Every fall, about 35,000 Hasidic pilgrims descend on the streets of Uman, Ukraine, to celebrate Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. In this small town, in 1810, Rebbe Nachman, founder of Breslov Hasidism, spent the last five months of his life and promised to intercede with God on behalf of anyone who prays on his grave during the holy days.
Most visitors are male, fathers and sons who together participate in religious services, take ceremonial baths and prepare symbolic Kosher food as well as sing, dance and blow shofars (traditional horns). For them, this event is not only a spiritual occasion, but a chance to reunite with old friends. For residents of Uman, however, Rosh Hashana is all about business " accommodations, food, transportation, etc. Even though the holiday has become the town's main economic industry, some residents still complain about the weeklong disturbance, citing noise, rowdiness, widespread drinking, discourteous behavior and even fights. For better or worse, this small Ukrainian town has become the biggest center of Jewish pilgrimage outside of Israel.
