Because of the cross: Tashlich in Uman will be held elsewhere

Two months ago, anti-Semitic organizations in Uman placed a large cross on a river hurl, to initiate provocations and conflicts between local residents known as devout Christians and Hasidic pilgrims from the grave of Rabbi Nachman.

World Breslov Center, contacted all the relevant authorities, with a number of official and unofficial requests: Move the cross to another position to avoid extremists damaging the cross, and thus cause a conflict between local residents and Breslov thus increasing anti-Semitism.

CEO, World Breslov Center, Uman, Shimon Buskila, met with Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Reuven Din – Al representatives of the organizations responsible for placing the cross, Chirqas District Governor, Mayor of Uman and Chirqas district police chief.
"Unfortunately," says Buskila, "Everyone showed incompetence. Since it is a religious symbol and none of these factors want to hurt the feelings of local residents. No explanations that the situation is very sensitive, which can cause diplomatic acute crisis between the Jews and Christians, if the cross is damaged - by some margin of Hasidic boys, or those who placed the cross damage it, to accuse the disciples and spread anti-Semitism, helped."
Provocative political goal
As a last step Buscaglia met last Friday with the head of the church in Uman and all surrounding cities, with a request to relocate the cross. To his surprise, the head of the church received the application with understanding, agreed with the position, and added the words: "The people who set the cross did not ask my permission, as required by the customs of the church."

He said, "placing the cross in such a place just degrades it, because the rest of the year local residents are bathing in the river and get drunk, causing contempt of a religious symbol."

But after the meeting said he could not do anything, because there is no religious and legal authority to remove a religious symbol that was placed formally on - by the church in charge, and with the best intentions, does not want or can take part in a debate with those people whose goals are political, and not between religion connections.
As a gesture of goodwill, the head of the church promised to mention during his weekly sermon, and to explain to the city residents that the cross is not related in any way to the church, and that the purpose of placing the cross is a provocative political purpose.

Buskila: "Unfortunately, due to the ineffectiveness of all agencies responsible, and to prevent the picture it paints itself as the Jews who are trying to dictate the moves and agenda in Uman - decided on the advice of rabbis to hold this year's Tashlich in another place, it will be announced on the loudspeaker's overall Center Breslov, immediately after the global Tikun Klali prayer on Rosh Hashana.

"If until Rosh Hashana none of the moves will succeed, and the cross will not be relocated. Whether we can influence these factors to move the cross, Tashlich ceremony will take place at the river near the Zion as every year.

Breslov: Not responsible

And regardless of the Cross - Owner of the nearby factory, which owns river, promised Buskila that appreciation of his actions to transfer the cross, and diplomatic efforts - If ritual Tashlich will end up in the usual place, he undertakes not to open the river and emptied its waters, as he did every year as an act of harassment to the followers.

The factory owner, an observant Christian, formerly leader of the anti-Semitic organizations, has recently changed and made friends with the Jewish leaders and managers of Uman World Breslov Center. He even tried to help them fight against the organizations who try to harass Hasidic pilgrims.

In the meantime, Rabbi Shimon Buskila contacted Uman Municipality official letter, in which he declares that as the representative of the Hasidim, "the World Breslov Center cannot and is not obligated to take responsibility for any damage caused to the cross, on the other extremists who try to hit a cross, and that it removes entirely from his responsibility, and puts the full responsibility to relevant parties, such as county and city police in Uman.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!