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.

As a place of deep-rooted traditions and steadfast faith, Liska Jewish Cemetery is truly one of a kind. The resting place of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Friedman, referred to by the community as "Hershel Lisker" and the initiator of Hasidism in Europe, is located here. Despite his well-known poverty, the first Lisker Rebbe lived his life embodying teachings, charity, and miraculous aid. His name is linked with numerous miraculous acts: the renowned rebbe healed the sick and blessed many, leading them to prosperity. The life of the wonderful rebbe had a great impact on the present of the Orthodox Jewish communities of that time. Annually, tens of thousands of pilgrims make their way to the rebbe, with the yahrzeit observed on the 14th of Av drawing the most visitors.

The activities of Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Friedman and the Liska Hasidic dynasty significantly advanced the spread of Hasidism throughout Hungary and beyond. His disciple, the Kerestir Rebbe Yeshaya Steiner (commonly known as Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir), later signed his correspondence in the following manner:„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. The reputation of his healing drew many people from different nations to the village of Liska. 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.

The two caretakers of the Liska Jewish cemetery performed an act that honored not just the graves, but also preserved respect and remembrance for the past. Candles were lit at each grave, their flames bending in reverence to the souls of those who once resided in this small village. The candle flames serve as a bridge between bygone times and today, illuminating from the core of collective memory.

Candles' flames carry a deep symbolic meaning within Jewish spirituality. The flames serve as more than just a beacon; they open a gateway to the Eternal. As the Book says: "Man's soul is the Lord's lamp, which searches out all the innermost parts." Proverbs 20:27

In 2024, we are observing 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 light of the candles keeps alive the memory of the graves, as well as the lives never fully lived and families never started. Through the lights of remembrance, these flames bring to life the tragedies suffered during the Holocaust, highlighting the reminder that each life that was never lived to its fullest is a loss to us all. 

Together, the flame of the candles and the legacy of the Liska Rebbe remind us that the light of remembrance lives on forever. The next similar commemoration: before the yarhzeit of Reb Shaya'la of Kerestir on Thursday (2024-05-09) at sunset.