Video by Anna Ordyczynska

Lizhensk, Poland – Thousands of people from all over the world visited the Polish town of Leżajsk/Lizhensk for the yartzeit (anniversary of the death) of one of the founding members of the Chassidic movement Rabbi Elimelech from Lizhensk.

The anniversary takes place on the 21st of the Jewish month of Adar

“Der Hilger” Rabbi Elimelach of Lizensk is of singular significance to Chasidim, merely mentioning his name brings shivers to some. In addition to his deep piety and elevated righteous status, he is also the author of the venerated sefer, Noam Elimelach – one of the principal Chasidic works, which is furthermore believed to be a powerful segulah in many areas. The annual pilgrimage of Chasidim pays homage to his towering greatness. They pray, they sing, they dance, and they worship as one in many moving ceremonies imploring for the merits of their tzaddik to be upon them as well. Many Chasidim go to great lengths as to be present to this emotionally charged event, and it is said that the Rebbi promised anyone who would visit his grave would not leave this world without teshuva.

Lezajsk, Poland – Thousands of Jews reached Lezajsk this weekend, with pilgrims mainly drawn from Europe, Israel, America and Canada.

Pilgrims will pray at the tomb of eighteenth century rabbi Elimelech Weisblum (d.1787), who is regarded as one of the three fathers of Hasidism, the mystical branch of Orthodox Judaism that swept through Poland in reaction to the rigid academic traditions that had hitherto prevailed among Jews in the region.

Hasidic Jews believe that on the anniversary of his death tomorrow, Rabbi Elimelech Weisblum will descend from the heavens and answer the prayers of pilgrims.

These pleas are submitted in written form as kvitels – paper notes that are placed on the rabbi’s grave, which in this case is located in a specially constructed building within the grounds of the town’s old Jewish cemetery.

Prior to the Second World War, about 3000 Jews lived in Lezajsk. The vast majority did not survive the Holocaust. The graveyard itself, which was almost completely destroyed during the war, was reconstructed under the auspices of the Nissenbaum Foundation, together with other private donors.