Dozens of draft dodgers arrested at border crossings ahead of Rosh Hashanah Uman pilgrimage

Over 60 draft dodgers, many of them ultra-Orthodox men, have been arrested at Israeli border crossings since Sunday, primarily at Ben-Gurion Airport and the Taba crossing, as they attempted to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. The IDF confirmed these arrests, stating that enforcement is routine and coordinated with the Population and Immigration Authority, with preparations adjusted based on assessments. The "I Entrusted Guards" hotline warned haredi youths to avoid border crossings, claiming some arrested individuals could remain imprisoned during the holiday. Senior Breslov rabbis advised those at risk of arrest not to travel, while an unofficial initiative emerged to hold Rosh Hashanah prayers in military prison if the pilgrimage is prevented. One Breslov Hasid noted that for some, "getting to Uman is in their soul," with some willing to "sacrifice their lives for this." A technological change now allows authorities to identify individuals with travel restrictions during online check-in.