The local Jewish community calls it Liska, but Olaszliszka in Hungary is a captivating hideaway that draws tens of thousands of Orthodox Jewish individuals each year.
Liska Jewish Cemetery is a special location where deep-seated traditions and committed faith are preserved. 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. Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit the rebbe annually, with the yahrzeit taking place 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. 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”
The Lisker Rebbe was renowned across many regions for his healing abilities. Many international visitors migrated to Liska, coming in hopes of receiving healing from the Lisker Rebbe. The rabbi's blessings and prayers were thought to possess healing powers for both physical and mental suffering within the community. 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. Candles were placed at each grave, their flames flickering in reverence to the souls of those who once lived in this small village. The candle flames are viewed as a bridge connecting the past and the present, their light emerging from the depths of memory.
The flame of candles holds profound symbolic significance in the Jewish faith. 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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