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.
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In Hungary, Olaszliszka, or Liska as it is affectionately called by the local Jewish community, serves as a mystical sanctuary drawing tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews each year.
The uniqueness of Liska Jewish Cemetery lies in its role as a sacred space for tradition 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. Associated with many miraculous events, his name is remembered for healing the ailing and blessing many to achieve prosperity. The inspiring life of the rebbe significantly impacted the present-day 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 disciple, the Kerestir Rebbe Yeshaya Steiner (commonly known as Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir), later signed his correspondence in the following manner:„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 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. Each grave was adorned with candles, their flames bowing solemnly to honor the souls of those who once called this small village home. 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.
In Jewish tradition, the candle flame represents a deep and significant symbol. These flames are not just sources of light but gateways to the Eternal. As the Book writes: "Man's soul is the Lord's lamp, which searches out all the innermost parts." Proverbs 20:27
In 2024, we are observing the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust. The reverent flames in the Jewish cemetery of Liska do more than mark individual graves; they also commemorate an entire era and the destiny of an entire 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 flame of the candles and the legacy of the Liska Rebbe remind us that the light of remembrance lives on 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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