A highly unusual sight drew considerable attention among the thousands who spent Rosh Hashanah in Uman this year, as Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, made his first-ever Rosh Hashanah visit to Uman and joined the massive tefillos of Breslover chassidim.

Rav Sorotzkin stayed at the Azamra Hotel during his visit, which quickly became one of the most widely discussed developments among those gathered in Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

His arrival was marked by an especially conspicuous welcome: a huge banner was hung from one of the area’s tall buildings bearing a photograph of the Rosh Yeshiva and a message welcoming him to Uman. The display immediately attracted the attention of visitors throughout the area.

On the first night of Rosh Hashanah, Rav Sorotzkin went to the main Breslover kloiz for Maariv. The massive bais medrash was packed with thousands of mispallelim, with virtually no room remaining to stand.

During both days of Rosh Hashanah, the Rosh Yeshiva davened Shacharis and Mussaf at the large minyan held in the tent of noted philanthropist Mr. Louis Scheiner. The minyan, one of the prominent Rosh Hashanah minyanim in Uman, begins each morning at 6 a.m.

Rav Sorotzkin’s presence generated considerable excitement among participants. He was seen davening with great hisorerus and simcha and, at one point, spent an extended period encouraging the spirited dancing with his hand.

The davening continued for hours, accompanied by singing and dancing, and concluded at approximately 10:45 a.m.

The visit was particularly noteworthy because of Rav Sorotzkin’s position as the Rosh Yeshiva of one of the prominent Litvishe Torah institutions in Eretz Yisrael. His decision to spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman and participate in the Breslover minyanim therefore became a major topic of conversation throughout the city.

The unusual visit was discussed extensively in the batei medrash, hotels and streets surrounding the tziyun of Rav Nachman of Breslov.

Sources indicated that Rav Sorotzkin’s unprecedented trip to Uman was connected to a major financial commitment from an American philanthropist. According to the sources, a wealthy supporter offered to cover the substantial financial shortfall facing Ateres Shlomo — reportedly amounting to millions of dollars — on the unusual condition that the Rosh Yeshiva accompany him to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. Some reports have placed the value of the commitment at approximately $10 million, although that specific figure has not been independently confirmed. Other reports said the donor undertook to cover three months of overdue stipends owed to thousands of avreichim in the Ateres Shlomo kollel network. Rav Sorotzkin consulted with one of the Gedolei Yisroel before agreeing to the arrangement, after which the outstanding stipends were transferred to the avreichim.