Who goes to Uman for Rosh Hashanah? IDI releases new poll as holiday approaches

Uman, a city in central Ukraine, is the burial site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement.

Eight percent of adult Jewish Israelis have visited the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov at least once in their lives, according to data collected by the Israel Democracy Institute throughout July and August 2026. The data, summarized in a Wednesday report, is part of a study that will be published by IDI in the coming months and edited by Ariel Finkelstein, Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, and Ya’ari Padan.

Uman is a pilgrimage site that is visited by thousands of religious Israeli Jews annually, despite the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia and safety concerns pertaining to travel in the country.

Breslov hasidim traditionally spend Rosh Hashanah at the grave of Rabbi Nahman of Breslov, something that has not changed in the last couple of years since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on Friday, September 11.

Tens of thousands of Israelis travel annually to Uman for Rosh Hashana

Israeli pilgrims make up the largest group attending Uman for Rosh Hashanah. Numbers have grown dramatically since the 1990s, with tens of thousands traveling annually. Many travel through organized groups that handle visas, accommodation, and logistics, often coordinating with Ukrainian authorities and local volunteers for safety and support.

Of those who have visited already, nearly half of Israelis polled in the summer of 2026 say they return to Uman once every few years, while another 22.5% say they visit at least once a year.

The report also noted that 13% of Mizrahi Jews have visited Uman compared to only 5% of Ashkenazi Jews and 4% of those with mixed ethnic backgrounds.

Among women who have visited Uman, only 23% have visited the tomb of Rabbi Nachman during Rosh Hashanah, while the remainder have visited at other times of the year, according to the IDI report.

Deleted IDF video instructed haredi draft evaders how to avoid Ben-Gurion checks

An official IDF social media channel in August published a video advising haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft evaders how to avoid arrest at Ben-Gurion Airport.

The video was later deleted after Army Radio reported it and the station asked the IDF about it.

In practical terms, the video tells haredi men facing a departure restriction to report to the recruitment office before traveling to Uman, allowing them to avoid detention at Ben-Gurion Airport.

It is unclear whether the IDF has a mechanism to prevent someone from reporting for the initial summons, avoiding a departure restriction, traveling to Uman, and then failing to complete the subsequent enlistment process upon returning to Israel.