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.

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, known locally as Liska, is a captivating retreat in Hungary that attracts tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews annually.


The uniqueness of Liska Jewish Cemetery lies in its role as a sacred space for tradition and dedicated 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. Although he was famously impoverished, the first Lisker Rebbe lived in accordance with the values of teachings, generosity, 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 extraordinary life of the rebbe left a significant mark on the contemporary Orthodox Jewish communities. The rebbe continues to attract tens of thousands of pilgrims each year, with the yahrzeit on Av 14 being a major draw.


The Liska Hasidic dynasty, along with Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman, greatly influenced the dissemination 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. 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.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. Candles were placed at every grave, their flames gently inclining in homage to the souls of the villagers who once lived here. 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 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


In 2024, we are living 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. 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. 


The combined presence of the candle flames and the legacy of the Liska Rebbe serves as a testament to the eternal nature of remembrance. The next similar commemoration: before the yarhzeit of Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir on Thursday (2024-05-09) at sunset.

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