The 1st time I heard about people going to Uman to Rabbi Nachman of Breslav's grave, I was in Far Rockaway, New York and thought okay, whatever.
The 2nd time I heard about it, I found out that people actually leave Israel to go.
I thought that was strange! I would do anything to be in Israel for Rosh Hashana or any other holiday. Why would
I would do anything to be in Israel for Rosh Hashana or any other holiday. Why would someone want to leave Israel? 
someone want to leave Israel?
The 3rd time was after hearing a weekly shiur on Rebbe Nachman of Breslav from Rav Weinberger in Aish Kodesh, Woodmere, and studying a lot of Rabbi Nachman's teachings. Rav Weinberger gave a long elaborate explanation about how it is important to be together with the Rebbe, and that Rebbi Nachman himself made the call for people to join him specifically on Rosh Hashana. Considering my new found respect and affinity for Rebbe Nachmans teachings, I accepted it as, "perhaps it's okay".
The 4th time I thought about it was after I made Aliya (moved to Israel, thank G-d) and now saw many neighbors actually leaving Israel to go to Uman, leaving their wives alone at home with the family. Considering that I know how important Israel was to Rebbe Nachman, I reasoned that perhaps he had called for his followers to go to Uman 200 years ago when people were in another European town anyway.
However at some time in the future, more than 200 years later, when Jews finally returned to Israel, I felt that Israel would take precedence in Rebbe Nachmans eyes. Perhaps he would even want to be brought to Israel. just like Joseph, Yosef Hatzdik, whose remains were brought from Egypt, and many other great Tzaddikim, holy men.
So lets recap: at this point I am still neutral, leaning towards Israel, yet with an open mind.
This past Rosh Hashana was the 5th time I had to think about it, and this is what I saw.
I had my 9 year old son sitting next to me most of the davening (prayers) , and he was constantly asking where we were up to. I spent a good deal of time explaining to him what was going on and am proud to say he had a great Rosh Hashana experience learning to daven and be part of the Rosh Hashana tefillot (prayers). He even called out the Shofar Kolot (names of shofar blasts) when I blew shofar at home for some people on both days.
HOWEVER!
I also saw a bunch of the boys aged 5-10 whose fathers were NOT in shul.
No these boys are not orphans, and their parents are not divorced, their fathers were in Uman!
So what did these boys do? Mostly nothing! They were running around, not really davening very much, perhaps interfering with other peoples teffilot. They didn't have the parental guidance they needed for the all important Rosh Hashana Davening.
A wife can allow (be mochel) her husband to go away and agree to take care of the household without him for a few days. However, as far as I can tell, a father has a Biblical obligation to educate, be Mechanech, his children, specifically his boys.
How can a boy learn about Rosh Hashana Davening when his father is in a different country?
Now with all due credit and fairness, some people took their boys with them, so at least they were with their boys. But many were NOT!. After learning quite a bit about Rebbe Nachman, I do not believe he expected people to leave Eretz Yisrael and ignore the obligation of being mechanech your sons to be at his gravesite on Rosh Hashana.
Plus Rebbe Nachman himself said “Wherever I go I'm going to the land of Israel”
And now, on the Intermediate Days, Chol Hamoed Sukkot, an Israeli Jew was murdered in Uman and the locals are screaming “Kikes, leave Ukraine!” Less than a month before, a Ukrainian politician had also reportedly called for a “purge of Jews” who he said had “seized power” in Ukraine.
Full report here:/News/News.aspx/139773
Did we learn ANY lesson from the Holocaust? Why does it seem like we are going backwards?
People borrow and ask for charity to go to Uman when they have a hard time paying their bills and they spend money in Uman among the "Jew loving: Ukrainians! Imagine if all that money was spent in Israel, in Meron or Jerusalem at Rebbe Nachman's students' graves. At least the money would circulate in Israel helping other Jews.
My call is to stay in Eretz Yisrael, bring Reb Nachman home to Israel, and if one still goes to Uman on Rosh Hashana he is obligated to take his young sons.
This may not sit well with a lot of my friends and Rabbanim that I respect, but this is how I see it.
Charity starts at home. "Aniyee Ircha Kodmim", Your sons chinuch (education) comes first!