Memorial Plaque Honors Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson at Kyiv Detention Center on Anniversary of His Death

On the 20th of Menachem Av, Chabad followers commemorated the yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, by unveiling a memorial plaque at the Lukyanivska detention center in Kyiv where he was imprisoned 86 years ago by the Soviet regime. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was detained solely for his steadfast commitment to preserving Judaism during Soviet oppression.

The plaque installation was the result of prolonged efforts by Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Chabad emissary and chief rabbi of Kyiv as well as rabbi for Ukraine’s prison services, together with his son Rabbi Ariel Markovitch, who manages Jewish activities in prisons. The detention center’s commander and his deputy participated in the ceremony, expressing regret over the injustice suffered by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, acknowledging the painful chapter in history that the memorial now commemorates.

The plaque details Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s imprisonment and includes a quote from him about his time in detention. Additionally, the prison received a copy of “Nitzotzei Levi Yitzchak,” a book based on his teachings, to be available for Jewish inmates. Rabbi Markovitch described the memorial as a historic rectification and emotional closure, transforming a site once used to silence Judaism into a place honoring Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s courage and devotion.