Hasidim from many countries gathered in Lelów (Silesian voivodeship), as they do every year, to pray at the grave of the famous Tzadik David Biderman on the anniversary of his death. According to tradition, prayers are accompanied by dancing and singing psalms.

28 January marked the 209th anniversary of the death of Biderman, the first tzaddik of the Hasidic Lelow dynasty and one of the most famous tzaddikim in Poland at that time. The anniversary of his death is a major holiday for Hassidim from all over the world. Many of them come every year to Lelów, near Częstochowa, a town of several thousand people, to pray at Biderman’s grave. 

Ultra-Orthodox Jews descended on Lelów on Thursday. They include people from Israel, the USA and Western Europe. They all travel hundreds of kilometres to be able to say a prayer together. As a rule, they use Yiddish in their conversations. The Hassidim have brought to Lelów not only their own kosher food, but also, among other things, musical instruments, as singing and dancing are the most visible outward sign of this community.

The main celebrations at the tzaddik’s grave traditionally began on Friday after sunset and lasted until the following sunset, i.e. for the entire Sabbath. Dressed in traditional clothes, Jews honour the memory of the tzadik and ask him to intercede with God. They write their requests to the Tzadik on slips of paper placed on his grave. They believe that on the anniversary of his death, the spirit of the deceased descends to the grave among the living and offers prayers to God.

Tzadik Biderman (1746-1814), known as Lelower, was famous as a sage and physician. He was the founder of one of the greatest Hasidic dynasties. Among other things, he taught that whoever does not learn his errors will not experience salvation. He was an advocate of the peaceful coexistence of different faiths and nations. He led an ascetic lifestyle, fasting from Sabbath to Sabbath. He was known as a lover and protector of animals.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński