Several Breslov hasidim on their way to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov’s grave
in Uman, Ukraine for Rosh hashana (the Jewish New Year, which starts
Wednesday night) were arrested in Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport for
rioting after their flight was delayed. 50 Others arrested on suspicion of various other crimes.
Breslov Hasidim Busted After Rioting On Flight To Uman
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Several Breslov hasidim on their way to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov’s grave in Uman, Ukraine for Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year, which starts Wednesday night) were arrested in Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport for rioting after their flight was delayed, the JTA reported based on coverage in the Israeli media.
The flight was on the tarmac readying for takeoff when all flights and airport operations were suspended after two Palestinian men in a stolen struck broke through an airport security barrier and exchanged gunfire with airport security officers.
The delay lasted about one hour – too long for the impatient hasidim who rioted. They reportedly damaged the plane – including its emergency oxygen systems.
Also, about 50 people traveling to Uman from Israel were arrested in Ben Gurion airport. Some are fugitives from justice. Others are passport forgers and people wanted by police for questioning. Some of those arrested may have been trying to exploit the large number of similarly attired people in order to try to escape the country.
However, Breslov has a large number of ba’al teshuvas, adults who found religion. Amy of them are former convicts and criminal figures.
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov is the first and only rebbe of Breslov hasidim
and a controversial great-grandson of the Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of
the hasidic movement.
25,000 to 50,000 pilgrims, almost all
Breslov hasidim, descend on Uman each year to pray at Rabbi Nachman’s
grave on Rosh Hashana, where recent years have seen rioting between the hasidim and Ukrainian locals and police and whole host of other problems.