Thousands of Jewish pilgrims gather in small Ukrainian town to celebrate the beginning of the new Ju

(4 Oct 2024)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4523138

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uman, Ukraine - 3 October 2024
1. Various of Jewish pilgrims singing
2. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Zoia Vovk, Cherkasy regional police spokesperson:
++PART OVERLAID BY SHOTS 1, 3 & 5++
“Israeli police officers arrived to Uman this year. 16 Israeli police officers who help Ukrainian police to work and perform similar functions our policemen perform. We are talking about preventive actions and enforcing safety and order. Apart from that, Israeli policemen also help to conduct communication with pilgrims, pass information from Ukrainian police to the pilgrims, in Hebrew or English language. In other words, in a language spoken by a particular pilgrim. This includes informing them about the curfew, the air alerts, showing where the shelters are, and where the pilgrims have to go. We also conduct informational work in the area of pilgrimage together with rescuers, emergency services, and the national guard. We spread brochures in Hebrew that show the locations of the nearest shelters and where pilgrims should go during an air alert.”
3. Various of Jewish pilgrims walking to lake
4. Various of Jewish pilgrims praying near lake
5. Various of Jewish pilgrims dancing in circle holding hands
STORYLINE:
Cheerful singing, chanting of prayers, and sounds of hollow ram horns filled the central Ukraine city of Uman, where thousands of Jewish pilgrims gathered to celebrate the beginning of the new Judaic year.

This year's celebration of Rosh Hashanah brought 35,000 pilgrims from around the globe to the small town in Cherkasy region, local authorities told The Associated Press.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian embassy in Israel and Israeli ambassador to Ukraine called pilgrims to restrain from visiting Ukraine due to security threats posed by Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Despite the official warnings, the number of pilgrims this year matched the previous year’s figure.

For the two days of Rosh Hashanah celebration on Thursday and Friday, the center of the city was covered with signs and adverts in Hebrew, making it easy to forget the festivity was taking place in a small Ukrainian town.

The only non-Jewish people that can be seen in the area at this time are Ukrainian police officers, rescuers, firefighters and merchants.

To ensure order, Cherkasy regional authorities restricted the sale of alcohol and fireworks.

Visitors are also obligated to follow the curfew, remaining indoors between midnight and 4:00 AM in the morning.

AP video by Alex Babenko

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[LoryLavene]

This behavior sparks a strong sense of disgust in me.

[JulieProia]

This was their plan all along, Ukraine was their "getaway car" if they lost Israel

[Mike-jsdb]

The front-line Ukraine men are fighting, and the country is directly occupied by the Jews in the back, from protecting Ukraine to protecting the Jews, hahahaha

[Tod_x]

when you give a plot of land to Jewish, they'll bring their relatives from their 10th cousin and demand more

[ava-zor]

Ukraine is repeating Palestine’s mistakes.

[PolidoraBauers]

This disregard makes me feel both angry and helpless.

[hyltoniali]

Zele’s a judan, but more of a joke in cost of Ukrainian men & people who are refuging

[hastingz]

welcome jewelry settlers to the new Palestine.