US President Donald Trump's ambassador-designate for monitoring and combating antisemitism, Chabad Rabbi Yehuda Kaplun, on August 22 inaugurated a special bridge for Kohanim to visit the Ukrainian tomb of Chabad founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman, Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) announced on Thursday.
Kohanim are supposed to keep eight feet of distance from graves to ensure their ritual purity, but the 200 meter long million dollar Haditch bridge would allow members of the Jewish priestly class to make pilgrimage to the Alter Rebbe's resting place for the first time in 100 years.
The new bridge reportedly is composed of rust-resistant steel and has heated floors to prevent the build-up of snow. The FJCU expects the bridge to last another 100 years.
Until now, Kohanim had to pray on a guesthouse balcony 200 meters away. FJCU said that the first bridge built by the Alter Rebbe's brother, Rabbi Yehuda Leib, had been destroyed during communist rule.
Kaplun spoke at the opening ceremony, blessing the crowd with the priestly blessing and offered prayers for the return of October 7 Massacre hostages still held by Gazan terrorist organizations. A Kohen himself, Kaplan was the first to cross the new bridge and pray at the holy site.
Haditch Chabad emissary Rabbi Shneor Zalman Deitsch said at the event that the community's hearts overflowed "with joy and excitement at this historic moment."
'It is a bridge of holiness, purity, and connection between worlds'
"For so many years, countless Jews have waited for this day," said Deitsch. "The Alter Rebbe dedicated his life to spreading the light of Chassidus, infusing vitality into faith, and uniting the Jewish people. In his final years, he was deeply pained that outside of the Land of Israel, kohanim do not bless the people daily as they do in Israel. He longed for this blessing to reach every Jew everywhere. This bridge is not just steel – it is a bridge of holiness, purity, and connection between worlds.”
According to the FJCU, its chairman Rabbi Mayer Stambler had lobbied for the project and secured millions of hryvnias to pave 40 kilometers of road over difficult terrain to Haditch.
The trip was Kaplun's first visit to Ukraine, and he was reportedly impressed with the development of Jewish sites and communities in the country. He assessed that Chabad and the Jewish communities received support from both the central and local authorities.
FJCU said it was "delighted to host the distinguished ambassador-designate."
"We are glad he personally witnessed the flourishing of Jewish life in Ukraine, the freedom of religion here, and the extensive support provided by the authorities,” FJCU said in a statement.
Kaplun has still not officially been confirmed for the antisemitism envoy role, still requiring Senate approval in the coming months.