Every year, tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews visit Olaszliszka, or Liska as the local Jewish community names it, a charming hideaway in Hungary.
Every year, tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews visit Olaszliszka, or Liska as the local Jewish community names it, a charming hideaway in Hungary.
Blog Article
Olaszliszka, referred to as Liska by the local Jewish community, is a enchanting haven in Hungary, visited by tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews every year.
Liska Jewish Cemetery represents a singular blend of cherished traditions and devoted faith. The resting place of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Friedman, referred to by the community as "Hershel Lisker" and the initiator of Hasidism in Europe, is located here. The first Lisker Rebbe, though renowned for his poverty, dedicated his life to the principles of teachings, charity, and divine intervention. He is celebrated for numerous miracles: people came to the renowned rebbe for healing, and his blessings also brought prosperity to many. The extraordinary life of the rebbe left a significant mark on the contemporary Orthodox Jewish communities. Today, tens of thousands of pilgrims still visit the rebbe each year, especially on his yahrzeit, which falls on the 14th of Av.
The activities of the Liska Hasidic dynasty and Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman contributed to the spread of Hasidism in Hungary and worldwide. The Kerestir Rebbe, Yeshaya Steiner (widely known as Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir), used this signature style in his correspondence:„Yeshaya son of R. Moshe, who attended the righteous Rebbe of Liska”
The Lisker Rebbe gained widespread renown for his healing abilities. The reputation of his healing drew many people from different nations to the village of Liska. There was a belief in the community that the rabbi's blessing and prayers could heal physical and mental suffering.Even after his death, many pilgrims visiting his grave reported experiencing a sense of his enduring presence.
The two caretakers of the Liska Jewish cemetery performed an act that honored not just the graves, but also preserved respect and remembrance for the past. Candles were lit at each grave, their flames bending in reverence to the souls of those who once resided in this small village. The flame of the candles is considered a kind of bridge between the past and the present, the light of which shines from the depths of memory.
Candles' flames carry a deep symbolic meaning within Jewish spirituality. The flames do not merely cast light, but also open a gate to all that is Eternal. As the Book says: "Man's soul is the Lord's lamp, which searches out all the innermost parts." Proverbs 20:27
We are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust in 2024. The sacred lights burning in the Liska Jewish cemetery recall not only the individual graves but also an entire epoch and the shared fate of a people. The flame of the candles not only preserves the memory of the graves, but also the untold lives and the unbuilt families. Through their glow, these flames evoke the suffering of the Holocaust, serving as a poignant reminder that every life cut short is a loss shared by all.
The flame of the candles, along with the enduring legacy of the Liska Rebbe, continually reminds us that the light of remembrance is everlasting. The following commemoration will be held just before the yahrzeit of Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at sunset.
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