Hasidic Jews flock to pray in southeastern Poland

Some 2,000 Hasidic Jews from across Europe, the United States and elsewhere are expected to arrive in Leżajsk, southeastern Poland, this week to pray at the grave of Rabbi Elimelech Weisblum, one of the founders of a religious movement whose aim was to revive Judaism in the 18th century.

Pilgrims pray in Leżajsk on Tuesday.

Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

A group of more than 1,000 Jews who took part in the prayers on Tuesday have left the site to make room for new groups, the last of which is scheduled to leave Leżajsk by Friday noon, before the start of the Sabbath.

Hasidic Jews believe that a person's soul returns to the place of his or her burial on the anniversary of their death.

This year marks the 235th anniversary of Elimelech’s death. Jews visit his grave in Leżajsk to ask his spirit to help them with important life issues, such as health and prosperity in business and family.

After the prayers, which last up to three hours, participants have a kosher meal consisting of beef, fish, eggs, vegetables and fruit.

Elimelech died on March 11, 1787. The anniversary of his death is a movable feast for Jews, who come to Leżajsk on the 21st day of the month of Adar in the Jewish calendar, which falls in the second half of February or the beginning of March.

Before World War II, Leżajsk had a sizeable Jewish population and was among the most important centres of the Hasidic movement in Poland. The tradition of the annual prayers at Elimelech's tomb was revived in the mid-1970s.

(mk/gs)