Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox pilgrims to the city Uman prayed and gathered for a Shabbat dinner in a closed hanger, in blatant disregard of social distancing regulations set by both Israeli and Ukrainian authorities.
Though Kiev banned all foreigners from entering Ukraine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a small number of religious Israelis managed to enter the country as part of their pilgrimage to the grave of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.
Those were instructed to adhere to all local health regulations, or face a sanction banning them from entry to Ukraine for the next three years.
Fearing ban, organizers of feast refused entry to a group of Israeli youths, who arrived without a face mask. Those who failed to wear a mask were denied participation in the Shabbat prayer or feast.
Shmuel Ovadia, who has been coming to the Uman ahead of Rosh Hashanah for the past thirty years said: "In Uman there is no coronavirus. During Tisa B'Av, we wept since we thought Israelis would not be able to come to Uman."
But, dozens of Breslov followers who were photographed sitting together in packed dining halls in contradiction of regulations and with no social distancing at all.
"We are ready to be handcuffed and jailed upon our return to holy Israel," Ovadia said. "As far as I'm concerned, lock us up until next year. Just let us get to Uman."
Those who managed to enter Ukraine before the government shuttered all entrance to the country on Thursday, met with vocal and physical opposition from the locals, who threatened to throw away their baggage, and to harm them physically.
"There were several big conflicts," Ovadia said, "when people arrived on the buses, they were not allowed to get off. A group of anti-Semites, in my opinion, surrounded the bus."
The chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Reuven Azman, raised the issue of the pilgrimage with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to Azman, Ukraine banned entrance to the country to everybody from abroad, " because of a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country."
"There are red areas, which are under lockdown," added rabbi Azman. "In Kiev it's a little easier, but here too the number are on the rise … The government will probably not allow gatherings in synagogues in large numbers, and we will understand and accept it."
First published: 17:49, 08.30.20