Amid coronavirus pandemic, Ukraine closed its borders starting Aug. 29 in a move widely seen as trying to block the Hasidic followers, but thousands made the trip anyway

Red Cross provides humanitarian aid to ultra-Orthodox travelers caught in the middle of crossing, unable to proceed to Uman or turn back

Beitar Ilit's Meir Rubinstein, Elad's Israel Porush go to Ukrainian city, home to a Hasidic pilgrimage site, after their cities put under curfew and days ahead of national lockdown

Rabbi Mendel Cohen was evacuated to Israel for urgent treatment, warns of 'great danger'; Odessa rabbi says local health system in collapse: 'We won't be able to help you'

Rosh Hashanah pilgrims make 'mess' at grave of rabbi, official says, reportedly in frustration at the limitations imposed on numbers due to the coronavirus outbreak

Unclear if Ukraine will make exception for Israeli pilgrims and waive ban on foreigners; proposal said to allow for 5,000-7,500 pilgrims to make trip, including those already there

Some 200-odd Israeli observant Jews have made the Ukrainian city their home, catering to the visitors to Rabbi Nachman's grave

'This was a classic anti-Semitic incident,' victim says; Likud MK, Hasidic leader link attack to letter sent by Israel's virus czar asking that Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage be canceled

Ukrainian authorities don't rule out arson in blaze that caused some damage to gravestones, but say heat and dry foliage are also likely culprits

Another group tries to cross border from Belarus but is detained, amid fears of virus outbreak if thousands attend annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage in Uman