Nearly 7,000 Hasidic Jews transited Romania en route to Ukraine under authorities’ supervision

Approximately 7,000 Hasidic Jews crossed Romania between September 7 and 11 on their way to Ukraine, where they are due to celebrate the Jewish New Year. The transit took place under the supervision of the authorities, without any notable incidents.

The pilgrims entered Romania through the airports in Bacău, Iași, Bucharest, Suceava and Cluj. From there, the authorities directed them to the nearest border crossing points with Ukraine, Siret and Vicovu de Sus.

Institutions in the Moldavia region coordinated their movement along the entire route to ensure the participants’ safety, ease traffic congestion and prevent situations that could have disrupted the transit. The Suceava Prefecture announced that the mission ended without any major problems.

The authorities are also preparing for the return stage, scheduled for September 14–17, when the pilgrims will return to Romania. The same cooperation and coordination measures will be maintained to ensure the safe movement of the travelers.

Hasidic Jews are recognizable by their traditional attire, which includes black, often fur-trimmed hats, long sidelocks and beards. The community originated in Ukraine, but most of its members currently live in Israel and the United States. Worldwide, their number is estimated at between 500,000 and 700,000.