Hachnasas Orchim Lizhensk

Up until 15 years ago, the name Lizhensk was synonymous with fierce cold, tens of degrees below zero, a bone-shaking ride on rickety buses from the airport to Lizhensk, followed by an unheated Ohel, with nowhere nearby to relax or find a glass of hot tea. It was hard to get to Lizhensk. Of course it was part of the effort and the experience, but when someone had to choose which non-Jewish door to knock on, to ask in a whisper to go in for a moment – it was very uncomfortable. Many older people didn’t dare travel there, and even young people thought more than twice. Traveling for four-and-a-half hours from Warsaw to Lizhensk, and then four-and-a-half hours back. Can everyone manage without elementary amenities for so many hours, not to mention conditions for davenning in the place itself?

Hachnasas Orchim Lizhensk tackled the problem

No longer would Jews who had flown for 9 hours from the United States (or 4 from Israel), then spend hours in buses from the airport to the holy tziyun, and then return, because the fierce Polish cold and lack of basic amenities didn’t allow them to remain there more than a brief time.

During the first year, there was a single service room – a small, heated caravan with a kettle to prepare tea or coffee – and everyone who came blessed it from the depths of his heart… the brachos heaped on the heads of the staff of Hachnasas Orchim Lizhensk during that first year still ring in their ears…
The kretshme, the non-Jewish tavern which was “converted” and provided these services, became a lodestone for anyone visiting Lizhensk then. The following year, already self-understood, the visitors sought out the “place that had saved them” the previous year. Now there was already cake, tables and chairs to sit down, and most importantly – conveniences and heating, heating which melted the snow, warmed up a cold body, and enabled the tefillos and tears to flow… and heating was installed in the Ohel itself. Now there was no need to run away from the tziyun after just a few minutes, with frozen limbs. The tefillos and niggunim could be lengthened, and Jews could pour out their hearts and spend time on their tefillos. Everyone was relieved…

Hachnasas Orchim Lizhensk – everything needed, for anyone

Today, we have a fully-organized building for visitors. There is a fully-equipped shul, a kitchen with meals (free of charge, of course!) Everyone who comes is invited to the bedrooms where they can rest for a few hours, a line of kosher lemehadrin mikvaos with special heating installed, and comfortable changing rooms.
In addition, a heated prefab building rented each year, serves as a shul for the kohanim who cannot go up to the tziyun, but can see it from inside.
For the yartzheit, we build a gigantic tent, opposite the tziyun, to accommodate the many visitors, and enable them to eat mehadrin food comfortably, warm themselves up, and rest.
“True hachnasas orchim,” people say year-round, as tears well up in their eyes.
“Hachnasas orchim – for both the rich and poor! Even the biggest gvir couldn’t find here pas Yisroel or chalav Yisroel for his coffee. Another Jew didn’t find somewhere to rest his bones or warm his frozen hands.” And now? Now that Hachnasas Orchim Lizhensk is self-understood, no one can understand what they would do without it!

Shabbos in Lizhensk all year around

When Rabbi Elimelech’s yartzheit falls on Friday or Motza’ei Shabbos, it is extremely difficult for the visitors to come to his tziyun. It’s hard to come at a time which will allow returning home on Friday, but it’s even harder to stay in alien Poland for an entire Shabbos.

At Hachnas Orchim Lizhensk, they saw the situation and did something about it.
Organizing Shabbos for visitors was not easy. The shul was supplied with sifrei Torah, more guest rooms were built, the dining room was enlarged, and additional staff were recruited. Security was enhanced, and the incredible work finally reached its goal –

You can spend Shabbos in Lizhensk

Hachnasas Orchim Lizhensk is open every day during the mornings and afternoons, and there is always a hot meal available for anyone who wants one. At other times, people can come after prior arrangement. There are security services all year long, warm water in the mikvaos, and a place to sleep by prior arrangement. Maps, keys, guidance – are all waiting for the visitors who come! Hachnasas Orchim Lizhensk now welcomes those coming for Shabbos, throughout the year. Such groups are given a free “hotel,” Shabbos and Yom Tov meals, fully-equipped rooms, a shul and mikvaos – all free of charge! In practice, everything someone needs is now located in the same building, while carefully maintaining everyone’s comfort and privacy. In recent years, around one half (!!!) of the Shabboses are taken by groups.