Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/liveblog_entry\/ukraine-issues-2nd-urgent-plea-for-jewish-pilgrims-to-forgo-annual-uman-pilgrimage-due-to-war\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=LrUfGeCmYtKgmrghhs1TA17aZayAWWv9cDbeZ8ctaHk-1746524659-1.0.1.1-HtKXOHt3V_dtCendF3Mw2KLMbGQNSrqrbPAy8BZi9f8" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); "\/liveblog_entry\/ukraine-issues-urgent-plea-to-hasidim-to-forgo-annual-uman-pilgrimage-due-to-war\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=Jbaqe0Wmq5HPNzBapmmv5NGmqaxeUInUwXhq0ENeBdU-1746524672-1.0.1.1-IzN5lQXZ5AAH8bcxgYNLXAIpHrG6SSjZ370A1G2XBs4" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null representatives of the Uman Jewish community met with regional governor Igor Taburets The meeting aimed to formulate principles for collaboration in anticipation of the major holiday events which annually hosts tens of thousands of visitors The parties expressed satisfaction over the past year's events which occurred without significant issues despite the country's tense security situation said "We are preparing diligently to ensure all visitors can arrive as comfortably as possible considering Ukraine's complex situation." The umbrella organization for Ukraine’s Jewish community announced on Telegram that while 30,000 Jews came to the Ukrainian city of… Orthodox Jewish pilgrims sing and dance near the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov during celebrations marking Rosh Hashanah The umbrella organization for Ukraine’s Jewish community announced on Telegram that while 30,000 Jews came to the Ukrainian city of Uman for the yearly Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage an additional 14,000 were unable to arrive in part due to rising tensions in the Middle East “More than 30,000 pilgrims arrived in Uman” as of Wednesday, wrote the United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU) “More than 14,000 willing Hasidic pilgrims could not reach Uman Some of them are due to yesterday’s massive shelling of Israel by Iran and the closure of airspace and cancellation of flights.” Tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews flock to Uman each year for Rosh Hashanah to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov the revered founder of the Breslover Hasidim despite the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine An Israeli diplomat had told The Times of Israel that the number of worshipers this year could reach a record 50,000 Last week, however, the UJCU and Ukrainian news outlets said that attendance would be lower than expected due to escalating tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon which caused a number of airlines to cancel flights that the Hasidic pilgrims were supposed to use to get to Ukraine And then on Tuesday, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel raising fears of a broader regional conflict and leading some airlines to cancel more flights The Iranian attack came amid an ongoing war between Israel and several Iran-backed terrorist groups — most notably Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon The conflict began when Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists invaded southern Israel on Oct killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 hostages about 100 of whom remain in captivity in Gaza “Although the interested parties are looking for a way out of this situation a significant part of the thousands of pilgrims who want to get to Uman will not be able to do so,” the Historical and Cultural Center of Uman charitable foundation said in a message last week Since 2020, Ukrainian officials have warned against making the pilgrimage, first due to COVID-19 and then because of the war with Russia. The pilgrimage became more complicated when many commercial flights to Ukraine were suspended following Russia’s invasion of the country in 2022 Last month, Ukraine warned Hasidic Jews to forgo this year’s pilgrimage to Uman due to the war with Russia “Russia’s ongoing full-scale military aggression against Ukraine poses real threats to people’s lives and safety [making] it impossible to guarantee the safety of foreign citizens on the territory of Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Kyiv added that there is a “legal regime of martial law which provides for a number of additional regulations including restrictions on freedom of movement a ban on holding mass events and gatherings as well as the application of coercive measures against persons who will not comply with the established restrictions.” Nevertheless, last year, more than 35,000 worshipers celebrated Rosh Hashanah at the grave of Nachman despite Ukrainian authorities issuing similar warnings as they are now about visiting the city amid war with Russia photos have already emerged of pilgrims both praying and celebrating the Jewish new year near Nachman’s grave Orthodox Jewish pilgrims dance outside the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov during celebrations marking Rosh Hashanah Located in the south of Ukraine in the Cherkasy region Uman was once home to a thriving Jewish community the Nazis deported the city’s entire Jewish community murdering 17,000 Jews and destroying the local Jewish cemetery — including Nachman’s grave Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 several Jewish Orthodox families have moved to Uman Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" We cannot guarantee the safety of pilgrims traveling to Ukraine,' the Ukrainian gov't said Moldova has announced that it would not allow flights carrying pilgrims to land at Kishinev airport 2024Get email notification for articles from Liza Rozovsky FollowSep 13 2024Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on Thursday called on ultra-Orthodox Jews to refrain from making the traditional pilgrimage to Uman during Rosh Hashanah due to safety concerns stemming from the ongoing war Orthodox Jews dance at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman the great grandson of the founder of Hasidic movement to mark the Jewish new year in the town of Uman 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv Orthodox Jews pray near the lake at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv Orthodox Jews pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman Orthodox Jews pray at the gravestone of Rabbi Nachman Orthodox Jewish children pray at the gravestone of Rabbi Nachman 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv is transformed for the celebration of Rosh Hashana The streets are plastered with signs in Hebrew for the pilgrims who come to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman the great-grandson of the founder of Hasidic movement Despite Ukrainian and Israeli diplomats warning of the security threat officials told The Associated Press that 35,000 pilgrims made the journey to Uman this year a leading figure in Ukraine’s Jewish community was one of those who urged international pilgrims not to visit Ukraine due to security concerns but acknowledged that many would still make the trip regardless of the potential risks involved “Every year (since Russia’s full-scale invasion) and I call on the (Jewish) pilgrims not to come to Ukraine My primary concern is for the lives of people,” he said said he had made the pilgrimage over a dozen times “The war here didn’t scare me from traveling to Ukraine; there’s also war where I came from,” he told the AP This year’s pilgrimage comes at an increasingly volatile time in the Middle East Israel is now engaged in a multifront war that includes the battles with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon attacks from Iran and strikes inside Syria plus ongoing confrontations with armed militants in the West Bank and occasional attacks launched by Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and by the Houthis in Yemen The hostilities posed additional challenges to some pilgrims travelling to Ukraine this year Ukraine closed its air space in February 2022 at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion forcing visitors to travel overland via other European countries in order to reach Uman said the difficulty of the journey had made the experience more meaningful to him this year My travel agent booked airplane tickets from Tel Aviv to Budapest But some of my friends had to travel through five countries.” I think we’re all blessed to be here,” Shpanier said Deborah Uman-Sures’ Sun and Glass — acrylic paint Solo exhibition celebrates Canadian artist’s compelling character portraits celebrates the artist’s compelling character portraits and mixed media collages according to Port Hope’s Ganaraska Art & Framing features highlights from Uman-Sures’ practice over the last 20 years “‘People Watching’ pays long overdue tribute to an under-recognized woman artist whose life and work has been on the periphery of pivotal moments in Canadian art such as the Regina Five and the Emma Lake Artists’ Workshops,” the gallery stated in a release “The exhibition has been a labour of love by her son who hopes to celebrate her creativity while also helping position her work within the larger context of Canadian art.” Sures said his mother embodies the classic definition of an artist shaped by a generation that believed art was an inherent identity I have watched in wonder over the decades as she continued to produce her work with an unrelenting spirit Her essence lies in her lifelong study of art — it is at the core of her soul,” he said I hope that her work will be seen and recognized by a wider audience I want others to finally get a chance to see the intangible sensitivity and wisdom in her creative expression.” Ganaraksa Art & Framing owner and exhibition curator Graeme Steel said he met Deborah a few years ago and came into possession of her collection of works I have been working my way through her incredible archive and illustrations that best display her unique artistic voice one that took years for her to cultivate.” He said she draws inspiration from a life filled with enriching experiences and is fascinated by the characters of our internal lives “People Watching” provides insight into her art which she used to explore her own narrative Uman-Sures’s practice is best defined by her large-scale abstract works that bring together painting Her last solo exhibition before “People Watching” was held in 2020 at the Art Gallery of Northumberland in Cobourg she taught at a secondary school in Portage la Prairie where she helped foster the artistic talent of a young Jackson Beardy creating fashion illustrations for Eaton’s in Winnipeg in the 1950s and later for Nordstrom in Seattle in the early 1960s She was also an illustrator for a series of Ukrainian children’s books She began her formal training at the University of Manitoba’s art department where Jack established the ceramics department at the University of Regina — around the same time the prairie art scene was gaining recognition through the Regina Five and Emma Lake Artists’ Workshops Uman-Sures travelled with her husband to Japan to work alongside master potters and furthered her own education with studies at the Sorbonne in Paris in the 1960s She later earned a master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University in the late 1980s Her teaching career included positions at Red River Community College in Winnipeg and at the Ontario College of Art & Design University from 1993 until her retirement in 2003 For more information about the exhibition, visit www.ganaraskart.com Friday, May 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. at 37 Walton Street, Port Hope Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account For her second exhibition with Hauser and Wirth and her first solo show in Switzerland Uman presents all new paintings and works on paper at the gallery’s Zurich location on Limmatstrasse in partnership with Nicola Vassell Gallery Uman’s new paintings reflect her reverence for the natural world Fluidly navigating in-between realms to explore both the physical and spiritual Uman’s new body of work also explores ideas of color field painting With some works suspended from the ceiling and a site-specific wall mural that will transform part of the gallery space Uman invites the viewer to be immersed in her lavishly detailed and opulently colored worlds The selection of large-scale works on view in Zurich presents a development in Uman’s approach to her painting processes Looking to artists such as Frank Bowling and his saturated washes of pigment as well as expanding on the tropes of color field painting this formal progression begins in Uman’s home pours and manipulates paint on unstretched canvases to create a base layer combining bright jewel tones alongside darker hues in surprising ways from pools of purple in Purple painting (2024) to deep coats of blue the artist then stretches the material and works on the paintings further in her studio Uman’s process is followed by an application of oil stick or oil paint via intuitive but resolute gestures using a brush or her own hands Her mastery of pigments makes possible a trajectory between past and present drawing upon her memories of her East African childhood rigorous education in traditional Arabic calligraphy deep engagement with dreams and fascination with kaleidoscopic color and design This formal progression aligns with Uman’s desire to pursue a painterly exploration of nature dots and abstract patterning that resemble mycelial networks These collide with anthropomorphic elements to culminate in depictions that are at once botanical and intergalactic with paintings such as Green painting (2024) suggesting fantastical landscapes The exhibition also includes three striking paintings of seasons 4 seasons #2 (blue) (2024) and 4 seasons #3 (red) (2024) exemplifying the environment as experienced from her rural setting in Albany and leaning into her fascination with color field painting Uman’s focus on the natural and spiritual worlds aligns with the artist’s desire to move beyond traces of self-portraiture in her work explaining ‘I want to push and continue to grow and that means I have to take myself out of the work other works depict lattice structures or are executed on gridded paper Previously evoking the grid system of streets and avenues in New York City works like Swiss chocolate (2024) are instead a tribute to the setting of the exhibition in Zurich and the Swiss roots of the gallery These speak to the gridded wall mural in the gallery an ambitious intervention that houses 16 works on paper Further works on paper included two double-sided drawings that hang from the gallery’s tall ceiling offering viewers access to both sides of the artwork Presenting the full extent of her capabilities these at once depict biomorphic and geometric shapes By traversing both natural and spiritual worlds Uman’s paintings ultimately engage with universal desires everyone wants to live in a safe planet and feel like they have a future’ Uman will be the artist in residence at Hauser & Wirth Somerset in May 2025 Uman’s first US solo museum exhibition will open at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum CT Alternative of flights to Romania are being explored 2024An Israeli travel agency that specializes in selling travel packages to the graves of leading religious figures in the Ukrainian town of Uman notified thousands of ticket-holders that the government of Moldova had canceled approvals for Orthodox Jews to travel through the country's airport in Chisinau located about 70 kilometers northwest of Donetsk remains one of the most fiercely contested sectors of the front where Russia has concentrated its main offensive efforts since March  (Updated:  May 6, 2025 11:41 am)Ukraine's drones target Moscow second night in a row, Russian official claims, ahead of Victory Day parade. Debris from one of the drones reportedly fell on the Kashirskoye Highway The reported attack comes just days before Russia's Victory Day parade and three-day "truce." Vice President Mike Pence said Putin "only understands power." About 800 million euros ($905 million) will be allocated for the acquisition and installation of anti-tank mines to deter potential aggression  (Updated:  May 6, 2025 9:36 am)War analysisFrance is sending Ukraine more AASM Hammer bombs — here's what they can do Polish President Andrzej Duda said the United States has tools that can effectively influence the Kremlin arguing that only President Donald Trump has real leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin The number includes 1,430 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day "To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement" by Benjamin Nathans which covers dissent in the Soviet Union and Russia today Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 5 announced they had facilitated Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash's escape from Russia to France after she fled house arrest on April 21 A Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast on May 5 killed one and caused damage to local infrastructure "We appreciate that Germany plays a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine throughout the years of war Ukraine is also grateful for your personal commitment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7 MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8 Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations the regional military administration reported "I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!" U.S by Elsa CourtHasidic Jewish pilgrims pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman for Rosh Hashanah (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)Jewish pilgrims should refrain from visiting Uman for Rosh Hashanah Cherkasy Oblast Governor Ihor Taburets warned on Sept Thousands of Hasidic Jews make a pilgrimage to Uman in central Ukraine every year at Rosh Hashanah to visit the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov "As in the previous years of the war, we first of all recommend believers to consider the security situation in our country and refrain from visiting Uman," Taburets said Regular Russian attacks "are not just scaremongering but everyday life for Ukrainians," Taburets warned some believers will still visit the cult place for themselves." The local authorities are working to prepare for an influx of visitors from issues relating to "sanitary and epidemiological well-being," to ensuring there are enough air raid shelters Over 35,000 people visited Uman for Rosh Hashanah in 2023 an increase from around 20,000 people in 2022 Elsa Court is the audience development manager at the Kyiv Independence She previously worked as a news editor at the Kyiv Independent and was previously an intern at the Kyiv Post She has a Master’s in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University Some 30,000 Hasidic Jews will reportedly go on this year’s annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to the Ukrainian city of Uman to visit… Hasidic Jews are seen praying at the synagogue in Uman Some 30,000 Hasidic Jews will reportedly go on this year’s annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to the Ukrainian city of Uman to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov An Israeli diplomat had told The Times of Israel that the number of worshipers this year could reach a record 50,000. However, due to flight cancellations caused by escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah the Iran-backed terrorist organization in Lebanon thousands of pilgrims will not be able to make the trip Citing the United Jewish Community of Ukraine and the Historical and Cultural Center of Uman charitable foundation the news agency reported on the lower-than-expected attendance due to the escalation in the north of Israel a number of airlines canceled the flights that the Hasidic pilgrims were supposed to use to reach European countries in order to get to Ukraine,” the charitable foundation said in a message a significant part of the thousands of pilgrims who want to get to Uman will not be able to do so.” Each year, tens of thousands of Jewish pilgrims visit Uman a major pilgrimage site for Hasidic Jews to pray at Nachman’s tomb on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah Up to 500 Hasidim had already arrived in Uman as of last week with a mass arrival of pilgrims expected in the coming days according to the State Migration Service of Ukraine Earlier this month, Ukraine warned Hasidic Jews to forgo this year’s pilgrimage to Uman due to the war with Russia Ukraine “urges Hasidic pilgrims to refrain from this year’s pilgrimage to Uman as part of the celebration of Rosh Hashanah.” The statement went on to say that due to the war there are not enough bomb shelters or medical personnel in Uman and the transportation infrastructure has been compromised due to shelling The foreign ministry’s warning came two days after the governor of the region where Uman is located issued a similar statement to Jewish worshipers ahead of Rosh Hashanah Cherkasy Region head Igor Taburets did not say that the pilgrims would be prevented from coming but asked them not to make the trip local authorities were preparing for the pilgrimage with enhanced security measures Moldova said it would not allow pilgrims to pass through the country on the way to Uman citing security costs and the limited capacity of their facilities Some 20,000 pilgrims used Chisinau airport last year to get to Ukraine An alternative route into Uman has been prepared through Romania Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about preparations for the pilgrimage last month The United States recently issued a travel warning for Uman urging American citizens not to visit the city due to the security situation Uman has been targeted by Russian forces on several occasions during the ongoing war. Last April, at least 20 people, including three children, were killed during a missile and drone barrage launched by the Russians Last year, more than 35,000 worshipers celebrated Rosh Hashanah at the grave of Nachman The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel published a statement on Thursday urging Jewish pilgrims not to travel to the town of Uman for Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) "The Cherkasy Regional Military Administration urges Hasidim to refrain from the Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman!" the Embassy wrote Jews from around the world travel to the town of Uman to spend the Rosh Hashana holiday at the gravesite of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov the Embassy quoted the Head of the Cherkasy region Ihor Taburetz stating: "As in the previous years of the war we recommend pilgrims to consider the security situation in our country and refrain from visiting Uman Regular Russian attacks and damage to civilian objects for the annual pilgrimage to Rebbe Nachman's grave during Rosh Hashanah." The Embassy noted: "Since the start of the war in Ukraine Uman has been the site of multiple Russian missile attacks Russian airstrikes have hit civilian buildings and critical infrastructure Local authorities have advised that Uman does not have enough air raid shelters to accommodate all anticipated travelers to the pilgrimage with curfew and movement restrictions that would also affect pilgrims to Uman." Hundreds of Breslov hasidim planning to travel to Uman, Ukraine, ahead of the Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) holiday on Monday night received notices that their flights had been canceled. who had relied on the low-cost Wizz Air airline found themselves without plane tickets after the airline announced that it would cease flights to Israel following the recent escalation of tensions between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group Among the companies announcing cancellations are Wizz Air Sources in the Breslov community have reported that the mass cancellations created significant pressure among the hasidim to find alternative flight options The situation is made worse by the fact that most other flights to Uman for those dates are already filled to capacity "This creates a situation of great uncertainty," one of the hasidim told Arutz Sheva - Israel National News "Many of us planned this trip months ahead of time and now we are forced to seek solutions at the last minute." Rosh Hashanah this year begins on the evening of Wednesday Sources in the aviation industry noted that the high demand for flights to Uman during this period of the year makes it difficult to find immediate solutions representatives of the Breslov community are working with the airlines and travel agents to find solutions for those hasidim whose flights were canceled Ukrainian nationalists destroyed a tent city erected by Hasidic Jews in Uman, ahead of the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage when they knew we wouldn’t be able to respond or activate the communication device pushed the light poles and security cameras and caused damage estimated at half a million dollars,” Eliezer Kirshboim chairman and director of the Jewish association in Uman and this disrupts all our work arrangements.” Police officers did not intervene to stop the attacks Uman has seen the arrival of thousands of pilgrims on the Jewish New Year who come to visit the grave site of the Breslover movement’s founder The pilgrimage has created frequent friction between the predominantly Israeli new arrivals and locals many of whom resent the cordoning off by police of neighborhoods for the pilgrims Kirshboim said the current mayor of Uman was “appointed” by members of the nationalist Svoboda party following the revolution in Ukraine “There is crazy state of anarchy here,” he said The right-wing activists were seeking to harass the Hasids in order to gain political points among the local public “Whoever harasses the Hasidim more has a better chance of winning the elections in October,” he said I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward American Jews need independent news they can trust At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S rising antisemitism and polarized discourse This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up Copyright © 2025 The Forward Association TaiwanA video has been shared in Chinese-language social media posts that claim it shows Jews entering Ukraine to build a new state The video shows Hasidic Jews making a customary pilgrimage during the Jewish New Year in order to visit the grave of the sect’s founder The video was shared on X The 30-second video shows a large number of men dressed in rabbinical garb with luggage walking along a rail track “A large number of Jews arrived in the Ukrainian city of Uman via Poland to establish a new state,” the claim reads in part Similar claims were also shared on X here and here A comparison between the video and Google Maps found the clip was taken at a train station in the Ukrainian city Uman Further reverse image searches of the video’s key frames found clips with a similar scene that show Hasidic Jews making a pilgrimage to Uman during the Jewish New Year to visit the grave of the sect’s founder Nachman of Breslov Although the Ukrainian government advised Jews to postpone their pilgrimage due to the war there reports indicate that this year more than 35,000 people made the journey Some Chinese-speaking online users shared a video alongside a claim that it shows Ukraine soldiers arresting Jews and sending them to the front line to fight against Russia AFCL found the video in question is primarily composed of two separate clips shows Israeli police clearing Orthodox Jews from the roads during a protest against the Israeli military draft in Bnei Brak The police uniforms and armbands seen in this footage are those of the Israeli border police The video includes clips of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in military attire. These clips are identical to news footage released by the Ukrainian TV station Inter two years ago of Zelenskyy’s visit to the Ukrainian town of Bucha in April 2022 following a massacre by Russian forces AFCL found no credible reports that a large number of Jews entered Ukraine to build a new state or that Ukraine police were arresting Jews and sending them to the front line Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in today’s complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers’ understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X FAD Magazine FAD Magazine covers contemporary art – News Exhibitions and Interviews reported on from London For her second exhibition with Hauser & Wirth and her first solo show in Switzerland Uman presents all new paintings and works on paper at the gallery’s Zurich location on Limmatstrasse in equal partnership with Nicola Vassell Gallery The selection of large-scale works on view in Zurich presents a development in Uman’s approach to herpainting processes from pools of purple ‘Purple Painting’ (2024) to deep coats of blue in ‘Midnight in Roseboom’ (2024) with paintings such as ‘Green Painting’ (2024) suggesting fantastical landscapes ‘4 Seasons #2 (Blue)’ (2024) and ‘4 Seasons #3 (Red)’ (2024) works like ‘Swiss Chocolate’ (2024) are instead a tribute to the setting of the exhibition in Zurich and the Swiss roots of the gallery everyone wants to live in a safe planet and feel like they have a future.’ Uman. A Fantastic Woman, 23rd January – 23rd May 2025 Hauser & Wirth Zurich, Limmatstrasse She moved with her family to Kenya in 1989 as a result of the Somali Civil War before relocating to Denmark at the age of 13 Uman loved to draw and was fascinated by color and illustration Manhattan-based psychiatrist Annatina Miescher who encouraged the artist’s intuitive approach to painting and served as a mentor Uman’s first solo exhibition opened at White Columns attracting significant attention for her paintings sculptures and assemblage works that dazzled with their unorthodox and wholly original approach to layering cross-cultural art historical and textile-based references ‘[Uman] embodies a fluidity that transcends borders Uman has been working in Roseboom and Albany in Upstate New York since 2010 places that together form the center of her life and work The artist’s work synthesizes the various cultures in which she haslived with her experiences finding their way into recurring motifs: animals of the East African desert patterns evoking Somalian hand-woven fabrics Nordic environments from her time in Denmark The natural world continues to directly inform her art through the physical and psychological shifts of the landscape contributing to her fictional topographies Uman has had solo exhibitions at Nicola Vassell She has been featured in group exhibitions at the Aga Khan Museum Canada; For-Site Foundation at Fort Mason Chapel San Francisco CA; Institute of Contemporary Arts she was the recipient of the inaugural grant for The Cube at TRIADIC’s FORMAT Festival in Bentonville AR Mark Westall is the Founder and Editor of FAD magazine - Fatima Geffrin Managing Director of 16Arlington Paul McCarthy has developed a distinct and subversive artistic practice throughout his long career Lee has created a body of work spanning sculpture Hauser & Wirth will present Swiss artist Verena Loewensberg (1912 – 1986) who was also a leading figure within the influential Zurich school of concrete artists Join the FAD newsletter and get the latest news and articles straight to your inbox Following former US President Jimmy Carter's passing a story has surfaced about his involvement in saving the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman from destruction during the Soviet era The event occurred in 1979 when Soviet authorities planned to demolish the entire area around the sacred site to build residential buildings when Carter was still a nearly unknown presidential candidate the Lubavitcher Rebbe surprised Rabbi Pinchas Taitz with a directive to contact him organized a grand event in honor of Carter Carter sent a thank-you letter to Rabbi Taitz promising future assistance—a letter that proved crucial in saving the tomb When news of the demolition plan reached through a local resident including the Satmar Rebbe and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein After appeals to the US State Department were unsuccessful Rabbi Dorfman came to the Lubavitcher Rebbe Ahead of a summit between Carter and Brezhnev in Vienna a special letter was sent to the White House including a detailed explanation from Rabbi Aryeh Moshe Elijah Kaplan Carter raised the issue during his meeting with Brezhnev resulting in a Kremlin decision to preserve Bialynski Street The exact timing of the operation proved critical— the window of opportunity was exceptionally narrow Although Carter's actions as president evinced antisemitism and ani-Israelism, the rescue of the sacred tomb in Uman is a testament to Carter's legacy in aiding world Jewry alongside other achievements like the Israel-Egypt peace agreement and establishing the tradition of lighting a menorah at the White House For travel to the United States on a temporary basis For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries* who meet all requirements to travel to the United States without a visa for business or pleasure for 90 days or less Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S that you will not find anywhere else in the world Find the closest American Space in Jerusalem where you can connect with the U.S citizens considering travel to Uman during Rosh Hashanah for the pilgrimage to the grave of Rebbe Nachman all parts of the country have experienced Russian airstrikes hitting civilian buildings and critical infrastructure Uman has been the site of multiple Russian missile attacks as recent as June Embassy in Kyiv continues to operate with reduced staffing and has limited capacity to assist U.S The State Department’s Current Travel Advisory for Ukraine Is Level 4: Do Not Travel  The Department of State continues to advise that U.S citizens do not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict Those U.S citizens in Ukraine should depart if it is safe to do so using commercial or other privately available ground transportation options government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place Those remaining in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks The security situation throughout Ukraine is highly volatile citizens should remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space follow the instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately If you feel your current location is no longer safe you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S or harassment because of their nationality citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency Each province (oblast) will decide on the measures to be implemented according to local conditions Follow any state of emergency measures imposed in your oblast and over Ukraine due to ongoing military actions If you choose to disregard the travel advisory not to enter Ukraine you should consider taking the following steps prior to travel: U.S. Embassy Kyiv+380 44 521 50 00kyivacs@state.govhttps://ua.usembassy.gov/ State Department – Consular Affairs+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444 By | 7 September, 2023 | Topics: Alert, Messages for U.S. Citizens, U.S. Citizen Services We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to our privacy policy. U.M.A.N, an acronym for U Must Act Now, is set to release his self-titled album on the 7th of June this year. His first album produced by grammy-nominated Billy Farrell, is a testament to his commitment to excellence in music. Featuring harmony driven vocals, sophisticated songwriting and feet-tapping melodies, each track resonates with passion and purpose. Audiences can expect an electrifying experience as U.M.A.N takes the stage for a Winter/Spring tour of Ireland with their all-star 6-piece band. From the heart-pounding rhythms to the soul-stirring lyrics, each performance will bring something different. With a diverse repertoire that spans genres and generations, U.M.A.N is set to leave a lasting impression on audiences. ‘Crossroads’ is produced by Billy Farrell (The Corrs, Westlife, Eddie Reader) and is a mix of R&B, Gospel and Pop. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Many have travelled from Israel to Ukraine I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Prayer chants and the sounding of ram's horns fill the air in the town of Uman as thousands of pilgrims join an annual gathering to mark the Jewish new year in Ukraine, despite the war against Russia officials said that 35,000 pilgrims made the journey to Uman in central Ukraine this year Uman, 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, is transformed for the celebration of Rosh Hashana. The streets are plastered with signs in Hebrew for the pilgrims who come to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman, the great-grandson of the founder of Hasidic movement. Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, a leading figure in Ukraine’s Jewish community, was one of those who urged international pilgrims not to visit Ukraine due to security concerns but acknowledged that many would still make the trip regardless of the potential risks involved. “Every year (since Russia's full-scale invasion), I speak on Israeli television and radio, and I call on the (Jewish) pilgrims not to come to Ukraine. My primary concern is for the lives of people,” he said. Nachman Shitrit, 18, who traveled to Uman from Haifa, Israel with his father, said he had made the pilgrimage over a dozen times. “The war here didn’t scare me from traveling to Ukraine; there’s also war where I came from,” he told the AP. This year’s pilgrimage comes at an increasingly volatile time in the Middle East. Israel is now engaged in a multifront war that includes the battles with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, attacks from Iran and strikes inside Syria, plus ongoing confrontations with armed militants in the West Bank and occasional attacks launched by Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and by the Houthis in Yemen. The hostilities posed additional challenges to some pilgrims travelling to Ukraine this year. Ukraine closed its air space in February 2022, at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, forcing visitors to travel overland via other European countries in order to reach Uman. The United Jewish Community of Ukraine said Wednesday that more than 14,000 pilgrims were unable to travel to Uman, partly as a result of Iran’s attack on Israel Tuesday. Iran fired a barrage of nearly 180 missiles, causing cancellation of multiple flights from Israel in an act Iranian officials called retaliation for Israel’s recent strikes on Hezbollah. Meir Shpanier, 23, who travelled from Tel Aviv, said the difficulty of the journey had made the experience more meaningful to him this year. “I managed to get here by a miracle. My travel agent booked airplane tickets from Tel Aviv to Budapest. From there, a Ukrainian driver picked me up, and we drove 22 hours to Uman. But some of my friends had to travel through five countries.” “Because I had to work hard to get here, it means more to me now. I think we’re all blessed to be here,” Shpanier said. Orthodox Jews dance at the tomb of Rabbi Nachman, the great grandson of the founder of Hasidic movemen Chris Martin is an artist. He lives in New York. Home This video has been circulating online since at least June 2022 a man who threw the Ukrainian flag into the trash says in Russian «Now in our Uman, young Jewish guys are threatening Ukrainians, saying they will soon cut them up and play football with their heads. And two days ago, Jews in Uman tore down our flag and raised their own,» some users commented on the video this video was not filmed in Ukraine and is not related to current events Using reverse image search in Yandex, StopFake established that this video has been circulating online since at least June 2022 The video has been predominantly shared by Russian propaganda outlets and anonymous Telegram channels On many platforms where this video appeared, it is claimed that it was filmed in Israel displeased with the presence of Ukrainian flags on the streets It is known that this year Uman hosted more than 30,000 pilgrims. Security in the city was monitored not only by Ukrainian law enforcement but also by Israeli police officers who came to Ukraine to ensure order during the celebration of the Jewish New Year It is important to note that such fakes about Ukrainian antisemitism or the deliberately bad attitude of Jews to Ukrainians are not uncommon. Previously, StopFake debunked false information claiming that Hasidic Jews had allegedly raped an underage girl in Uman