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Explosion Injures Two Israeli Pilgrims At Rosh Hashanah Celebrations In Ukraine

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Police officers near the scene of the explosion in Uman on September 21
Police officers near the scene of the explosion in Uman on September 21

A celebration of Rosh Hashanah in the central Ukrainian city of Uman has been marred by an explosion that authorities say lightly injured two Israeli pilgrims.

Ukraine's National Police said that an unidentified explosive device went off early in the morning on September 21 in a garage near the site where pilgrims are celebrating the Jewish New Year.

A 13-year-old boy from lsrael sustained cuts on his left hand and was treated by medical personnel, and an Israeli man who was hit by debris from the blast refused from medical assistance, the police said in a statement.

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.

More than 30,000 pilgrims from 14 countries came this year for the ceremonies, which end on September 22.

By the Jewish calendar, the year 5778 started at sunset on September 20.

The number of pilgrims traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah has increased dramatically since Ukraine gained independence in the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and made it much easier for most foreigners to enter the country.

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