Gamzu pleaded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to spare him the mass demonstration.
“I would like to express my fear that holding two weeks of extensive celebrations, in the center of the city of Uman, where tens of thousands more people will celebrate in crowded conditions, will inevitably have serious short and long-term implications. ” either on the local Uman network and beyond, as well as for the State of Israel, ”Gamzu wrote in a letter to Zelensky.
“As you possibly know, Israel still faces the highest daily rates of other people inflamed by the coronavirus,” Gamzu wrote to Zelensky. “Despite serious measures taken by the government, infection rates remain the highest, with a higher prevalence of the disease in ultra-Orthodox communities.
“A collection like this, in such difficult times, is expected to generate great chances of infection for tourists and local residents of Ukraine, placing a heavy burden on local medical systems, while thousands more are expected to return to Israel and spread more. the virus, “he added.
Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman of the ultra-Orthodox Unified Judaism Torah Party responded to Gamzu saying: “It is to perceive the pain [of prospective pilgrims] and heed their valid request. “
According to Channel 12 news, Litzman said the imaginable flight regulation was a “slap in the face to tens of thousands of Bratslav supporters. “
Last month, Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich said the Ukrainian government had agreed to allow at least 5,000 other people to attend the pilgrimage. The quota may be successful at 8,000, however pilgrims will have to wear masks in crowded places and choirs to collect more than 30 people, he added.
Israeli fitness officials are “concerned” about what they will do when the pilgrims return, Bleich said.
As of Sunday morning, Israel had 22,022 active cases of COVID-19 and had noted 825 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
In Ukraine, there are approximately 49,000 active cases and more than 2,200 deaths.