Every year, tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews visit Olaszliszka, or Liska as the local Jewish community names it, a charming hideaway in Hungary.

Every year, tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews visit Olaszliszka, or Liska as the local Jewish community names it, a charming hideaway in Hungary.

The uniqueness of Liska Jewish Cemetery lies in its role as a sacred space for tradition and dedicated faith. The sacred resting place of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Friedman, affectionately known as "Hershel Lisker" by the community, the pioneer of Hasidism in Europe, is found here. The first Lisker Rebbe, though renowned for his poverty, dedicated his life to the principles of teachings, charity, and divine intervention. 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 remarkable life of the rebbe profoundly influenced the Orthodox Jewish communities of his era. The rebbe continues to attract tens of thousands of pilgrims each year, with the yahrzeit on Av 14 being a major draw.

The activities of the Liska Hasidic dynasty and Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman contributed to the spread of Hasidism in Hungary and worldwide. 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”

Far and wide, the Lisker Rebbe was acclaimed for his remarkable gift of healing. People from various countries also moved to the village of Liska, seeking his healing touch. In the community, there was a strong conviction that the rabbi’s prayers and blessings could heal both physical ailments and mental distress.Pilgrims who came to his grave continued to feel his spiritual presence long after his passing.

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, their flames bending in reverence to the souls of those who once resided in this small village. These candles’ flames are regarded as a conduit between history and the present, shining with the light of deep-seated memories.

The flame of candles holds profound symbolism in the Jewish faith. The light of the flames goes beyond mere illumination, serving as a portal to the Eternal. As the Book reveals: "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 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 not only preserves the memory of the graves, but also the untold lives and the unbuilt families. 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. 

The flame of the candles, along with the enduring legacy of the Liska Rebbe, continually reminds us that the light of remembrance is everlasting. The following commemoration will be held just before the yahrzeit of Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at sunset.