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.
Blog Article
Olaszliszka, known locally as Liska, is a captivating retreat in Hungary that attracts tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews annually.
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 rebbe's impactful life greatly shaped the Orthodox Jewish communities of his time. Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims come to see the rebbe, with the yahrzeit on the 14th of Av being a particularly significant time.
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”
Far and wide, the Lisker Rebbe was acclaimed for his remarkable gift of healing. The village of Liska saw an influx of people from abroad, who came to request his healing. There was a belief in the community that the rabbi's blessing and prayers could heal physical and mental suffering.Despite his death, numerous visitors to his grave claimed to have felt his continued presence.
The caretakers of the Liska Jewish cemetery carried out a task that symbolized not only the care of the graves but also the respect and remembrance of historical legacy. Candles were lit at each grave, their flames bending in reverence to the souls of those who once resided in this small village. These candles’ flames are regarded as a conduit between history and the present, shining with the light of deep-seated memories.
The flame of candles holds profound symbolism in the Jewish faith. The flames offer more than light; they unlock a passage to the Eternal. As the Book describes: "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 solemn lights burning in the Jewish cemetery of Liska not only honor individual graves but also evoke an entire era and the fate of a whole people. The light of the candles keeps alive the memory of the graves, as well as the lives never fully lived and families never started. These flames, lit in memory, bring the Holocaust’s tragedies into focus and remind us that each life that never reached its potential is a loss felt by all.
United, the candle flames and the legacy of the Liska Rebbe remind us that the light of remembrance is a timeless beacon. The next observance will occur on the evening before the yahrzeit of Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir, which falls on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at sunset.
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