Thousands of Jewish pilgrims flock to Polish town
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
29.03.2019 01:00
Thousands of religious Jews from around the world have been flocking to southeastern Poland this week in an annual pilgrimage.
Pilgrims pray in Leżajsk on Wednesday. Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz
Some 6,000 Orthodox Jews from Europe, the United States, Canada and Israel were expected to arrive in the town of Leżajsk between Wednesday and Friday to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Elimelech Weisblum, a spiritual leader who died 232 years ago.
Hasidic Jews venerate Rabbi Elimelech Weisblum as one of the founding fathers of their movement and believe he can answer their prayers on the anniversary of his death.
Pleas are submitted in written form and placed on the rabbi’s tomb in a building within the grounds of an old Jewish cemetery.
Before World War II, Leżajsk was home to many Jews and an important centre of the Hasidic movement.
(gs/pk)
Source: PAP