The Hungarian village of Olaszliszka, or Liska as it is known to the local Jewish community, is a magical retreat that welcomes tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews annually.
The Hungarian village of Olaszliszka, or Liska as it is known to the local Jewish community, is a magical retreat that welcomes tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews annually.
Blog Article
Olaszliszka, or Liska, as the local Jewish community calls it, is a magical hideaway in Hungary, where tens of thousands of Orthodox Jewish peoples come every year.
Liska Jewish Cemetery is a unique place for traditions and dedicated faith. The sacred resting place of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Friedman, affectionately known as "Hershel Lisker" by the community, the pioneer of Hasidism in Europe, is found here. Although he was famously impoverished, the first Lisker Rebbe lived in accordance with the values of teachings, generosity, and miraculous assistance. His legacy includes many miraculous acts: the esteemed rebbe healed the sick and bestowed blessings that led to the prosperity of numerous individuals. The rebbe's impactful life greatly shaped the Orthodox Jewish communities of his time. Even now, tens of thousands of pilgrims travel to visit the rebbe annually, especially during the yahrzeit on the 14th of Av.
Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman and the Liska Hasidic dynasty were instrumental in promoting the growth of Hasidism in Hungary and internationally. His student, the Kerestir rebbe, Yeshaya Steiner (known as Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir (Kerestirer)), who later signed his correspondence as follows:„Yeshaya son of R. Moshe, who attended the righteous Rebbe of Liska”
The reputation of the Lisker Rebbe for healing extended far beyond his local community. People from various countries also moved to the village of Liska, seeking his healing touch. The community trusted that the rabbi’s blessings and prayers could address and heal both bodily and mental afflictions.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 is not only the graves, but also the bearer of respect and remembrance for the past. Candles were placed at every grave, their flames gently inclining in homage to the souls of the villagers who once lived here. The candle flames are viewed as a bridge connecting the past to the present, their light emerging 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
The year 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust. In the Jewish cemetery of Liska, the burning lights symbolize not only each grave but also an entire historical period and the collective experience of a people. Beyond preserving the memory of the graves, the candles’ flames also honor the untold lives and the families that never came to be. The lights of remembrance bring these flames to life, illuminating the tragedies of the Holocaust and underscoring the fact that every life not fully lived is a collective loss.
Together, the candle flames and the legacy of the Liska Rebbe remind us that the light of remembrance endures forever. The next similar commemoration will take place before the yahrzeit of Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at sunset.
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