Trump was told about the ancient Jewish cemetery in Uman: illegal construction, human remains, and the decision of the Supreme Court of Ukraine

The White House raised the issue of the old Jewish cemetery in Uman, where disputes over construction and earthworks continue. The story has already reached the Supreme Court of Ukraine, and in the summer of 2026, human bones were again found near the grave of Rabbi Nachman.

Author: Victoria Katsman

The Uman issue reached the White House

On September 4, 2026, the charitable foundation ‘Historical and Cultural Center of the City of Uman’ reported that the issue of the ancient Jewish cemetery in Uman was raised during a meeting of leading American rabbis with US President Donald Trump and his administration.

The meeting itself took place on September 3 at the White House, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. According to the foundation, Rabbi Moshe David Niederman spoke about ‘illegal and unauthorized constructions’ and cases of finding ‘human bones’ during earthworks.

Niederman is the head of United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn and a long-time participant in international projects to protect Jewish cemeteries. Also visiting the White House were Satmar Rebbes Aaron Teitelbaum and Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, Bobov Rebbe Ben Zion Halberstam, Vizhnitz-Monsey Rebbe Israel Hager, head of Beth Medrash Govoha Malkiel Kotler, and Aaron Mendel Twersky. The delegation met with Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Jared Kushner, and administration representatives.

American religious media confirm Niederman’s visit, the discussion of the protection of Jewish cemeteries, and the subsequent meeting of the delegation with Trump in the Oval Office. However, the White House did not publish a detailed official transcript of the conversation about Uman. Therefore, the wording that Trump was specifically informed about the details of Uman’s construction and the findings of remains is attributed to the foundation by NANews, rather than presented as a separately confirmed quote from the president or administration.

Bones near the grave of Rabbi Nachman

For Uman, the issue is not new. On July 31, 2026, fragments of human bones were discovered near the grave of Rabbi Nachman, where workers were laying a trench for electrical communications. The executive director of the foundation, Irina Rybnytska, stated that the find once again shows the need for special control over any earthworks in the area of the old cemetery. NANews – News of Israel | Nikk.Agency previously detailed the state status of Rabbi Nachman’s grave and the history of this place.

Similar finds have been recorded before.

In 2022, about thirty bone fragments were discovered in the pilgrimage area after earthworks. At that time, the origin of the remains required examination, and representatives of the Hasidic community linked them to the old Jewish cemetery. The US State Department, in its annual reports on religious freedom, also recorded complaints from Jewish organizations about ‘illegal hotel construction’ near the cemetery and Rabbi Nachman’s grave, possible damage to burials, and the risk of raising human remains.

What the Supreme Court of Ukraine has already decided

The legal side of the conflict reached the Supreme Court of Ukraine. On July 22, 2025, the court considered case No. 580/5629/24 regarding the historical and architectural support plan of Uman.

In 2024, the city council approved documentation where the protective zone of the monument was effectively limited to the site of the grave itself. The Supreme Court recognized the decision as ‘illegal,’ indicating that the city did not take into account previously approved boundaries and protection regimes. The court also found that the plan materials were not submitted to the Ministry of Culture for the legally required approval.

Why this cemetery is important

The history of the cemetery is significantly older than modern pilgrimage.

This territory is associated with the burials of Jews who died during the Uman massacre of 1768. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov died in Uman in 1810 and wished to be buried next to these victims. In 1994, by decree of the President of Ukraine, a historical and cultural center was established at the site of his burial, and in 1995, the grave received protected status. Ukraine and the USA also concluded an agreement on the protection of cultural heritage, which explains the constant involvement of American structures in the preservation of Jewish monuments.

Niederman is not new to Uman

Niederman is not new to Uman. In June 2024, he was part of an American Jewish delegation discussing the preservation of the cemetery with the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelensky. In May 2026, he met again with the Ukrainian side and thanked the state for the opportunity to continue pilgrimage during the Russian aggression against Ukraine. In 2026, Rabbi Nachman’s grave also received the status of a national monument, which strengthened the state level of protection of the site.

Why this is not a conflict with Ukraine

At the same time, the current appeal to the White House cannot be described as a conflict between American rabbis and Ukraine. Ukrainian agencies continue to cooperate with Breslov on the preparation of the annual pilgrimage. NANews has already reported that on September 3, Rabbis Yaakov Shiloh and Natan Ben-Nun presented Viktor Yelensky with a certificate of appreciation for assistance in organizing Rosh Hashanah 5787. Separately, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a memo for tens of thousands of Israelis heading to Uman under wartime conditions.

The new presentation of the issue to Trump shows something else: despite court decisions, protective zones, and years of negotiations, the problem of the physical preservation of the cemetery remains unresolved.

For religious organizations, it is crucial that any construction and earthworks take into account the possibility of burials. For Ukrainian authorities, the task is more complex: simultaneously protecting cultural heritage, controlling urban development, and ensuring the safety of the largest annual Jewish pilgrimage in the country while Russia continues its full-scale war. Now this issue has once again reached the international political level.