Apt (Apta) · Opatów · Poland
The tziyun of the Ohr LaShamayim in Apt
The resting place of Rabbi Meir HaLevi of Apta, author of Ohr LaShamayim and a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, who passed away on 25 Tammuz 5587. The kever is in the old Jewish cemetery of Opatów, today beneath the seating of the town amphitheater: row 5, seat 6.
Where the kever of the Ohr LaShamayim is
Rabbi Meir HaLevi Rotenberg of Apta (Opatów), author of Ohr LaShamayim and a disciple of the Chozeh of Lublin, served as rabbi of Opatów until his passing on 25 Tammuz 5587 (20 July 1827). He is buried in the town’s old Jewish cemetery. After 1962 a municipal amphitheater was built on part of the cemetery, and the grave now rests beneath its seating. Until the war years the tziyun was a well-known place of tefillah, visited by many. The ohel that stood over it before the war was destroyed.
Address: Partyzantów 13B, 27-500 Opatów, Poland
GPS: 50.798294, 21.426158 · Plus code: 9G23QCXG+8F
Yahrzeit: 25 Tammuz (next: 30 July 2027; it begins the evening before)
On the yahrzeit, 25 Tammuz, many people come to the tziyun, through the night and the day. A hilula seudah is held every year, and light refreshments and other amenities are prepared on site.
Navigate: Waze · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Finding the spot inside the amphitheater
- Go to the amphitheater of the town cultural centre on Partyzantów street and start at its entrance.
- Stand facing the seats from the stage.
- The kever is beneath the seats: Row 5 Seat 6.
Getting in: The site is open and can be visited at any time, 24 hours a day.
Getting there by car (no traffic): Kraków 183 km, ~2:45 h · Warsaw 208 km, ~2:55 h · Rzeszów 112 km, ~2:05 h. There is a public car park on Partyzantów, about 130 m south-west of the amphitheater. Kohanim: the site is within the old cemetery grounds, so ask a rav before approaching. Nearby kevarim: Ożarów (23 km), Radoszyce (102 km), Kozienice (109 km), Leżajsk (106 km), Lublin (117 km), Lelów (153 km). Radoszyce, the kever of the Saba Kadisha of Radoshitz, is a place visitors to Apta go to all the time, the closest of the kevarim people regularly visit.
Rabbi Meir of Apt, the Ohr LaShamayim
Rabbi Meir was born to Rabbi Shmuel Segal HaLevi Rotenberg, a descendant of the Shelah HaKadosh. His father passed away when he was a child, and his mother raised him alone.
He learned in the yeshiva of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Katz, author of Kesser Kehunah, and later became a talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin. While still young he was appointed rav of Stopnica (Stavnitz). When the Ohev Yisroel left Apta, Rabbi Meir took up the rabbinate of the town and served there until his passing.
After the passing of the Chozeh, many of his talmidim became chassidim of Rabbi Meir. He is known to this day by the name of his sefer, Ohr LaShamayim. Among his talmidim were the Saba Kadisha of Radoshitz, Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, the Chiddushei HaRim of Ger, the Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk and Rabbi Aryeh Leibush of Ozharov.
He passed away in Apta on 25 Tammuz 5587 (20 July 1827). More about the rabbonim of the town: Tzaddikim of Apta.
Yahrzeit, tefillah and tips for visitors
Yahrzeit: 25 Tammuz. Coming dates (the yahrzeit begins the evening before): 25 Tammuz 5787 · 30 July 2027; 5788 · 19 July 2028; 5789 · 8 July 2029; 5790 · 26 July 2030; 5791 · 16 July 2031.
On the yahrzeit many people come to the tziyun, through the night and the day. A hilula seudah is held every year, and light refreshments and other amenities are prepared on site.
What people say: as at kivrei tzaddikim, Tehillim, Kel Malei Rachamim, kvitlach, and the tefillah of Rabbi Meir of Apt below.
Respect for the place: the site is used today as the town amphitheater, so local events may be held there. Please come modestly and quietly, and check ahead.
The tefillah of Rabbi Meir of Apt, “Hineni Beyadcha” (Hebrew)
The Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk would say this tefillah every day, evening and morning, and said it is a great segulah for parnassah and success.
Questions visitors ask
Where is the kever of the Ohr LaShamayim?
Rabbi Meir HaLevi of Apta, the Ohr LaShamayim, is buried in the old Jewish cemetery of Apt (Opatów), Poland. After 1962 a municipal amphitheater was built on part of the cemetery, and the grave now rests beneath its seating, at Partyzantów 13B, 27-500 Opatów. GPS 50.798294, 21.426158.
How do I find the spot inside the amphitheater?
Enter the amphitheater of the town cultural centre on Partyzantów street, stand facing the seats from the stage, and go to row 5, seat 6: the kever is beneath it.
When is the yahrzeit?
25 Tammuz. The next yahrzeit is 25 Tammuz 5787, Friday 30 July 2027; it begins the evening before. Many people come to the tziyun through the night and the day, and a hilula seudah is held every year.
Is the site open?
Yes. The site is open and can be visited at any time, 24 hours a day.
How far is Apt (Opatów) from Kraków, Warsaw and Rzeszów?
By car without traffic: Kraków 183 km (about 2:45 h), Warsaw 208 km (about 2:55 h), Rzeszów 112 km (about 2:05 h). There is a public car park on Partyzantów, about 130 m south-west of the amphitheater.
Can Kohanim visit?
The site is within the old cemetery grounds, and the amphitheater seats stand on it, so ask a rav before approaching.
Plan the rest of the trip: visitor guide and kevarim routes · the old cemetery of Apta · הציון הקדוש בלשון הקודש