Towards New Year's Eve in Uman: Thousands of Hasidim are expected to take off for Rosh Hashanah to the Zion of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine - and the Israeli police fear clashes between the factions of Breslov Hasidim on Ukrainian soil, against the backdrop of the arrival of Rabbi Eliezer Berland and the members of "Shuvu Banim", for the first time in years.
In recent years, the leader of the "Return of Sons" movement has been banned from entering Ukraine.
The Israel Police is dispatching 42 Israeli police officers, including a deputy commissioner, to accompany the Breslov Hasidic journey to the Zion of Rabbi Nachman on Rosh Hashanah.
According to a report by Mordechai Halperin on IDF Radio, most of the police officers speak Russian, and they will be sent next week to Uman and four border crossings between Romania and Ukraine.
In a preliminary briefing in the presence of a police intelligence officer, the police were briefed on the various factions in Breslav and the disputes, including fears of clashes with Rabbi Berland's people.
The Foreign Ministry has established a dedicated task force to accompany the trip - and the state will fund the security at a cost of 750,000 shekels.
Due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the closed skies, passengers are forced to land in neighboring countries. Following the difficulties experienced last year with Moldova, it was agreed this year that the main transit point will be Romania - and from there the Hasidim will make their way overland to Uman.
To this end, the authorities in Romania demanded increased security through Israeli police officers, who would assist in communicating with the passenger public.
According to a report on Channel I24, the Foreign Ministry has approached several government ministries - including the Ministries of the Interior and Transportation - with a request to participate in funding the security, which is estimated to cost approximately 750,000 shekels.
