Note: I will not be in Uman for Rosh Hashana. In general, the Rambam rules that it is forbidden to leave Israel [barring certain particular circumstances]. I am not a fan of leaving for no reason [nor is the halacha, as I noted]. In Israel Baruch Hashem we have tzadikim whom one can daven with and one need not spend a thousand dollars davening at a grave.
If we would gather all of the millions and millions of dollars that will be spent for Rosh Hashana in the very disgusting area in which the tzadik is buried and give it to poor people - ohhhhhhh would peoples lives be changed for the good. Tzedaka brings the geula!
ON THE OTHER HAND - if it gives a person a real התעוררות דקדושה and he will have a tremendous spiritual aliyah that he would not have elsewhere, then there is something to be said for it. However, I suspect that many go for the "chavayah".
This simple Jew will stay local imy"H.
והיה כי תבוא אל הארץ , כתב אור החיים הקדוש : "והיה" לשון שמחה , לומר לך , שאין לשמוח אלא בישיבת ארץ ישראל , כמה שנאמר - "אז ימלא שחוק פינו"
