Yup! I just arrived back in the Holy Land a few hours ago and the first thing I did after davening was book my ticket for Uman Rosh Hashana 2018. I’m so happy!
Let me share with you why I think Uman is so special:
When I was in first grade, I remember raising my hand bashfully to ask my new teacher a question in front of the whole class. Mrs. Webber, a venerated educator, heard my question and said, “Wow! David, that’s a very good question. You’re so smart and it seems that you’ve been paying good attention. Class, did you hear David’s amazing question”? Needless to say Mrs. Webber’s response made me feel ten feet tall. I’m not exaggerating when I say that moment enhanced my entire elementary school experience.
In Torah 282 Rebbe Nachman urged his followers to search vigorously and find their own good points and the good points of others. It’s advice that he encouraged us to review constantly. The Rebbe, of course, is the absolute master of seeing good in others. When we go to Uman and stand before our Rebbe he only sees our goodness. No matter how bad we were all year long, he can find something good about us and make us feel unique, special and worthy. It’s such a good feeling that it’s just indescribable. But what’s really so amazing about it, is how contagious the feeling is. Because of the Rebbe’s good eye, everybody feels important and somehow we’re able to put aside – for a few days – our insecurities and see our friends’ greatness as well. Somehow everybody in Uman get’s along really well. We’re all brothers there. The unity is palpable. Away from all our comforts, we fall in love with each other, accepting one another for who they are, no matter what. It’s truly a taste of Moshiach!
אהלל דבר 
You have a very good wife! Can I suggest that all you uman goers rent out a hotel for yt for all the wives and children. Not that I minded having them, it was my pleasure! But, it might be nicer for her/them to know that all the food, cleaning,… Is taken care of and also to have a nice social setting for the chag. Glad you had an inspirational trip! May the inspiration you got on rosh hashana carry you through the year!
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Dude! I didnt even read your entire post yet. I started reading the beginning and had to write to u… I’m so happy you had an uplifting experience but wouldn’t you rather that Moshiach would come and before next Rosh Hashanah rolls around Rebbe Nachman will be here in Eretz Yisroel with us?? The Jews of old would throw away their kinos after tisha b’av hoping to never need it again!! I’m sure if by next year rosh hashana we aren’t zoche to ben Dovid we will begrudgingly book our tickets to daven by the kever of the tzadik – but hopefully NOT!!
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Hey Bentzi: I would certainly rather Moshiach come. I do feel that Uman will be in Eretz Yisroel then somehow. Even now it has Kedushas Eretz Yisroel. If Moshiach comes before Rosh Hashana and I lose my money spent on the flight, I will be so happy! Somebody else commented to me that it sounds like a lack of faith in Moshiach. I can see why they feel that, but I think it’s showing my faith in the tzaddik and his tikkunim. And like I said, I wouldn’t flinch from losing this money if Moshiach arrived. הלוואי!
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Now I read it completely. It’s a beautiful thing to read how the achdus and wonderful feelings in Uman are catchy. You end off by saying that it feels like Moshiach – and my brochoh to both of us and all jews the world over is that the achdus felt in uman is brought back to Eretz Yisrael and we can use the Ahavas chinam to bring Moshiach and the 3rd beit Hamikdash במהרה בימינו. אמן…
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