Olaszliszka
Template:Infobox Hungarian settlement
Olaszliszka is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary.
Olaszliszka is nestled among the hills of the Tokay country side (2 hours from Budapest) where the famous Tokay wines come from. It had a population in the 1830's of around 2,682 inhabitants. The Orthodox Jewish kehilla (community) numbered 70 families — 312 members altogether.
Among them were 57 tax paying citizens:
- 1 entrepreneur
- 17 small businessmen
- 2 farmers
- 2 civil servants
- 2 self-employed
- 5 freelance artists
- 8 blue collar workers
- 20 engaged in various other forms of employment
Two neighboring counties, as well as the town of Olaszliszka, banded together to supply 5,000 forint (Hungarian currency) toward the religious education as well as the support of the elementary school established in 1872. The elementary school had 1 teacher and 36 students. The Talmud Torah had 1 teacher and 25 students. The Jewish population also supplied the Talmud Torah students with housing and food. The Jewish community also made sure that the Library was well stacked and continually supplemented. The Library Project was called "Chevra Kiyan Seforim," or the Library Supply Committee.
Among other existing organizations are as follows: Chevra Kadisha (taking care of the deceased, funeral services and burials); Discretionary Funds — a poor house where one could stay if they had no place to go.
There are no exact dates given as to when the Jews decided to settle in Olaszliszka, however, it is concretely known that the mainstream of Jews came around 1830 with the advent of the young Rabbi, Zvi-Hersh Friedman (1808-1874). There is no question that the driving force behind the Jewish settlers was the Rabbi, who with his great knowledge, human understanding, and wisdom, attracted the vitners (wine merchants) from Poland and Russia, who came for the purpose of buying wine, and subsequently settled in Olaszliszka to be near their Rebbe. These men could be counted as the oldest or first settlers who subsequently aided the young Rabbi in establishing the various social services provided by the Jewish community of Olaszliszka.
The original founding fathers of the town, were mainly occupied with the selling, trading, and buying of the famous Tokay wine.
The Jewish population grew considerably with the brisk and successful wine trade. Spiritual religious life was at its focal point led by their spiritual leader Rabbi Zvi-Hersh Friedman, who was at an early age, known as a great scholar. The pious young scholar spread far and wide the spirit of Chassidus. In a short time the town of Olaszliszka became the focal point of Chassidus and its Rabbi named the father of the Chassidic movement of Hungary.
His humility, selflessness, aesthetic cleanliness, chesed (loving acts of kindness, i.e. charity) and wisdom spread far and wide so that people from foreign countries all over the world came to seek his advice and accept him as their Rebbe.
During this time the township of Lisker grew in scope and fame. This affluence lasted till the end of Hershel Lisker's lifetime of 4 decades.
Era of the Ach Pri Tevia
Rabbi Zvi-Hersh Friedman, also known as Hershel Lisker, or the "Ach pre tvia" as he is named from his best known sefer, lived a very frugal life. Even though the community enjoyed great prosperity, he wouldn't allow the founding fathers to raise his salary from one forint, which he received at the beginning of his position.
The money that he accrued from the people coming to seek his advice was distributed to the poor and to further the various programs he instituted.. For himself he built a humble home so as to accommodate the multitude of people who came to see him and ask his advice.
Among his major accomplishments was the building of the Synagogue. The Synagogue was built in a grandiose manner and able to accommodate a capacity of 500 people. It was one of the largest of his time to accommodate the large influx of people. The Synagogue was built without a foundation to commemorate the Destruction of the Temple — as a testimony to the temporary state of the Diaspora.
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."
In 1874, the passing of Zvi-Hersh Friedman heralded the end of prosperity in the Jewish community. Although to this day, on the day of his yahrzeit, the 14th day of Av, thousands still converge to pray at his grave. Just like he helped many in his lifetime, let him pray for us from his heavenly abode.
Era of the Tal Chaim
At the passing of Hershel Lisker in 1874 the mantle of leadership fell to his son-in-law Rav Chaim Friedlander, who at that time was Rav of Erdobenye. Hershel Lisker had no surviving kin. Rav Chaim Friedlander came from the illustrious 14th Century Torah luminary, the Marshu. He himself was a great Torah scholar and outstanding orator with a mellifluous voice. Among his writings were the Tal Chaim — a homiletical explanation of each parsha, Tal Chaim Uverocho a glossary on the Talmud.
At this time there was a change in the political climate of Hungary plus a worsening of the economy. Nevertheless, the Rabbi and kehilla tried to continue with the social and religious services instituted by the first Lisker Rebbe under duress and great hardship. Rav Chaim Friedlander's concern did not only pertain to the economic hardship, but to the new political climate that worried him. A proclamation went out throughout the land that all Jews should be imprisoned and killed and their properties confiscated. The Rebbe went to shul and prayed — he offered himself as a sacrifice if this terrible verdict could be averted.
The following week as the Rabbi was sitting at the dinner table deep in thought, he took a piece of meat in his mouth, the food got lodged in his throat and he choked. The terrible tragedy against the Jews had been averted. The Tal Chaim, as he was called, died in 1904.
Era of the Sharai Hayosher
Rav Zvi-Hersh Friedlander, son of Rav Chaim, became the third Lisker Rebbe upon his father's passing.
The Shari Hayusher as he was known by his sefer, was married in the city of Maad, and was from the bes din of Rabbi mordchai vilinger of Maad, then he got a possition as the chief rabbi of Gava or Gávavencsellő is a village in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county of Hungary until his father died.
He wrote 30 seforim, his most famous being the Shar Hayushor, a commentary on Tehillim, which he wrote while in prison during The White Terror.
The third Lisker Rebbe was appropriately called Charif Hershele because of his outstanding sharp mind. Besides writing books and fulfilling the position of Rabbi, he also lead a yeshivah disseminating Torah knowledge in his inimitable manner with a good smile and a good spirit. When the Holocaust occurred, the chassidim wanted to save him but he refused because he felt that his place and fate was with his townspeople. In his message to his son rav Yosef he said, "I know you will be saved and carry on as a designate (a successor to his father) to me from now on."
Era of Rabbo Yosef of Liskah
After the Holocaust, his yongest son Rav Yozef moved to America, with his rebbitzin and one year old son, the later lisker rebbi. Rav yozef worked endlessly to rebuild lisker on this side of the Atlantic; until his sudden death on chuf ches shvat 1971.
Thirty years after his death his writings were published for the first time by Rabbi Yisroel Friedlander, until the present 2 volumes of "Tzvi Vechumid" were released, and more is to be published in the near future.