‘The show must go on’: 35,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews descend on Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah

The annual pilgrimage brings both prayers and partying to Uman. Many have been undeterred by official pleas to stay away this year

Unfazed by the bombs, undeterred by the warnings, and in the face of the raging conflict, more than 35,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews from across the world have journeyed to Uman, Ukraine, to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.

Going to celebrate in a war zone en masse is crazy," said Azoulay Ruben, a 22-year-old trainee dentist from Paris. But at the same time, it's a beautiful thing."