In a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, MK Yitzchak Goldknopf formally requested that the government permit thousands of Lubavitch bochurim to travel to the Rebbe’s Ohel and to 770 for Tishrei, despite the current exit restrictions affecting many who are draft-eligible or have pending draft obligations.

By Anash.org reporter

In a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Chairman of United Torah Judaism, MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, formally requested that the government permit thousands of Lubavitch bochurim to travel to the Rebbe’s Ohel and to 770 in New York for Tishrei, despite the current exit restrictions affecting many who are draft-eligible or have pending draft obligations.

This request follows the government outline currently being formulated at Netanyahu’s direction to enable thousands of Breslov chassidim to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, even though more than 5,000 of them are officially classified as draft evaders who would otherwise risk arrest upon leaving the country. 

In addition, an estimated 10,000 draft-eligible young men regularly make the annual journey to Uman. Without a special framework, security officials have warned of the potential for mass disruptions and large-scale detentions at the airport.

“They are going to pray, not to vacation,” Netanyahu said at a special meeting convened last week. “We need to find a solution for them.” He instructed his chief of staff to examine the feasibility of arrangements that would prevent conflict while ensuring the pilgrims’ travel.

In his letter, Goldknopf expressed deep gratitude to the prime minister for his “personal concern and willingness to find a proper solution to enable this uplifting spiritual experience…This is a clear expression of every Jew’s right to celebrate the holiday in the presence of his Rebbe.”

Goldknopf then appealed to Netanyahu, in light of the numerous appeals he has received from Lubavitch roshei yeshivos and rabbonim, “to expand the government outline so it would also include the thousands of Lubavitch chassidim who travel annually for the yomim tovim to be near the Rebbe – both in 770 and at the Rebbe’s Ohel.”

The full letter:

To the Honorable Prime Minister of Israel,
Mr. Binyamin Netanyahu,

Greetings,

I wish to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for the government outline being formulated under your leadership, to assist Breslov Chassidim in traveling during the holy days of Rosh Hashanah to the resting place of their holy Rebbe in the city of Uman.

Your personal concern and willingness to find a proper solution to enable this uplifting spiritual experience – which serves as a source of inspiration and strength for tens of thousands of Jewish families for generations – are by no means taken for granted, and they arouse tremendous gratitude. This is a clear expression of every Jew’s right to celebrate the yom tov in the presence of his Rebbe and to offer prayers at the place sacred to him.

Alongside this expression of thanks, I would like, with all due respect, to raise an additional request that has come to my office in numerous appeals from heads of yeshivas and important rabbis from Chabad Chassidus: to expand the outline so that it will also include the thousands of Chabad Chassidim who travel who travel annually for the yomim tovim to be near the Rebbe – both in 770 and at the Rebbe’s Ohel, as well as other Chassidic groups that have also turned to me on this matter, such as Skver, Bobov, Vizhnitz Monsey, and others, in various places around the world where they traditionally gather. For them too, this is a sublime spiritual experience that has no substitute, and it is our duty to enable them the same right that has been granted to others.

I am confident that you will know how to give this the proper response, so that additional circles within the chareidi and chassidic public will also be able to spend the holidays in the presence of their Rebbe – in an organized, safe, and dignified manner.

With blessings for success, and wishes for a ksiva v’chasima tova in the Book of Life.