A few dozen people on motzei Shabbos protested outside the Breslov Kloiz in Uman, objecting to the planned hotel construction in the area, which they insist will compromise Jewish kevarim in the area despite the fact this has not been proven.

When excavating began two years ago near the kloiz, near the Orot Hotel, human bones were found. At the time the bones were found, Breslov rabbonim from Eretz Yisrael were flown to Uman.

The Breslov chassidim initiating the project purchased the area from the gentiles in the area, whose private homes used to stand on that plot. While the bones were found on the plot, admittedly, no one was aware of Jewish burial in that area previously, leading many to believe the bones are obviously not from Jews. It is unknown if the area may have been a cemetery in the past, or perhaps the plot of land was used in the past for dumping.

Bottom line is that about a half year ago, Asra Kadisha and the Eida Chareidis announced construction on the site may not continue, even areas where bones were not uncovered.

Kikar Shabbos News reports that the Chief Rabbi of Uman, Rabbi Yaakov Jann reports that there were never kevarim at the location and following his own personal inspection of the area in question, there is nothing preventing moving ahead with the project. Relying on the mora d’asra of the area, work has resumed on the hotel, leading to the protest.

Rabbonim affiliated with Breslov have released a kol korei, speaking out against Rabbi Jann, asking and pleading for an opportunity to “bury the kedoshim from their resting place where they have been uprooted”. Among the rabbonim who signed the kol korei were Rav Yaakov Meir Shechter, Rav Shmuel Moishe Kramer, Rav Shalom Arush, Rav Shimon Shapira, Rav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern, and Rav Betzalel Galinsky.

The person behind the project insists he has the green light from the mora d’asra of the city, as well as “a number of other rabbonim”, as well as statements from a few local elders, which back up their opinion. He adds that the turmoil has started simply because he refused to pay $50,000 to Asra Kadisha, and suddenly, they are against him. He insists everything he has and continues doing is in line with ‘daas torah’.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)