With just three weeks remaining before the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman, Breslover rabbonim and askanim are reportedly working on a plan aimed at enabling thousands of young men classified as military draft defaulters to leave Israel despite exit orders imposed as a result of the ongoing giyus crisis.
According to a report by Mordechai Halperin on Army Radio, Breslover rabbonim and activists recently held what participants described as an “emergency discussion” focused on finding a way for those barred from leaving the country to nevertheless travel to Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah.
Under one proposal reportedly developed during the discussions, draft defaulters would appear at IDF recruitment offices for their initial processing and formally begin the procedures associated with enlistment. The objective would be to regularize their status sufficiently to secure the cancellation of the orders preventing them from leaving Israel, clearing the way for them to travel to Uman.
However, according to the report, the proposed appearances at recruitment offices would not reflect an intention to ultimately enlist. The plan discussed would reportedly involve the young men initially presenting themselves and appearing prepared to proceed with the process, but after their travel restrictions are lifted and they leave for Uman, they would not continue with the enlistment procedures or join the IDF.
The proposal would therefore seek to use the initial appearance at the recruitment office as a means of addressing the exit orders without changing the young men’s underlying position regarding military service.
The discussions come amid growing concern within the Breslover community that the giyus crisis could significantly reduce the number of people able to travel this year to the tziyun of Rav Nachman of Breslov for Rosh Hashanah.
Rabbonim affiliated with the Ezra V’Yeutz organization met Tuesday with Rav Shimon Shisha, widely known as the “father of the prisoners” because of his work assisting detainees, to discuss the obstacles facing prospective travelers and possible ways of addressing them.
During the gathering, Rav Shmuel Moshe Kramer, the senior Breslover rov and influential mashpia, said efforts would continue to ensure that chassidim could reach Uman despite the significant difficulties confronting them this year.
“Every year they try to prevent the chassidim from traveling to Uman, and every year they succeed, in one way or another, in reaching Uman. This year, too, there is a major obstacle, but this year, too, we will succeed,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
