NOVAYA HUTA, Belarus -- Hundreds of followers of the Breslov Hasidic movement, who were trying to reach the central Ukrainian city of Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, have begun leaving neutral territory along the Belarusian-Ukrainian border after they were refused entry to Ukraine over measures banning foreigners from entering the country to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said on September 18 that, of about 1,000 pilgrims who were waiting to cross into the country, only some 600 remain, the rest having left the area after Kyiv upheld the ban on entering the country amid a spike in coronavirus cases.
COVID Curbs Leave Hasidic Jews Stranded At Belarus Border
1/13Hundreds of Hasidic Jews are currently stuck at the Novaya Huta border crossing between Belarus and Ukraine.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
2/13Jewish pilgrims talk to Ukrainian border guards who refused them entry on September 15.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
3/13Many of the travelers are now waiting at the roadside near the Novaya Huta crossing in Belarus's southeastern Homel region.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
4/13Belarusian border guards had let the pilgrims pass but they were turned back by Ukrainian authorities who banned the entry of foreigners in August.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
5/13A Jewish pilgrim playing guitar to pass the time.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
7/13A pilgrim stands in front of Ukrainian border guards who have blocked the road at the Novaya Huta crossing.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
8/13Ukrainian border guards keep an eye on Hasidic pilgrims.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
9/13A child pilgrim sits on a road blocked by Ukrainian border police. Ukraine, which has recorded high numbers of new coronavirus cases in recent weeks, has kept the ban on foreigners in place until September 28.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
10/13Many of the pilgrims who were prevented from entering Ukraine due to COVID-19 restrictions have now set up camp in Homel.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
11/13One pilgrim sleeps on a bench in Homel on September 14.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
12/13Residents of Homel are now getting used to the unusual sight of numerous Hasidic Jews in traditional garb on the streets of their city.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
13/13The pilgrims in Homel have been spending their time mostly praying or studying the Torah. If the Hasidim do not arrive in Ukraine by September 18, they will stay in the Belarusian city to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. The holiday begins on the Sabbath, when many things are prohibited, including travel.
Hundreds of Hasidic Jews, who set off on a pilgrimage to Ukraine via Belarus despite coronavirus restrictions, were stuck in Homel and at the Novaya Huta border crossing on September 15 after Belarusian border guards let them through, but Ukrainian officials turned them back.
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Tens of thousands of followers of the Breslov Hasidic movement come to Uman every year to mark the Jewish New Year by praying at the grave of the movement's founder, Reb Nachman, who died there in 1810.
They began to gather on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border around September 14, trying to get to Ukraine and go to Uman, in the Cherkasy region, to celebrate the holiday that runs from September 18 to September 20.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said last week that, due to the coronavirus restrictions, only about 3,000 pilgrims will come to Uman this year.
The number of pilgrims traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah has increased dramatically since Ukraine gained independence after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
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