussed the importance of strengthening ties between heritage sites and holy places for the Jewish people in Ukraine, including the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the grave of the Baal Shem Tov in Medzhybizh, the grave of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi in Hadiach, and the grave of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev, and Jerusalem.

Minister Yelensky emphasized the appreciation that the government of Ukraine has for Jerusalem, and concluded the conversation with mutual wishes for the new year.

Minister Levin thanked his counterpart Minister Yelensky, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Ukrainian people, and wished them a good and blessed year.