The tens of thousands who will be leaving Eretz Yisrael ahead of Rosh Hashanah began making their way to Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday morning (26 Elul), and the congestion was evident, especially flights to Kiev, impacting Breslov Chassidim. Organizers in Uman report that expect upwards of 35,000 mispallalim this year, many coming from Eretz Yisrael.
YWN-Israel visited Ben-Gurion on Sunday morning and Terminal 3 was abuzz with Yidden heading to both Uman and 770. Many Chabadnikim were seen heading for El Al, but the main focus was on the other side of the top floor of the terminal, where an entire area was designated for flights to Kiev. There were chareidi floor monitors in tan jackets on hand, hired to maintain order and deal with those heading to Uman, to keep them organized, assist them in finding minyanim and other needs.
But all of that was not the cause – airport workers, baggage handlers in particular, decided to hold a one-hour strike. The backlog created in that hour has ramifications for hours to come. The exact cause for the walk-out remains unclear.
The Breslov chassidim appeared unfazed, confident they would reach their destination in time for yomtov.
YWN-Israel visited Ben-Gurion on Sunday morning and Terminal 3 was abuzz with Yidden heading to both Uman and 770. Many Chabadnikim were seen heading for El Al, but the main focus was on the other side of the top floor of the terminal, where an entire area was designated for flights to Kiev. There were chareidi floor monitors in tan jackets on hand, hired to maintain order and deal with those heading to Uman, to keep them organized, assist them in finding minyanim and other needs.
But all of that was not the cause – airport workers, baggage handlers in particular, decided to hold a one-hour strike. The backlog created in that hour has ramifications for hours to come. The exact cause for the walk-out remains unclear.
The Breslov chassidim appeared unfazed, confident they would reach their destination in time for yomtov.
Something in my gut tells me it is wrong for Jews to leave Israel to spend Rosh Hashana praying and partying at the grave of another Jew. Especially in a place where there are so many rabid Jew haters. This disturbs me greatly. This is why the grave of Moshe Rabbeinu is not known to us. If it was known it might be another vacation destination spot.
ReplyDeletedear anon, it is not about vacationing, it is about sweetening harsh decrees which comes about when these same jews come to pray in uman. astounding unity, astounding power of prayer and teshuva that affects change in the world. no wonder no war broke out in israel this week. no coincidence. the more jews, the more sweetening occurs--brought about by the tzaddik who is buried there but who continues to operate unbounded on a spiritual level. this is not a new strange concept, rather quite grounded in judaism. the extent that this goes on in uman however, is a total chidush and we should be dancing in the streets that it goes on. and if not that, at least don't be counted among those that oppose it!
ReplyDeletePS: the reason why the grave of moshe rabbeinu is not known is not because it risks becoming another vacation spot, but rather the power of jews coming to such a gravesite would have effected geula long ago. Such is the power of traveling to gravesites of tzaddikim. Hashem didn't want this for His own reasons.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=238178&R=R5
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=239452
dear anon, yes, scary-looking articles. bet they kept some people away. only problem is that they are not altogether accurate. for just one example, Zaka brings their team of doctors and medics every year to treat any health-related problem from headaches to more serious conditions of chronically ill people who made the trip. the articles implies they are brought to treat "casualties." Every year there is some last minute crisis that is publicized or even certain rabbanim claiming with all sorts of terrible threats that it is forbidden to go. (But many more rabbis make the trip themselves) It succeeds in deterring some people. but be that as it may, my previous two emails stand.
ReplyDeleteYour comments are all very interesting and I would like to add my 2 shekels.
ReplyDelete1. It still "feels" wrong to have so many God fearing people leave Eretz Israel. When one's filters are off, one can communicate with a soul from anywhere. They should spend more some removing artificial filters so their service can be performed from Israel. I can communicate with my father at the cemetery, on the tennis court and particularly well in the shower. I agree about the power of numbers, but again this can be done at a designated spot in Israel. This group with their entire entourage must be so distracting and present a zoo-like scene. Doesn’t seem very spiritual. It seems that they have to go because if they don’t… what will the neighbors say.
2. I have seen such abhorrent behavior of traveling Chassids that it truly embarrasses me that we are of the same religion. Perhaps some lessons in common decency need to be had before they travel. They especially need to concentrate on how they treat airport personnel (yes standing in line applies to everyone) and flight attendants (I asked you 5 times to turn off your phone) because many of these Chassids seems to think that the rules of decency to your fellow man/women/Jew/non-Jew don't apply to them. Laws of Traveling 101 at the Yeshivot… not that’s a thought.
dvora, i understand your two points and even agree with most of point #2. but be that as it may, there is still something outrageously good going on there that has nothing to do with the outrageous behaviors you see on the ground. the world keeps spinning and the tikkunim keep coming whether people understand or not. truth is, take the biggest person that says they understand what goes down there in uman each year--don't believe them because it is unfathomable. you can only say that the harsh judgments on individuals and the creation generally get sweetened (and difficult wars are put off a little more to give us all more time to wake up, much to the disappointment of the war drum-beating prophets). how this is done is incomprehensible but it happens because of this spiritual force called rebbe nachman who simply said that coming to his gravesite on rosh hashanah would accomplish great things. don't worry, it won't go on forever in uman--he will undoubtedly be moved at some point back to israel (probably to the galil:)) and the tikkunim will continue here. it is all wondrous and beyond the normal scope of things. we should be happy. and all those rude people are also included in these tikkunim!! thank G-d someone is attending to them!!
ReplyDeleteHopeful: I agree. People don't realize....
ReplyDeletesorry, one last point just to be fair. many if not most chassidim who travel to uman are mentches about it. those who are unruly and obnoxious just attract more attention with all their shenanigans and make great media fodder. just keep it in perspective.
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