The Israel Airports Authority has geared up to handle the mass of Bratslav Hasidim flocking to the Ukrainian city of Uman ahead of Rosh Hashanah. Starting tomorrow and  between September 6th and 19th, about 12,000 Hasidim will travel on 160 outgoing and incoming flights for the traditional holiday pilgrimage, which primarily consists of Rosh Hashanah prayers on the grave of tzadik (righteous man) Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav.

As part of the IAA’s preparations for the “airlift” to Uman, based on the many years of experience accumulated by Ben-Gurion Airport in handling this unique population, the Airport’s passenger service division is offering a broad range of services tailored to the requirements of Hasidic passengers such as separate and organized flight registration, security inspection, border control, coordinating and allocating specialized service counters, maintaining public order and flying food as accompanying cargo for the Uman journey.

In light of the Hasidim’s demand to fly kosher food packages to Uman, the packages will be sent via the Ben-Gurion cargo terminal rather than as passenger luggage. Passengers will only be entitled to take a personal food box on board for their immediate needs.

As part of the deployment at Ben-Gurion Airport, the travelers will be directed to flight registration counters, security inspection areas and departure gates specially designated for these flights. These areas will be appropriately marked in due time and representatives of the various units at Ben-Gurion Airport will also help with directing the traveling public to the security inspection areas and departure gates.

All those involved in the journey to the Ukraine – namely the Hasidim’s representatives, travel agencies, airline companies, ground services companies, the Ukrainian embassy in Israel, the cargo terminal and the various divisions at Ben Gurion Airport, notably the security, passenger service, operations and maintenance divisions – have collaborated with Ben-Gurion Airport in its deployment for the “Uman Operation”.