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.
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.
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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 is a distinctive site steeped in tradition and devoted faith. Here lies the revered grave of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Friedman, or "Hershel Lisker" as the community calls him, who established the first Hasidic home in Europe. The first Lisker Rebbe, despite his famous poverty, lived his life in the spirit of teachings, charity, and miraculous assistance. His name is linked with numerous miraculous acts: the renowned rebbe healed the sick and blessed many, leading them to prosperity. The remarkable life of the rebbe profoundly influenced the Orthodox Jewish communities of his era. 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 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.Pilgrims who came to his grave continued to feel his spiritual presence long after his passing.
The actions of the two caretakers of the Liska Jewish cemetery served to honor the graves while also sustaining respect and remembrance for the past. At each grave, candles were ignited, their flickering flames bowing in respect to the spirits of former villagers. The light of the candles is perceived as a connection between the past and the present, radiating from the wellspring of remembrance.
The flame of candles is a deep symbol of the Jewish religion. The light of the flames goes beyond mere illumination, serving as a portal to the Eternal. As the Book reveals: "Man's soul is the Lord's lamp, which searches out all the innermost parts." Proverbs 20:27
The year 2024 represents the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust. The reverent lights burning in the Jewish cemetery of Liska evoke not only individual graves, but also an entire era, the fate of an entire people. The candles’ flames safeguard not just the graves but also the memories of unrecorded lives and families that were never established. The remembrance lights breathe life into these flames, highlighting the Holocaust’s tragedies and reminding us that each unfulfilled life represents a loss to everyone.
United, the candle flames and the legacy of the Liska Rebbe remind us that the light of remembrance is a timeless beacon. The next similar commemoration: before the yarhzeit of Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir on Thursday (2024-05-09) at sunset.
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