Since Rosh Hashanah, severe delays have been reported at all border crossings out of Ukraine, leaving thousands of Yidden stuck for long hours on buses, at airports, and at border stations across Eastern Europe. The situation has already caused widespread missed flights, canceled tickets, and great hardship for many returning from Uman.
Frustrated travelers shared photos and firsthand accounts with B’Chadrei Chareidim, describing the exhaustion and confusion they endured. Some voiced sharp criticism of chareidi representatives in the Knesset, claiming: “They don’t care because we are Breslovers.”
The bottlenecks have led to the cancellation of at least four flights scheduled to depart from Tulcea and Iasi in Romania. Airline officials explained that crews had exceeded their maximum permitted work hours, known as “crew burnout regulations,” which legally bar them from flying once they cross a certain threshold.
Major travel agencies serving the Uman crowds, including Netivim Tours and Derech Tzaddikim, said they made every effort to arrange additional flights, but were unsuccessful.
In a statement, the companies announced: “Since this afternoon, we have been working tirelessly to arrange lodging and Shabbos meals for our clients who are unable to return before Shabbos. Buses are being dispatched to pick up passengers from Tulcea Airport, from the waiting halls, from the Orlivka border, and from Iasi, and bring them to designated Shabbos accommodations where we will, b’ezras Hashem, provide full seudos Shabbos.”
They added that passengers who arranged their own accommodations should continue monitoring agency updates for details about the new flights.
Photos show makeshift tents being set up in Romania to house travelers caught mid-journey. The agencies confirmed that return flights to Eretz Yisroel will begin Motzaei Shabbos and continue Sunday morning, departing from several airports in parallel.
Earlier reports described the entire journey back from Uman as “days of endless upheaval,” with groups of Yidden scattered across Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Moldova — each trying to find a path back to Eretz Yisroel. Out of concern for becoming stranded on the road as Shabbos approached, many decided to halt their travels and wait until after Shabbos to resume their journey.
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8 Responses
“because they’re breslovers”? or because they’re fools who insist on following a dangerous minhag that’s not in the torah, putting themselves and others at risk.
Wow, who would’ve thought that traveling to a war zone would have any difficulties
going to war zone means accepting the risk of staying in tents.
With all due concern for those stranded in Europe, why have there been no reports regarding the yeshivaleit stranded in military prison in EY? Isn’t this currently the worst gezeira at present? Perhaps it could be the cause of many other undesirable statements being made by world politicians and other new difficulties during and since Rosh Hashanah. Those who choose full time learning are our shield, and they are suffering against their will because they are dedicated to Torah, while those who traveled to the Ukraine knowingly took a certain amount of risk.
Dont go stupid places at stupid times with stupid people to do stupid things.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Bunch of spoiled privileged and mainly entitled moochers
Who asked these guys to go to UKRAINE of all places
And expect a smooth trip
These are all weirdos
I totally knew something like this would happen. They fought to get out of Israel, and fly around the world as a high profile group sticking out like sore thumb.
One lamb among 70 wolves.
They made themselves easy prey.
Anyone who did this due to lack of seichel I am sorry for. Anyone who should have known better, I’m sorry but you got was coming to you. When did yidden forget to keep a low profile in golus?
I find it painful to read these intolerant posts.
I am very far from Breslov Chassidus on the frum-world map, but I can still be broad-minded enough to understand that there is something very dear to them that I cannot fathom, and that gives them spiritual energy for the coming year. Who are we to judge why these chassidim are willing to be moser nefesh to go to Uman for Rosh Hashana? And even if you can’t understand them, why do you feel so much contempt rather than sympathy? I’d be terrified to go to Meron on Lag ba’Omer for fear of being trampled in a huge crowd, even before the Meron tragedy, but I don’t mock those who wouldn’t miss it and who feel that the spiritual high they gain there is essential for them.
Dear Yidden, can’t we view each other with a kind, tolerant eye and love our brothers – even those who are different from us?!
No wonder we’re still in golus…