A plan to establish a coffee and refreshment room inside the cemetery in Uman has been halted following a sweeping halachic ruling from leading rabbonim and poskim representing a broad range of communities.
The proposal, funded by a generous donor, was intended to provide drinks and refreshments for the tens of thousands of visitors who come to the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov, particularly during the massive Rosh Hashanah gathering. However, because the proposed facility was to be located within the boundaries of the cemetery, officials responsible for the tziyun decided to seek a formal halachic ruling before moving forward.
Rav Nosson Ben Nun, chairman of Ichud Breslov in Uman, sent an urgent inquiry to leading poskim from across the spectrum of the Torah community, asking them to address the halachic implications of the proposal.
The response was unanimous and unequivocal: A coffee and refreshment facility may not be operated inside the cemetery.
In a letter dated 11 Elul 5786 and addressed directly to Rav Ben Nun, the rabbonim cited the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah 368, which states that “a cemetery may not be treated with frivolity… nor may one eat or drink there.”
The poskim further cited a ruling of the Chasam Sofer, in siman 335, as establishing that a “coffee room” or similar facility may not be established anywhere within the cemetery grounds.
The ruling was signed by a lengthy roster of prominent rabbonim and poskim, including Rishon Letzion Rav Yitzchok Yosef; Rav Sariel Rosenberg, gaavad of the Bnei Brak Badatz; Rav Moshe Shaul Klein and Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern of Badatz Zichron Meir; and Rav Yehuda Fischer and Rav Shlomo Yehuda Hirsch of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis.
Also joining the ruling were Rav Menachem Mendel Lubin; Rav Yaakov Shekhnaazi of the Sephardic Eidah Hachareidis Badatz; and Rav Naftali Nussbaum.
One of the poskim wrote that “it is clear that it is forbidden to establish a place for drinking inside a cemetery,” while another declared that “this is a clear halacha and there is no room for debate; it is forbidden to engage in frivolous behavior.”
The rabbonim added that even if such a facility had already been constructed inadvertently, it would have to be removed without delay so that “there should not be displeasure from the tzaddikim who are there.”
They concluded with the assurance that “one who listens will dwell securely,” along with a bracha for a favorable inscription and sealing for the coming year.
Following the ruling, Ichud Breslov in Uman decided not to abandon the donor’s initiative, but instead to relocate it outside the cemetery.
The new coffee and tea room will be established at the Kloiz complex in Uman, which is situated beyond the boundaries of the cemetery. Ichud Breslov has operated a coffee room there in recent years during the major gatherings in Uman, and officials have now decided to complete work on the facility and keep it operating throughout the year.
The move will allow the tens of thousands of people who travel to Uman to benefit from the refreshments provided by the donor while preserving the sanctity of the cemetery and adhering to the ruling of the poskim.
{Matzav.com}
