Ohel of Tzaddik Elimelech in Leżajsk

At the Jewish cemetery on ul. Górna in Leżajsk stands the ohel – the tomb of Tzaddik Elimelech of Lizhensk (1717–1787), one of the fathers of Hasidism. It is the most visited tzaddik's grave in Poland: on the anniversary of his death, the 21st of the month of Adar (February or March), thousands of Hasidim come to this small town, mainly from the USA and Israel. The rest of the year it is a quiet, contemplative place.

The tzaddik who made Leżajsk a capital of Hasidism

Elimelech, also known as Lipmann or Weissblum, came from near Tykocin and was a disciple of Dov Ber of Mezeritch. For years he travelled as a preacher; in 1772 he settled in Leżajsk, where he served as rabbi from 1775. He established a Hasidic court here and made the town the most important centre of Hasidism in Galicia. His work "Noam Elimelech" is one of the fundamental texts of Hasidism – it describes the tzaddik as a guide in every sphere of his followers' lives. His disciples included Jacob Isaac Horowitz, Naftali of Ropczyce and Menachem Mendel of Rymanów.

History of the ohel

The first ohel, made of wood with a shingled roof, was built in the 19th century. In 1940 the Germans demolished it and dug up the grave in search of supposed treasure. They also devastated the whole cemetery – gravestones were used, among other things, to pave Leżajsk's market square. According to local accounts, the tzaddik's remains lay under a tree for several days before being reburied. A new brick ohel was built on the initiative of Rabbi Samuel Friedman of Vienna (completed in 1963) and extended with side aisles in the 1990s.

What to see

• The ohel – a central section with the tzaddik's tombstone surrounded by a wrought-iron grille, and separate prayer rooms for men and women. Elimelech's tombstone is a reconstruction.
• A fragment of the original matzevah of his son Eleazar – according to the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage, the oldest surviving tzaddik's tombstone in Poland.
• Epitaphs of Elimelech's other sons and wider family.
• The cemetery – matzevot from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including dozens recovered from the market-square paving, and a lapidarium.
• Prayer notes (kvitlech) left by pilgrims on the grave.

Tripto tips

The cemetery belongs to the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage (FODŻ) in Warsaw, which provides information on the keys to the gate and the ohel (tel. +48 22 436 60 00). It is best to arrange your visit in advance and avoid the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. Men should cover their heads. Around the anniversary of the tzaddik's death the town is packed with pilgrims – come at another time if you want quiet. Allow 30 minutes, and combine the visit with a walk around the centre of Leżajsk.