Memorial Plaque Unveiled at Prison Where Reb Levi Yitzchak Was Imprisoned
Eighty-six years after Reb Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was imprisoned by the Soviet regime solely for his unwavering commitment to Yiddishkeit, a memorial plaque has been unveiled at the Kyiv prison where he was held. The dedication, led by Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, took place on Chof Menachem-Av • Read More, Photos
On Chof Menachem Av, the yahrtzeit of the renowned Kabbalist Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Rebbe, a historic chapter came full circle in Kyiv.
A memorial plaque was officially unveiled at Lukyanivka Detention Center, where Reb Levi Yitzchak was imprisoned 86 years ago by the Soviet regime for his steadfast dedication to preserving Jewish life and observance.
The memorial was made possible through the tireless efforts of Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Rabbi of the Ukrainian Prison Service, together with his son, Rabbi Ariel Markovitch, Shliach in Kyiv and director of Jewish prison outreach. After extensive coordination with prison authorities, permission was granted to permanently commemorate Rabbi Levi Yitzchak at the very site of his imprisonment.
The dedication ceremony was attended by the prison’s commander and deputy commander, who joined Rabbi Markovitch in unveiling the plaque. During the ceremony, the commander expressed regret over the injustice inflicted upon Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, acknowledging that he had been imprisoned solely because he was a Jewish rabbi who courageously upheld Judaism under Soviet persecution.
The memorial plaque recounts the story of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s arrest and imprisonment and includes a quotation from his own writings describing that difficult period. In addition, the prison received a copy of Nitzotzei Levi Yitzchak, authored by Rabbi Zusha Wolff and based on Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s Torah teachings, which will be made available for the benefit of Jewish inmates.
“There is profound significance in the fact that on Reb Levi Yitzchak’s yahrtzeit we are able to dedicate a memorial at the very place where he was deprived of his freedom simply because he was a rabbi spreading Yiddishkeit,” Rabbi Markovitch told ChabadInfo. “This is a historic rectification and a deeply moving closing of the circle. In the very place where they sought to silence Judaism, there now stands a memorial preserving the story of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s courage and mesirus nefesh.”
4
Join ChabadInfo's News Roundup and alerts for the HOTTEST Chabad news and updates!
Related Posts:
Most Popular
New Videos
Editor's Picks
