The concept of beseeching a tzadik on the day of his yahrtzeit for yeshuos has been a hallmark from time immemorial. What better way to ask a tzadik to intercede in Shomayim than to access the zechus of a tzadik whose entire “mehus” was Torah, Torah and more Torah.

The Tal Chaim of Liska son in law and successor of Harav Tzvi Hirsh of Liska, the author of Ach Pri Tevuah. He was renowned throughout Hungary as a gaon of epic proportions and a masmid who was engrossed in learning Torah 24 hours a day. His chiddushim on the sugyos haShas, published under the name Tal Chaim U’vrahchah, allows for a glimpse into his vast and sharp knowledge and is indicative of the Torah scholar that he was.

Over the past several years, several incredible, firsthand accounts of individuals who travel to Liska, Hungary to daven at the holy zion of the Tal Chaim of Liska and who merited yeshuos has prompted the organizing of a group in honor of his 115 yahrtzeit upcoming on Tes Iyar (May 12-14)  

Renowned also for his piety and asceticism, the Tal Chaim was famous for not being able to differentiate between the various coins of the Hungarian currency, once remarking when it was brought to his attention that the “red” coin was more valuable than the “blue” coin remarking that red is middas hadin and blue is middas harachamim; hence it should be the opposite.

Perhaps to incapsulate who the Tal Chaim of Liska was, it would be noteworthy to quote.

Rav Avraham Yitzchak Glick, Rov of Tolshava, the Ba’al Yad Yitzchak, who remarked, and in essence summed up the life and ideals of the Tal Chaim by declaring, “Some can consider the Liska Rav a batlan; I say we are batlanim, for he was able to be mater an agunah with a Tosafos.”

Harav Yaakov Moshe of Kamarna declared, “I heard of the Tal Chaim’s greatness in Kabbalah from my father, Harav Eliezer Tzvi of Kamorna. However, I did not know of his greatness in Toras Hanigleh until now.”

The Arugas Haboisem, wrote in his haskamah on Tal Chaim, “I, too, was zocheh to know him,” considering this a zechus to have had a relationship with the Tal Chaim.

Rav Mordechai Winkler of Mad, author of Levushei Mordechai, who was regarded as one of the Torah giants of Hungary, writes of the Tal Chaim in his haskamah, “tzaddik yesod olam,” recalling his Torah discourses with the Tal Chaim. In his words, “I was stunned by the deepness of his holy words, highlighting his depth and vast knowledge in Torah.”

The Mattersdorfer Rav, Rav Shmuel Ehrenfeld, once recalled that his father, Rav Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld, the Mattersdorfer Rav, used to quote in his daily shiurim from the sefer Tal Chaim U’Brachah and that he regularly sent his talmidim to the Tal Chaim. His respect for the Tal Chaim was so intense that he once escorted him, together with all his talmidim, to the edge of town, upon the conclusion of a visit.

The Tal Chaim’s hasmadah in Torah learning was legendary; every second was dedicated to the amkus of being mechadesh chiddushei Torah, coupled by extreme humility, to the point of limiting his accessibility.

An interesting anecdote that highlights his hisbatlus is worth mentioning. A man who lived near Liska found himself in Munkatch and went to the Darkei Teshuvah, requesting a brachah. Upon inquiring where he was from, the Darkei Teshuvah asked the man why he hadn’t gone to see the Tal Chaim, who lived closer to him. He replied that the Tal Chaim rarely interrupts his Torah learning to see people and held himself unworthy of giving brachos. The Darkei Teshuvah told him that when he returns to Liska, he should go to the Liska Rav and relay, in the Darkei Teshuva’s name, that he should “open his doors to receive people and that he is worthy to be a poel yeshuos.”

The Tal Chaim’s son and successor known as the Sharei Hayosher, once recalled that the Belzer Rav, Harav Yehoshua, to whom the Tal Chaim traveled to, secluded himself in private with his father for many hours, discussing the intricacies of Toras haKabbalah. When the Tal Chaim was pressed to reveal the contents of his discussion with the Belzer Rav, he replied that, “This is precisely why the Belzer Rav is talking with me — he knows that it will remain confidential.” In later years, the Tal Chaim and his son confirmed that the Belzer Rav had wanted to discuss with his father certain Toras hanistar.

In fact, the Belzer Rav once referred to the Tal Chaim as “the Hungarian Lamed Vav.” Once, during a tisch, he took the Tal Chaim’s plate and mixed the contents with those of his own plate, mixing the two portions and then distributing shirayim, which was very symbolic of his deep respect for him.

He was niftar on 9 Iyar 5664/1904. It is related that at the time before his petirah, there was a change in the political climate of Hungary as well as a worsening of the economy with harsh ramifications for the tzibbur.  The Rebbe went to the beis medrash and led heartfelt tefillos; he offered himself as a korban tzibbur if this terrible verdict could be averted.

The following week, as the Rebbe was eating, a piece of food got lodged in his throat and he choked. In the merit of his self-sacrifice, the terrible tragedy against the Jews had been averted.

Before the levayah, it was discovered that there was no room in the ohel of his father-in-law, the Ach Pri Tevuah, for him to be buried. A minyan of prominent Rabbanim, including his son and successor Harav Tzvi Hirsh, went to daven at the kever of the Ach Pri Tevuah and requested that he should make room for his son-in-law. When they returned, an open nes occurred and the walls surrounding the kever literally moved. To this very day, one can still see that the tziyun of the Tal Chaim is literally connected to the wall of the ohel in Liska.

L’kuvid the yahrtzeit there is an opportunity to connect with  “this tzadik who was one with the Torah” on the special trip to Liska and to various kivrei tzadikim throughout Hungary,  that is being organized by Go Gold Tours for May-12-14—48 hours that will B’ezras Hashem  bring forth yeshous for Klal Yisroel  and for the individual. For details pertaining to the itinerary please contact:  718-473-9867 x 8 or via email at:  [email protected].