Olaszliszka, known locally as Liska, is a captivating retreat in Hungary that attracts tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews annually.
The Liska Jewish Cemetery stands out as a unique sanctuary for tradition and unwavering 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, known for his significant poverty, upheld a life characterized by deep teachings, acts of charity, and miraculous help. His name is associated with countless miraculous deeds: sick people visited the famous rebbe and received healing, but he also helped many to prosperity with his blessing. The life of this revered rebbe had a lasting effect on the Orthodox Jewish communities of that period. Today, tens of thousands of pilgrims still visit the rebbe each year, especially on his yahrzeit, which falls on the 14th of Av.
The efforts of the Liska Hasidic dynasty and Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman played a key role in the expansion of Hasidism both in Hungary and around the globe. 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 Lisker Rebbe gained widespread renown for his healing abilities. The reputation of his healing drew many people from different nations to the village of Liska. It was widely believed in the community that the rabbi’s blessings and prayers could cure physical and emotional pain.Even after his death, several pilgrims who came to his grave experienced his survival.
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. The lighting of candles at each grave saw their flames bowing in tribute to the departed souls of this small village’s former inhabitants. The flickering flames of the candles are seen as a link between past and present, casting light from the heart of remembrance.
The light of candles serves as a profound emblem of the Jewish religion. 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 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. 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.
Both the candlelight and the legacy of the Liska Rebbe symbolize that the light of remembrance shines on eternally. A similar commemoration is planned for the day before Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir's yahrzeit, Thursday, May 9, 2024, as the sun sets.
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