Ukraine – Search Continues For Missing Israeli Man In Uman

Ukraine – 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.