Uman: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|Small cityCity in Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine}}

{{Expand languageUkrainian|topic=|langcode=uk|otherarticle=Уманьgeo|date=July 2022}}

| official_name = Uman

| native_name = {{lang|uk|Умань}}

| other_name =

| settlement_type = [[List of cities in = Ukraine|City]]

| image_flag = Flag_of_Uman,_Ukraine.pngsvg

| image_shield = Coat of arms of Uman, = Umany gerbUkraine.pngsvg

| nickname mapsize = 250px

| subdivision_type subdivision_type2 = [[ListRaions of sovereign statesUkraine|CountryRaion]]

| size = 275

| spacing = 2

| color = #FFFFFF

| border = 0

}}

| established_title = Founded

| established_date = 1616

| established_title1 = [[Magdeburg rights]]

| established_date1 = 1760

| leader_title = [[Mayor]]

| leader_name = Iryna Pletnyova

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 = 41

| area_land_km2 =

| area_water_km2 =

| population_as_of = 2022

| population_note = <ref name="ua2022estimate" />

| population_total = 81525

| population_footnotes =

| population_metro =

| population_density_km2 = auto

| pushpin_map = Ukraine Cherkasy Oblast#Ukraine

| pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Uman

| pushpin_mapsize =

| coordinates = {{coord|48|45|0|N|30|13|0|E|region:UA|display=inline,titleit}}

| elevation_m = 166

| postal_code_type = [[Postal code]]

| postal_code = 20300

| area_code = +380 4744

| website = https://uman-rada.gov.ua/

| footnotes =

'''Uman''' ({{lang-uk|Умань}}, {{IPA-uk|ˈumɐnʲ|IPA}}; {{lang-pl|Humań}}; {{langaudio=Uk-yi|אומאַןУмань.ogg}}) is a city located in [[Cherkasy Oblast]], central [[Ukraine]],. It is located to the east of [[Vinnytsia]]. Located in the east of the historical region of [[Podolia]], the city rests on the banks of the [[Umanka (river)|Umanka River]]. Uman serves as the administrative center of [[Uman Raion]] ([[raion|district]]). It hosts the administration of [[Uman urban hromada]], one of the [[hromada]]s of Ukraine.<ref name="admreform_2020_uman">{{cite web |title=Уманська територіальна громада |url=https://decentralization.gov.ua/newgromada/4860/composition |publisher=decentralization.gov.ua |language=uk}}</ref> Population: {{Ua-pop-est2022|81,525|punct=.}}

Among [[Ukrainians]], Uman is known for its depiction of the [[HaidamakHaydamak]] rebellions in [[Taras Shevchenko]]'s longest of poems, ''Haidamaky'' ("The Haidamaks", 1843).<ref>Magocsi, A History of Ukraine, 1996, p297</ref> The city is also a pilgrimage site for [[Breslov (Hasidic group)|Breslov Hasidic Jews]] and a major center of gardening research containing the [[SofiyivskySofiyivka Park|dendrological park Sofiyivka]] and the University of Gardening.

===Polish rule and uprisings===

Uman was first mentioned in historical documents in 1616, when it was under Polish rule.<ref name=eou>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Uman|url=http://encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?AddButton=pages\U\M\Uman.htm|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Ukraine|access-date=26 September 2011}}</ref> It was part of the [[Bracław Voivodeship]] of the [[Lesser Poland Province, Crown of the PolishKingdom Crownof Poland|Lesser Poland Province]]. Its role at this time was as a defensive fort to withstand [[Tatar]] raids, containing a prominent [[Cossack]] regiment that was stationed within the town. In 1648 it was taken from the Poles by Ivan Hanzha, colonel to Cossack leader [[Bohdan Khmelnytsky]], and Uman was converted to the administrative center of cossack regiment for the region.<ref name=eou/>

With the 1793 [[Second Partition of Poland]], Uman became part of the [[Russian Empire]] and a number of aristocratic residences were built there. In 1795, Uman became a povit/[[uezd]] center in Voznesensk Governorate, and in 1797, in [[Kyiv Governorate]].<ref name=eou/>

In 1941, the [[Battle of Uman]] took place in the vicinity of the town, where the [[Wehrmacht|German army]] encircled [[Red Army|Soviet]] positions. [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Benito Mussolini]] visited Uman in 1941. Uman was occupied by German forces from August 1, 1941, to [[Uman–Botoşani Offensive|March 10, 1944]].{{cn|date=April 2023}} The Germans operated the AGSSt 16 assembly center for prisoners of war in 1941, and the Stalag 349 [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|POW camp]] from September 1941 to October 1943.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Megargee|first1=Geoffrey P.|last2=Overmans|first2=Rüdiger|last3=Vogt|first3=Wolfgang|year=2022|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV|publisher=Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|pages=49, 350|isbn=978-0-253-06089-1}}</ref>

[[File:Yman 116.jpg|thumb|240px|[[SofiyivskySofiyivka Park]] in Uman]]

Uman's landmark is a famous park complex, [[Sofiyivka Park|Sofiyivka]] ({{lang-uk|Софiївка}}; [[Polish people{{lang-pl|Polish]]: Zofiówka}}), founded in 1796 by [[Count]] [[Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki]], a [[szlachcic|Polish noble]], who named it for his wife Sofia. The park features a number of waterfalls and narrow, arching stone bridges crossing the streams and scenic ravines.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

During the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Uman was hit by Russian artillery on 24 February 2022, which led to the death of a cyclist. The incident was caught on camera.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ukraine Casualties in the Hundreds As Civilians Bear Brunt of Russia's Attack |date=24 February 2022 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-putin-kyiv-attack-1682154 |publisher=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> Another Russian [[2023 Uman missile strike|missile strike on 28 April 2023 hit a residential building in the city]], killing at least 23 people including 6 children and injuring dozens more.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 April 2023 |title=Death toll in Uman rises to 14 including 2 children |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/04/28/7399800/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |publisher=Ukrainska Pravda}}</ref><ref name=ISW_2023-04-28>{{cite web|url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-28-2023 |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 28, 2023 |publisher=[[Institute for the Study of War|ISW]] |date=2023-04-28|access-date=2023-04-29 |website=understandingwar.org |author=Karolina Hird |author2=Riley Bailey |author3=Grace Mappes |author4=George Barros |author5=Layne Philipson |author6=Frederick W. Kagan |quote=Geolocated footage shows large-scale damage to a residential building in Uman, with the death toll reaching 20 civilians, including children, as of 1700 local time on April 28.}}</ref> The airstrike was quickly followed by a [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] post by the [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|Russian Ministry of Defense]] of an image of a missile launch with the caption "right on target".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-missile-attack-54c9ceec1418a0780aa0cee1427a540d|title=Russian missile and drone attack in Ukraine kills 23 people|first1=Andrea|last1=Rosa|first2=Hanna|last2=Arhirova|first3=David|last3=Rising|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=28 April 2023}}</ref>

A large [[Jewish community]] lived in Uman in the 18th and 19th centuries. During the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Second World War]], in 1941, the [[Battle of Uman]] took place in the vicinity of the town, where the [[Wehrmacht|German army]] encircled [[Red Army|Soviet]] positions. The Germans deported the entire Jewish community, murdering somearound 17,000 Jews,<ref name="Rosh Hashana">[http://www.breslov.com/bri/umanrh.html#chapter4 "Uman! Uman! Rosh HaShanah! A guide to Rebbe Nachman's Rosh HaShanah in Uman".] Breslov.</ref> and completely destroyed the Jewish cemetery, burial place of the victims of the 1768 uprising as well as Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. After the war, a [[Breslov (Hasidic dynasty)|Breslov]] [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasid]] managed to locate the Rebbe's grave and preserved it when the Soviets turned the entire area into a housing project.<ref name= "Rosh Hashana" />

Since the 1990s there has been a small, but growing, Jewish population in Uman, concentrated around Rebbe Nachman of Breslov tomb on Pushkina street. The local Jews are mostly involved in pilgrimage of Jewish tourists that arrive to the town. In 2018, the community saw large growth with about 10–20 families coming from Israel, accompanied by a small movement of young American couples.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} Newcomers to the city are concentrating around Skhidna St, with some toward Nova Uman area. In conjunction with this growth in the community, a new school of Yiddish was established.{{Citation needed|date = June 2013}}

Every [[Rosh Hashana]], there is a major [[Rosh Hashana kibbutz|pilgrimage]] by tens of thousands of Hasidim and others from around the world to the burial site of Rebbe [[Nachman of Breslov]], located on the former site of the Jewish cemetery in a rebuilt [[synagogue]].<ref>David M. Gitlitz & Linda Kay Davidson ''Pilgrimage and the Jews'' (Westport: CT: Praeger, 2006), 115-117.</ref> Rebbe Nachman Me'Uman spent the last five months of his life in Uman,<ref>Kaplan, Aryeh (1985). "Until the Mashiach: Rabbi Nachman's biography: an annotated chronology". Jerusalem/New York: [[Breslov Research Institute]]. Chapter 24: Uman 5570 (1810).</ref> and specifically requested to be buried there. As believed by the Breslov Hasidim, before his death he solemnly promised to intercede on behalf of anyone who would come to pray on his grave on Rosh Hashana, "be he the worst of sinners"; thus, a pilgrimage to this grave provides the best chance of getting unscathed through the stern judgement which, according to Jewish faith, [[Hashem|God]] passes on everybody on [[Yom Kippur]].<ref>

The Rosh Hashana pilgrimage dates back to 1811, when the Rebbe's foremost disciple, [[Nathan of Breslov]], organized the first such pilgrimage on the Rosh Hashana after the Rebbe's death. The annual pilgrimage attracted hundreds of [[Hasidic Judaism|HasidimHasidic Jews]] from [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]], [[Lithuania]] and [[Poland]] throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, until the [[Bolshevik Revolution]] of 1917 sealed the border between Russia and Poland. A handful of Soviet HasidimHasidic Jews continued to make the pilgrimage clandestinely; some were discovered by the KGB and exiled to [[Siberia]], where they died.{{Citation needed|date = June 2013}}

The pilgrimage ceased during [[World War II]] and resumed on a drastically smaller scale in 1948. From the 1960s until end of the [[Cold War]] in 1989, several hundred American and Israeli HasidimHasidic Jews made their way to Uman, both legally and illegally, to pray at the grave of Rebbe Nachman. In 1988, the Soviets allowed 250 men to visit the Rebbe's grave for Rosh Hashana. In 1989, over 1,000 HasidimHasidic Jews gathered in Uman for Rosh Hashana 1989. In 1990, 2,000 Hasidim attended.<ref name="Rosh Hashana"/><ref>See the article "A New Phase in Jewish-Ukrainian Relations" by Mitsuharo Akao</ref> In 2008, attendance reached 25,000 men and boys.<ref>[http://jta.org/news/article/2008/10/02/110639/umanroshhashana "Hasidic Jews celebrate holiday in Uman"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514065924/http://jta.org/news/article/2008/10/02/110639/umanroshhashana |date=2010-05-14 }} [[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]], 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2009-08-01.</ref> In 2018, over 30,000 Jews made the Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/1586099/30000-israelis-heading-to-uman-for-rosh-hashanah.html|title = 30,000 Israelis Heading to Uman for Rosh Hashanah|date = 5 September 2018}}</ref>

In the mid-2010s, Israeli HasidimIsraelis from many sectors of Israel's Ultra-Orthodox community, including many [[Mizrahi Jewish]] rabbis, make the pilgrimage. The event brings together a wide variety of Orthodox society, from [[Yemenite Jewish|Yemenite]] yeshiva students, to former Israeli prison inmates, and American hippies.<ref name="jpost.com">[http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Rosh-Hashana-in-Uman-A-Jewish-anarchy-468990 Rosh Hashana in Uman: A Jewish anarchy] By NATAN ODENHEIMER, 10/02/2016, Jerusalem Post</ref> In 2022, following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the number of pilgrims coming to Uman for Jewish New Year was approximately 10,000, or about one-third of the number in 2021.<!-- per Hromadske text in the accompanying video --><ref name=hromadske20221004>[https://twitter.com/Hromadske/status/1577281883913822213 This year's Jewish New Year celebrations in Uman were unlike the previous years], [[Hromadske|Hromadske International]], via Twitter. 4 October 2022.</ref>

Personnel of [[Ben Gurion airport]], other Israeli tourists and [[El Al]] pilots have complained about Hasidic pilgrims abusing drugs and hard liquor and harassing fellow passengers to Ukraine.<ref name="ynetnews.com">[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4863660,00.html Watch: Fighting on Uman-bound flight, shenanigans at Kiev airport] Itay Blumental|Published: 06.10.16, ynetnews</ref><ref name="14065924umanroshhashanah"/> Common complaints from Uman residents relate to the loud noise, singing, rowdiness, widespread drinking, drug use, and fighting the pilgrims cause.<ref name=jpcomplaints /> Locals have also complained about the cordoning off of neighborhoods by police and the internal trade that has developed among pilgrims.<ref name="14065924umanroshhashanah">[https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-israel-sets-up-temporary-consulate-in-uman-for-rosh-hashanah/#gs.flpehl In first, Israel sets up temporary consulate in Uman for Rosh Hashanah], [[The Times of Israel]] (29 August 2018)</ref>

Heavy [[alcoholic drink]]ing and [[cannabis]] smoking is prevalent amongst the pilgrims, many of them young men, with some describing it as a party event.<ref>''Rabbi rolling in his grave'', Akiva Novick, 14.09.10</ref> HippiesParticipants have been seen taking [[LSD]] on the pilgrimage.<ref name="jpost.com"/> Dancing in the streets to trance music is common and the event has been likened to the [[Burning Man]] festival.<ref name="slate.com"/>

The pilgrimage has led to several clashes over the years. In September 2010, several cases of violence and riots broke out among Hasidic pilgrims after members of the Evangelical Church arrived from [[Odesa]] to preach their faith, leading to 10 Hasidic pilgrims being deported.<ref name="kp2">{{cite web|last= Interfax-Ukraine|title=Ten Hasidic pilgrims deported from Ukraine|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/ten-hasidic-pilgrims-deported-from-ukraine-82122.html|publisher=[[Kyiv Post]]|date=Sep 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818004630/https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/ten-hasidic-pilgrims-deported-from-ukraine-82122.html|archive-date=2019-08-18}}</ref> A few days later, ten Hasidic pilgrims were deported back to Israel and banned from Ukraine for five years for disrupting public order and causing bodily harm to citizens.<ref name=kp2/> At the end of September 2010, an Israeli Hasid was stabbed and killed in an altercation that broke out following the vandalism of a car owned by Jews. Allegedly, his stabbing was a retaliation for the stabbing and wounding of a local (Ukrainian) by an Israeli.<ref>Breslov Hasid murdered in Uman [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3959826,00.html ynetnews.com]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Yanukovych orders to control investigation into murder of Israeli citizen in Uman|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/yanukovych-orders-to-control-investigation-into-mu-84010.html|newspaper=[[Kyiv Post]]|date=Sep 27, 2010}}</ref>

In September 2013, three Israeli police officers were deported after getting involved in a bar brawl during the Rosh Hashanah gathering in Uman.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reback |first=Gedalyah |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-cops-sent-home-after-uman-bar-fight/ |title=Israeli cops sent home after Uman bar fight |publisher=Timesofisrael.com |date=2013-09-08 |access-date=2015-05-30}}</ref> In the 2014 pilgrimage, organizers were fined $15,000 by the city of Uman for illegally operating a "tent city" to house 2,500 pilgrims.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reback |first=Gedalyah |url= http://www.timesofisrael.com/uman-fines-jewish-community-for-pilgrims-unlicensed-tent-city/ |title=Uman fines Jewish community for pilgrims' unlicensed tent city |publisher=Timesofisrael.com |date=2014-09-25 |access-date=2015-05-30}}</ref> The controversy is the subject of the 2015 documentary film, ''[[The Dybbuk. A Tale of Wandering Souls]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.polishdocs.pl/en/news/2458/a_tale_of_wandering_souls_-_interview_with_krzysztof_kopczynski |title= "A tale of wandering souls" - interview with Krzysztof Kopczyński|date=29 May 2015|work= Polish Docs|access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref> In 2015, pilgrims staying in a residential tower began tossing rocks and bottles from above onto a car, and when at one point a local policeman's hat was knocked off, police with [[German Shepherd]]s were called to scatter the crowd.<ref name=jpcomplaints>{{cite news|last=Hartman |first=Ben |url=http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Uman-Riot-erupts-between-pilgrims-and-Ukranian-police |title=Uman: Riot erupts between pilgrims and Ukrainian police - Jewish World - Jerusalem Post |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post &#124; Jpost.com |publisher=Jpost.com |access-date=2015-05-30}}</ref>

In 2010, an Israeli police officer sent to monitor security commented “people"people get drunk and act crazy in the streets, go out to pubs and hit on women and harass them. They do all types of things that they would never do in Israel, but they come out here and feel like they can do it.”"<ref name="jriot1">{{cite news|last=Hartman|first=Ben|title=Uman: Riot erupts between pilgrims and Ukrainian police |url=http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=187695|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=10 September 2010}}</ref> [[Anshel Pfeffer]] reported for ''[[Haaretz]]'' in 2018 that an Israeli diplomat told him that "roughly only half of those who come to Uman do so for religious reasons, and the other half are simply the dregs who come to get drunk, take drugs and visit prostitutes," Pfeffer himself did not find any evidence of prostitution in Uman.<ref name="1.6469941MyPilgrimage">[https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-partying-praying-prostitution-and-absolution-at-a-pilgrimage-into-the-jewish-future-1.6469941 My Pilgrimage Into the Jewish Future: Partying, Praying, Prostitution and Absolution in Uman], [[Haaretz]] (15 September 2018)</ref>

==ClimateGeography==

File:Gorky Street, 35a, Uman.jpg|An office building in Uman

File:71-108-0021 Uman DSC 2727.jpg|Late 19th century architecture in Uman

File:Hotel Sofievskiy in Uman.JPG|Hotel Sofiivskyi in Uman