LISKA, AS THE LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY CALLS IT, IS A MAGICAL HIDEAWAY IN HUNGARY

Liska, as the local Jewish community calls it, is a magical hideaway in Hungary

Liska, as the local Jewish community calls it, is a magical hideaway in Hungary

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Olaszliszka, affectionately referred to as Liska by the local Jewish community, is a picturesque retreat in Hungary that draws tens of thousands of Orthodox Jewish visitors annually.


Liska Jewish Cemetery is a unique place for traditions and dedicated faith. The holy grave of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Friedman, or as the community calls him: "Hershel Lisker", the first home of Hasidism in Europe, is located here. Although the first Lisker Rebbe was famously impoverished, he lived a life rich in teachings, charity, and miraculous support. He is remembered for countless miracles, having healed the sick and bestowed prosperity upon many through his blessings. The life of the esteemed rebbe had a profound influence on the Orthodox Jewish communities of his time, shaping their present and practices. Even today, tens of thousands of pilgrims make their way to visit the rebbe each year, with the yahrzeit observed on the 14th of Av.


Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman and the Liska Hasidic dynasty significantly contributed to the growth of Hasidism in Hungary and worldwide. The Kerestir Rebbe Yeshaya Steiner, a student of the Liska Rebbe, signed his letters as: "Yeshaya, son of R. Moshe, who learned from the righteous Rebbe of Liska."


The reputation of the Lisker Rebbe for healing was known throughout various lands. People from various countries also traveled to the village of Liska, seeking the Lisker Rebbe's healing expertise. There was a strong conviction within the community that the rabbi's prayers and blessings had the ability to cure physical and emotional distress. His grave remained a place where pilgrims reported feeling his enduring presence and receiving spiritual solace, even posthumously.


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. At each grave, candles were lit, their gentle flames bowing in honor of the souls who once dwelled in this quaint village. The flames of the candles are regarded as a conduit between the past and the present, their glow reflecting the depths of remembrance.


In Judaism, the candle flame serves as a powerful symbol with deep religious meaning. Beyond providing light, the flames serve as a portal to the realm of the Eternal. 


As the Book says: "Man's soul is the Lord's lamp, which searches out all the innermost parts." Proverbs 20:27

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