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, despite his famous poverty, lived his life in the spirit of teachings, charity, 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 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 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”
Known across many regions, the Lisker Rebbe was celebrated for his extraordinary healing skills. Many people from other countries also migrated to the village of Liska and asked him to heal them. The belief persisted in the community that the rabbi’s blessings and prayers were capable of relieving physical and psychological suffering.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. Candles were lit at each grave, the flames of which bowed before the souls of those who once lived in this small village. The candle flames are viewed as a bridge connecting the past to the present, their light emerging from the depths of memory.
In Jewish tradition, the candle flame represents a deep and significant symbol. 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
As we reach 2024, we reflect on the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust. The sacred lights burning in the Liska Jewish cemetery recall not only the individual graves but also an entire epoch and the shared fate of a people. The flame of the candles commemorates not only the graves but also the countless lives and families that were left unfinished. 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. 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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