Hasidim threaten to shut down Ben Gurion airport: "If we can't fly, no one will fly"

As Israel prepares to tighten enforcement against draft dodgers at Ben-Gurion Airport, Haifa Port, and border crossings, leaders of the Breslov Hassidic community are threatening to paralyze the country’s main airport to ensure their annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine, the burial site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. The escalating standoff, reported by Shilo Fried for Mako, has ignited fierce debate, with Hassidic activists vowing to bring 20,000 supporters to “shut down” the airport if prevented from traveling.

The pilgrimage to Uman holds profound spiritual significance for Breslov Hassidim, who view it as a sacred duty to pray at Rabbi Nachman’s grave during the Jewish New Year. However, fears of mass arrests loom as the IDF and police plan to intercept draft dodgers attempting to board flights for the celebration, despite efforts by ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties to secure exemptions. Military police presence will be bolstered at key transit points, and border officials have been instructed to detain anyone flagged with an “IDF indicator,” even if quietly directed otherwise by the Shas-controlled Interior Ministry. The Defense Ministry emphasized that bypassing these measures would violate the law.

In a defiant response, Yisrael Porush, former mayor of Elad and chairman of the “Magen U’Moshia” organization, warned on *Kol Chai* radio: “If necessary, we’ll bring 20,000 people to the airport and paralyze it. If we can’t fly, no one will.” While acknowledging that Haredi leaders have urged restraint for now, Porush insisted all options remain open, citing the community’s determination: “What’s allowed for the left is allowed for us.” A source from Agudat Yisrael underscored the pilgrims’ resolve, noting that during COVID-19 travel bans, Hassidim trekked through forests and crossed frozen rivers to reach Uman. “This is a great mitzvah they’re ready to risk their lives for,” the source said. “They’ll shake the country if stopped.”

The controversy coincides with outrage over a decision by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to deny National Insurance discounts to those liable for conscription. Haredi media outlets condemned the move as persecution. Hamevaser, a Shas-affiliated newspaper, labeled it an “antisemitic stance,” while Haderech accused Baharav-Miara of “continuing to hound yeshiva students.” Yated Ne’eman, linked to Degel HaTorah, decried her “cruelty” following cuts to daycare and yeshiva budgets. The rhetoric reflects deep frustration within the Haredi community amid ongoing tensions over mandatory military service.

In a parallel effort, MK Yitzhak Goldknopf praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for exploring exemptions for Uman pilgrims, emphasizing the spiritual importance of the journey for “tens of thousands of Jewish families.” Goldknopf also urged extending similar allowances to Chabad Hassidim traveling to New York’s 770 Eastern Parkway and other groups like Skver, Bobov, and Vizhnitz Monsey, arguing that their gatherings are irreplaceable spiritual experiences. As the standoff intensifies, the clash between religious devotion and state authority threatens to disrupt Israel’s travel hubs and deepen societal divides.