It’s that time of year again—the season when tens of thousands of Jewish pilgrims make their way to Uman, Ukraine, to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. But this year, the journey is mired in controversy, security fears, and a heated debate over national responsibility.
Ukraine, citing genuine security concerns amid ongoing regional instability, has reportedly threatened to bar Israeli pilgrims from entering. At the same time, Israel’s attorney general has taken a firm stance against allowing Haredi draft-dodgers to skip mandatory military service for the pilgrimage. The clash is stark: religious devotion on one side, legal and national obligations on the other.
What strikes me most is how this situation highlights a deeper tension within Israeli society—and frankly, within any society where faith and civic duty intersect. On one hand, the desire to observe a deeply meaningful religious tradition is understandable. The Uman pilgrimage isn’t a vacation; for many, it’s a spiritual lifeline.
But should that exempt anyone from the laws that apply to everybody else? The attorney general doesn’t think so, and honestly, I lean toward agreement. National service, especially in a country like Israel where security is perpetually front and center, isn’t just a formality—it’s a shared burden. Letting a segment of the population opt out, whatever the reason, undermines the principle of equality under the law.
Then there’s the matter of safety. Ukraine isn’t exactly a stable destination right now. While it’s easy to dismiss travel warnings as excessive, the reality on the ground can’t be ignored. Is faith worth risking lives over? It’s a question without an easy answer, but one that pilgrims and authorities must weigh seriously.
MK Meir Porush calls it "shameful" to prevent Torah scholars from making the trip. I get the sentiment—respect for religious study is important. But respect for the law and for collective security matters too. Maybe the real shame is that this debate has to happen at all—that we’ve reached a point where spiritual devotion and national duty are seen as incompatible.
Perhaps there’s a middle ground: finding ways to accommodate faith without compromising on legal or security standards. But until then, the standoff continues—a reminder that some conflicts can’t be resolved by prayer alone.
