On June 19, Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy Rostyslav Karandieiev met with representatives of the Jewish community of the United States of America at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. The parties discussed the prospects for the development of Jewish culture in Ukraine and cooperation on protecting cultural heritage from russian aggression.
“The Jewish cultural and historical heritage is an integral and organic part of Ukraine’s historical heritage. The coexistence and cultural contacts between our peoples have a tradition spanning thousands of years. Today, due to russian aggression, all cultural sites in our country are suffering, regardless of their ethnic and cultural identity. It is crucial to protect all this heritage. It is important to preserve it for our descendants. This is why Ukrainians and Jews in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are together defending Ukrainian lands from the enemy,” said Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, Rostyslav Karandieiev.
In many cities and towns across Ukraine, Jewish cemeteries, synagogues, and sacred sites important to Jewish history have been preserved. Many of these sites hold cultural heritage status and are under state protection. One of the central memorials is Babyn Yar in Kyiv, which has the status of a Reserve. Additionally, significant pilgrimage sites for the Jewish community include Uman, Medzhybizh, Belz, and others.
During the meeting, particular attention was given to the protection of the grave of Tzadik Nachman, which is under communal ownership of the Uman City Council. This significant site is listed in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine. Today, it is a historical landmark of local importance located within the territory of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve “Old Uman”.
It’s worth noting that the basis for cooperation and dialogue in the preservation of Jewish cultural heritage is the Ukrainian Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the 1994 agreement between the Governments of the United States and Ukraine “On the Protection and Preservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage”.
Among the participants of the meeting were: Executive Director of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn, Rabbi David Niederman; Rabbi of the Breslov Synagogue in Monroe and Dean of the Kol Aryeh Yeshiva, Rabbi Cheskel Kaufman; businessman and community leader from Williamsburg, New York, Yisocher Kaufman; businessman and community leader from Borough Park, New York, Abraham Kaufman; Board Member of the Charitable Foundation “Historically-Cultural Center of Uman,” Aba Goldberger; Executive Director of the Charitable Foundation “Historically-Cultural Center of Uman”, Iryna Rybnytska.
