During the Rosh Hashanah holiday, volunteers from ZAKA’s International Unit in Uman worked tirelessly around the clock, responding to dozens of incidents. Among them were cases of missing children – primarily between the ages of 4 and 9 – who were separated from their parents for hours.

The ZAKA hotline also assisted in numerous cases of lost passports, facilitating immediate coordination with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local consulate. In addition, teams provided medical and humanitarian support to patients hospitalized outside of Uman.

Tragedy struck earlier in the week when an Israeli man was killed in a car accident en route to Uman. ZAKA volunteers, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Consulate in Ukraine, accompanied and supported the family through this difficult time.

Another critical incident occurred during the holiday when a fire broke out in a city building. ZAKA’s rescue teams, alongside local firefighters, were the first to enter the structure to ensure no one remained trapped inside. Only after a thorough search confirmed there were no casualties were additional forces permitted to enter.

Throughout the holiday, ZAKA teams worked in full cooperation with local authorities and Israeli police, providing professional and compassionate response to emergencies both large and small. The central ZAKA hotline in Uman operated without interruption and will continue to serve until all travelers return safely to Israel.

Nahman Dickstein, Commander of the ZAKA Operation in Uman, stated:

“During Rosh Hashanah, we assisted in dozens of incidents – from locating children to responding to a city fire – while also supporting families in crisis and coordinating with local authorities. ZAKA is always the first on the scene to provide safety and assistance for all worshippers. ZAKA Ukraine operates year-round, 24/7, ready to help wherever needed. Even at this very moment, we are working to ensure that a local Jewish resident who passed away in the hospital will be brought to burial in Israel before Shabbat.”