Rabbi Yisroel Pinto, Owner of Orot Hotel in Uman Dies at 34

Swine flu has struck the small Israeli Jewish community of Uman, in Ukraine, and taken the life of 34-year-old Rabbi Yisrael Pinto, z’l, according to a report posted on the Hebrew-language Actualic news website.

Rabbi Pinto served as a spiritual leader in Uman’s Breslov community, and was the owner and manager of the Orot Hotel. The rabbi was transferred to Odessa for medical care when his condition began to deteriorate, and when it was obvious that he required better care he was transferred to Israel’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem – but he did not survive.

Avraham Getz of Boro Park Dies in Uman

Over the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, United Hatzalah volunteers treated some 2,700 injured people in and around the city of Uman, Ukraine. One of the people treated, whom first responders attempted to revive via lengthy resuscitative efforts, passed away. The Niftar is R’ Avrohom Getz Z”L from Boro Park (23).

He was suffering from an advanced illness and fulfilled his dying wish to be near the grave of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

He leaves behind a wife and two children.

United Hatzalah, who provided medical response to anyone in need in and around the city over the holiday, including taking over the operation of the local medical clinic, issued a statement saying that they treated over 2,700 people, of whom, many were evacuated to hospitals in Kiev over the New Year.

Yisrael Stark, the head of the United Hatzalah branch in Uman, said that: “United  Hatzalah will continue to provide medical support in Uman through Yom Kippur. Hundreds of our volunteers helped strengthen the life-saving unit of United Hatzalah’s full-time Uman branch in order to help care for the tens of thousands of Jews who come to Uman for the holiday, in honor of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov,” he said.

Israeli Man Missing in Uman

Amir Ahona

 A young Israeli man has gone missing in Uman, and now a desperate search is underway to find him.

Amir Ahona, 28, a father of three, traveled to Uman before Rosh Hashanah, but has seemingly disappeared without a trace. His wife said she last spoke with her husband before the holiday and that he was going to perform hitbodidot (a type of meditation in the Breslov tradition) in the forest and would return after the holiday. She has not heard from him since.

It is believed that Amir may be in real danger, Israel’s Ch. 2 reports (http://bit.ly/1UW03ql), especially because he suffers from epilepsy. Because of his illness, his insurance company in Israel refused to insure him for his trip abroad and has therefore not sent a search team from Israel to help, his brother-in-law explained.

Early Tuesday morning, Ukrainian police in cooperation with Israeli authorities began searching for the missing man after being alerted by his group that he had not returned from his trip to the forest. His cell phone and other belongings were found in his room. “His friends on the trip noticed that he did not return and reported it to the authorities,” Amir’s wife said. “Initially, they didn’t want to tell me that he was missing so I wouldn’t be worried, but in the end, they didn’t have a choice. Now, I’m afraid I won’t find him alive.” His wife said.

 “Forces on the ground have rejected the possibility that Amir has drowned and they are continuing to search the area and the nearby forest,” a representative from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

A prayer rally was also held for the man’s safe return.