Dozens Of Breslov Chasidim Classified As Draft Evaders Detained After Trying To Reach Uman

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Dozens of Breslov Hasidim classified by the Israel Defense Forces as draft evaders or otherwise subject to military enlistment orders have been detained at Ben-Gurion Airport and Israeli border crossings as authorities step up efforts to prevent them from leaving the country ahead of the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine.

The intensified enforcement campaign comes as tens of thousands of Breslov Hasidim prepare to travel to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman for Rosh Hashanah, which this year falls on September 11-13.

Security personnel from the Israel Airports Authority, working with the Population and Immigration Authority, police and Military Police, have been screening travelers for outstanding military orders and travel restrictions. Several charedi men classified as draft evaders or subject to enlistment orders were detained after attempting to board flights from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at Ben-Gurion Airport.

 Israel Hayom reported earlier this month that dozens of Breslov draft evaders had been detained while attempting to reach Uman.

The arrests are part of a broader enforcement effort in which additional military and enlistment personnel have been deployed at border crossings during the period leading up to the pilgrimage. A similar crackdown last year resulted in more than 100 charedi men being caught in an enforcement campaign while attempting to leave Israel for Uman.

Some draft-eligible men have reportedly sought alternative ways out of Israel, including attempting to cross into Egypt through the Taba border crossing and then continue by air to Europe before traveling onward to Ukraine. Reports indicate that some of those attempting such routes were also stopped.

The increased enforcement has made it considerably more difficult for those under travel restrictions to circumvent the controls. The Taba crossing, officially known as the Menachem Begin Border Crossing, is Israel’s principal land crossing into the Sinai Peninsula.

The current tensions intensified after authorities introduced changes to the way travelers are screened electronically at Ben-Gurion Airport. Under the strengthened system, travelers with relevant military status or court and military orders can be flagged at an earlier stage of the departure process, including during check-in, rather than only at the final border-control stage.

The changes have generated anger among some Breslov groups, who view the restrictions as an attempt to prevent them from fulfilling their tradition of spending Rosh Hashanah at Rabbi Nachman’s tomb.

At the same time, recent reports have revealed that the system has not been completely foolproof. Investigations by Israeli media found alleged loopholes through which some charedi men subject to departure bans nevertheless managed to pass airport controls and board flights.

The new enforcement procedures have also sparked several demonstrations by Breslov Hasidim at Ben-Gurion Airport. During one major protest in Terminal 3, demonstrators chanted “To Uman, not to the army” and protested what they described as the denial of their freedom of movement. Some protesters subsequently attempted to block access roads around the airport before police arrived.

The demonstrations have turned the airport into an increasingly prominent flashpoint in the broader confrontation over Haredi enlistment and the government’s efforts to enforce military service obligations following the collapse of the previous legal framework governing blanket exemptions for yeshiva students.

The controversy has also produced an unusual response from senior Breslov rabbis. In a recording released in recent days, prominent rabbis within the Breslov community urged men classified as draft evaders not to report to military recruitment offices or agree to enlist merely to have their travel restrictions lifted and be able to fly to Uman.

According to Ynet, some draft evaders had considered reporting to recruitment offices and indicating that they were willing to proceed with enlistment in order to have their departure bans removed, with the intention of traveling to Uman and subsequently refusing to continue the enlistment process. Senior Breslov rabbis reportedly opposed that approach, saying that those unwilling to enlist should not do so merely for the sake of making the trip.

The issue has become sufficiently serious that Breslov leaders have also been discussing alternatives for those who will be unable to leave Israel. Organizers have begun preparing for a larger Rosh Hashanah gathering in Meron, including accommodation, prayer and meal facilities for Hasidim who remain in Israel.