The 14th of Av marks the Yahrzeit of one of the leading chassidic rebbes of Hungary, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Liska (1798 Ujhel, Hungary - 1874 Olaszliszka, Hungary). In his honor, we post photographs of his gravestone in the Ohel at the Jewish cemetery in Olaszliszka, Hungary and of the now ruined synagogue built under his leadership. Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Friedman (Frishman), also known as Hershel Lisker, , was the son of a tzaddik nistar (hidden holy man) - Rabbi Aaron of Ujhel. After studying Torah with Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Bonyhad, he spent several years at the chassidic court of Rabbi Moshe of Ujhel, the Yismach Moshe. He also journeyed to other great chassidic masters of his time, such as Rabbis Yisrael of Rizhin, Meir of Premyshlan, and Shalom of Belz. However, it was Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, the Divrei Chaim, who played a dominant role in shaping his life and thoughts. And when Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh established himself as Rebbe in Liska (Olaszliszka), Hungary, it was his mentor Rabbi Chaim who encouraged and assisted him. As a result, thousands of chassidim convereged on the newly founded Chassidic center, eager to bask in the warmth of the Lisker Rebbes benevolence, to enjoy the fellowship, singing, and joy of a Shabbat meal at the Rebbes table and to be inspired by his insights on the weekly Torah portion. Even though the community of Liska enjoyed great prosperity, he would not allow its leaders to raise his salary from the one forint he received when first appointed to the position. The money given to him by the people seeking his advice and blessings was distributed to the poor and to further the various programs he instituted in Liska. Among his major accomplishments was the building of the synagogue in Liska. The synagogue was able to accommodate 500 people. It was one of the largest of his time in Hungary. It was built without a foundation to commemorate the destruction of the temple - as a testimony to the temporary state of the Diaspora. The Lisker Rebbe was acknowledged as an eminent Torah scholar and decider of halachic questions. He wrote Ach Pri Tevuah and Hayashar Vehatov. His descendant, the Lisker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Friedlander, survived the Holocaust and then settled in Brooklyn, New York, where he established a chassidic center that perpetuates Lisker Chassidut. To the community and his followers he left the following dictum: Rely on the ancient tradition, to observe and uphold the conservative life-style, to hand it down from generation to generation. The death of Tsvi Hirsh Friedman (Frishman) in 1874 heralded the end of prosperity in the Jewish community of Liska. To this day, on the day of his yahrzeit thousands still converge to pray at his grave. geni/people/Reb-ZVI-HIRSH-FRIEDMAN-The-LISZKA-RAV/6000000000016663282 (Posted by Edna Kalka Grossman)
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:30:00 +0000
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