Rav Yaakov Jan, the rov of Uman, is urging those traveling to Uman for the annual Rosh Hashanah trip to pay the city’s tourist tax following what he says is a commitment from Uman officials to improve and renovate streets in the city’s Jewish area.
The appeal comes amid a growing dispute over the tax, with some activists calling on visitors to refuse payment. Rav Jan said that while the tax should be paid, there must also be oversight to ensure that the money collected from visitors is actually used for its intended purposes.
According to Rav Jan, the municipality’s spending of the funds should be carefully monitored, particularly when it comes to infrastructure and streets in the areas where tens of thousands of visitors stay during the annual pilgrimage. He said cooperation with municipal officials, combined with proper accountability, should allow visitors to see tangible improvements on the ground.
Ichud Breslov, meanwhile, pointed to three reasons for travelers to take care of the payment before arriving in Uman.
Those who pay through the designated website in advance are charged $27, a lower amount than visitors who wait until they arrive in the city. Paying ahead of time is also expected to reduce long lines and congestion at the collection station near the bus terminals.
Breslover officials said there is another important consideration: Advance payment helps formally coordinate the massive Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage with local authorities, an issue that has taken on added importance while Ukraine remains at war.
Breslover activist Levi Yitzchak Gewirtz also sharply criticized those encouraging visitors to withhold the tax.
“In light of publications by certain individuals calling for people not to pay the tourist tax in the city of Uman, we wish to make it unequivocally clear: Breslover chassidim disassociate themselves from these irresponsible calls and from the nonsense being published on the subject,” Gewirtz said.
He argued that Ukraine’s willingness to permit tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim to enter the country during wartime, while devoting resources to accommodating them and protecting their safety, carries with it an obligation for visitors to respect Ukrainian law.
Gewirtz noted that tourist taxes are commonplace in cities around the world and said the Uman levy is collected in accordance with Ukrainian law.
“We come to Uman as law-abiding guests, and we must respect the laws of the country and the local authorities,” he said.
Gewirtz acknowledged that visitors have every right to engage municipal officials and demand that more of the money be invested in infrastructure and services benefiting those who come to Uman. Such concerns, he said, do not justify violating the law or refusing to pay the required tax.
“G-d forbid that we should become partners with revolutionary and irresponsible elements who decided on their own to launch a ‘tax war’ against the Uman municipality and the State of Ukraine,” Gewirtz said.
He added that the Breslov community appreciates the willingness of both Ukraine and the Uman municipality to continue accommodating the tens of thousands of visitors despite the difficult circumstances created by the war.
The proper way to seek better conditions, Gevirtz concluded, is through dialogue with officials and oversight of how the funds are spent, not through calls to withhold payment.
{Matzav.com}
