Breslov Hasidic Rabbis Appeal to Cherkasy Regional Administration
A letter has reportedly been sent to the editorial office of JewishNews on behalf of the largest Breslov Hasidic yeshiva, "Yeshivath Chasidei Breslev Or Haneelam" (located in Jerusalem).
The letter, addressed to the Head of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration, Ihor Taburets, and the Mayor of Uman, Iryna Pletnyova, expresses deep concern over recent developments in Uman that allegedly threaten the destruction of the ancient Jewish cemetery, where generations of the Uman Jewish community and Tzaddik Rabbi Nachman are buried.
The concern centers on the Uman city authorities' alleged intention to approve the city's historical-architectural master plan without including protected zones for the cultural heritage site of Rabbi Nachman's Grave and the cemetery. This, the letter claims, would lead to the complete destruction of the ancient cemetery, which holds the remains of thousands of innocent victims of the Haidamak massacres.
The signing rabbis urge authorities to take all necessary measures to respect the deceased and protect the graves from destruction. They reference current Ukrainian legislation and Order No. 41 of the Cherkasy Regional Administration dated April 9, 2021, which they say must be incorporated into the historical-architectural plan's protected zones for the cultural monument "Grave of Tzaddik Nachman" in Uman.
The letter is signed by:
- Rabbi Shechter, Jerusalem (Israel) – Leader of the largest Breslov Hasidic community, considered one of the most authoritative figures in Breslov Hasidism (likely Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter).
- Rabbi Kremer – Beit Shemesh (Israel), leader of the next largest Breslov community;
- Rabbi Shapiro – Breslov Rabbi, Jerusalem (Israel);
- Rabbi Anshin, synagogue in Jerusalem (Israel).