During
this time the township of Lisker grew in scope and fame. This affluence
lasted till the end of Hershel Lisker's lifetime of
4 decades.
Rabbi Zvi-Hersh Friedman, also known as Hershel Lisker, or the "Achpretvia" as he is named from his best known sefer, lived a very frugal life. Even though the community enjoyed great prosperity, he wouldn't allow the founding fathers to raise his salary from one forint, which he received at the beginning of his position.
The money that he accrued from the people coming to seek his advice was distributed to the poor and to further the various programs he instituted.. For himself he built a humble home so as to accommodate the multitude of people who came to see him and ask his advice.
Among his major accomplishments was the building of the Synagogue. The Synagogue was built in a grandiose manner and able to accommodate a capacity of 500 people. It was one of the largest of his time to accommodate the large influx of people. The Synagogue was built without a foundation to commemorate the Destruction of the Temple — as a testimony to the temporary state of the Diaspora.
To the community and his followers he left the following dictum:
"Rely on the ancient tradition, to observe and
uphold the conservative life-style,
to hand it down from generation to generation."
