Criminal9/16/2026

Travel to Uman: Draft Dodgers Risked Arrest Upon Returning to Israel

About 40,000 Hasidim traveled to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, despite the war in Ukraine, the warnings, and the risk of arrest for those who violated conscription rules. A ynet report describes the risk faced by some of the travelers but does not describe specific criminal proceedings or judgments.

Key facts

•About 40,000 pilgrims traveled to Uman
•The trip was made for Rosh Hashanah
•Certain violators faced the risk of arrest
•The case number and court are not specified in the source
•The specific law and its provisions are not specified
•No shekel sums are mentioned

Who Traveled to Uman and Why

According to the source, about 40,000 people arrived in Uman. For Breslov Hasidim, praying near the grave of Rabbi Nachman on Rosh Hashanah has special religious significance. The pilgrims arrived through alternative destinations and spent dozens of hours traveling overland.

What the Legal Risk Was

Among those who departed were people whom the source calls deserters or draft dodgers. They risked arrest after returning to Israel because of their status in the military conscription system. However, the source does not specify a particular law, statutory provisions, case numbers, arrest dates, or sentences imposed.

Warnings Within the Community

Two to three weeks before the holiday, one of the main Breslov groups circulated a letter calling on those who had violated the rules not to fly, and rabbis said in recordings that, in such a situation, the religious obligation was to refrain from traveling. At the same time, reports circulated about the possibility of reporting in advance at the airport, undergoing arrest and trial, and then leaving the country in the absence of an exit ban. Some tried to proceed in this manner, but shortly afterward, calls were made within the community to stop this practice.

What the Source Does Not Report

The publication is a news podcast, not a judicial document or an announcement concerning the enactment of a law. It contains no information about a decision by a court or the legislature, nor about the outcomes of proceedings involving specific citizens. Therefore, based on this material, it is impossible to determine that the described arrangement permitted lawful departure from the country or guaranteed arrest upon return.

What this means for you

Leaving Israel does not in itself nullify the consequences of an unresolved status related to military conscription. A person with such a status may face arrest or other proceedings upon returning, but the specific consequences depend on circumstances not detailed in the publication.

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