Ukraine Grants National Heritage Status to Grave of Hasidic Leader in Uman

The Ukrainian government has officially designated the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in the central city of Uman as a site of national historical significance, recognizing its importance as a spiritual and cultural landmark for Jewish pilgrims worldwide.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to an announcement made by government representative Taras Melnychuk via Telegram.

The Cabinet of Ministers’ decision elevates the grave, located at 1 Hryhoriia Kosynky Street in Cherkasy region, from a site of local importance to a monument of national heritage. 

Rabbi Nachman, a central figure in Hasidic Judaism and founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement. 

His teachings emphasized joy, personal prayer, and spiritual renewal that continue to guide thousands of his followers across the globe.

Each year, tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews make a pilgrimage to Uman during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which in 2025 falls between October 2 and 4. 

According to tradition, those who mark the holiday at Rabbi Nachman’s grave are granted a year of blessings and spiritual protection.

The site’s new legal status provides it with enhanced state protection, ensuring its preservation amid ongoing concerns about unregulated development in the area. 

In recent months, Ukrainian cultural watchdogs have raised alarms over unauthorized hotel construction near the tomb, warning that such activities threaten the integrity of the sacred site.

By granting national recognition to Rabbi Nachman’s grave, the Ukrainian government reaffirms the country’s commitment to preserving its multicultural legacy, one that includes a long and complex Jewish history, deeply rooted in towns like Uman.