''On the Way to the Nation': A New Technological System Launched to Maintain Order at Ukraine's Borders

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the closure of the country's skies to flights, Hasidim traveling to the Zion of Rabbi Nachman in Uman for Rosh Hashanah have been forced to make their tedious journey through the land border crossings of neighboring countries.

This complicated reality often created unbearable burdens on the border crossings, with many Hasidim finding themselves waiting for long, exhausting hours, sometimes in difficult conditions, without prior information or the ability to prepare.

In the field, it often turns out that if only travelers were split up into several different border crossings, instead of concentrating the load at one point, waiting times would be significantly shortened, and border controllers would be able to operate more efficiently.

Precisely for this reason, the 'Breslav Union' is now presenting revolutionary and technological news for the first time to the thousands of travelers to Uman: Meet the website that all Breslav Hasidim have been waiting for - "On the Way to Uman" (Umanmap.eu).

The new, dedicated website, established and maintained by 'Ichud Breslav', was specially designed to make it easier for travelers to the kibbutz in Uman during Rosh Hashanah, and for any trip to Uman throughout the year.

The system is based on a live, interactive map, which is completely free to use, and opens directly in the mobile browser or computer, without the need to download applications.

Rabbi Nathan Ben-Nun, chairman of Ichud Breslav in Uman, said upon the launch of the system: "We are happy and excited to present this advanced technological tool to the esteemed traveling public. Our right and duty at Ichud Breslav is to do everything in our power to provide the best service to the thousands of immigrants to the holy site, to ease the hardships of the journey and to shorten the tedious waiting times at the borders.".

""The new system was built with deep thought about every detail, from communication at the borders to the spiritual and physical needs of each traveler, so that each and every one can make the journey safely, calmly, and with peace of mind. We pray that the divine help that accompanied us in developing the project will stand by all participants in the holy kibbutz, and that through mutual guarantee we will all be entitled to a paved and comfortable road.""

So what can you find in the new system?

• Real-time border status: The system is constantly updated with the level of congestion, travel times and waiting times at each border. The information is collected from official data, travel agency representatives, and reports from travelers themselves in the field. Have you arrived at a busy border? You can update with the click of a button on the map and warn those following you.
• Smart route planning: The system allows you to plan your trip from the moment you land at the airport to your desired arrival in Uman. If there is a sudden congestion at the border you are heading to, you can recalculate your route to an alternative border in minimal time.
• Everything a Jew needs on the road: Along the route you will find precise mapping of synagogues, mikvahs, kosher hotels and restaurants, refreshment points and consumer goods.
• Graves of the righteous: The system displays a complete mapping of the graves of the righteous and cemeteries along all travel routes in Eastern Europe, which will make it possible to visit the resting place of the saints during the journey.
• Emergency information and services: Showing locations of hospitals, pharmacies, ATMs, parking lots and other emergency points.
• Today's times and Halacha: The system displays local weather and currency rates. In addition, a unique feature has been introduced that allows you to pre-print a personalized table of the daily times in Halacha for each point you will pass along the route, including the daily study schedule for the days of travel.

Ihud Breslav explains that the goal of the project is to make the most reliable and up-to-date information available, so that every traveler can plan their journey wisely, safely, and with peace of mind. "The use of the system is built on mutual guarantee," Ihud notes, and urges the traveling public to use the map and get real-time updates on traffic jams and checkpoints. "Your update is your friend's shortcut.".