Jews in Eretz Yisroel and abroad were shocked at the
discovery excavation work was unexpectedly carried out at the
ancient cemetery in Uman on Tuesday near the gravesite of R'
Nachman of Breslov zechuso yogen oleinu.
The digging took place on the grounds of the cemetery where
the remains of 30,000 kedoshim who died sanctifying
Hashem's Name in the Ukrainian city lie buried. The work was
ordered by a local businessman who plans to build a high-rise
building with hotel rooms, residential apartments and stores
on the site. Using his connections in the municipal system,
he managed to obtain all of the necessary permits and began
work unannounced, desecrating the gravesites of the dead.
Building the large foundations requires excavation work which
is certain to defile the bones of those who lie buried. Jews
around the world are now working to halt the excavations.
Tuesday night Rav Michah Rothschild, chairman of the
Association for the Prevention of Grave Desecration, said
that numerous efforts are being made to prevent the
construction of the building on the cemetery grounds. "There
are always other graves surrounding the gravesites of
tzadikim in Europe and the rest of the world, and in
Eretz Yisroel as well, there are always other graves.
Therefore great care must be taken not to desecrate the
graves and efforts are underway to stop the digging at the
site."
