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.
Liska Jewish Cemetery is a distinctive site steeped in tradition and devoted faith. The holy burial site of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Friedman, known to the community as "Hershel Lisker," the founder of Hasidism in Europe, is situated here. 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 inspiring life of the rebbe significantly impacted the present-day Orthodox Jewish communities of his time. Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit the rebbe every year even today. Yahrazeit: Av. 14.
Through their endeavors, the Liska Hasidic dynasty and Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman helped propel the proliferation of Hasidism across Hungary and the world. Yeshaya Steiner, the Kerestir Rebbe (also known as Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir), signed his letters as follows:„Yeshaya son of R. Moshe, who attended the righteous Rebbe of Liska”
The Lisker Rebbe was famous far and wide for healing. Individuals from other countries frequently migrated to Liska to seek his renowned healing. It was widely believed in the community that the rabbi’s blessings and prayers could cure physical and emotional pain.After his death, many pilgrims visiting his grave still felt as though he was somehow present with them.
By their actions, the two caretakers of the Liska Jewish cemetery upheld both the graves and the cherished memory of the past. 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 candle flames are viewed as a bridge connecting the past to the present, their light emerging from the depths of memory.
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 respectful lights at the Liska Jewish cemetery illuminate not just individual graves but also reflect the broader era and the collective fate of a people. The candles’ flames safeguard not just the graves but also the memories of unrecorded lives and families that were never established. The lights of remembrance animate these flames, reflecting on the Holocaust’s sorrows and emphasizing that every life that was not lived to its fullest is a loss for us 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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