Rav Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir

Early years

Rav Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir zy"a, lovingly known as Reb Shayaleh, was the founder of the Kerestir dynasty. He was born in 5611 (1851) in Zboró, Hungary, today Zborov, Slovakia, to Rav Moshe and Hentshe Miriam Steiner. His father passed away when he was three, and his saintly mother raised and educated him, sacrificing much to give him a proper chinuch (Torah upbringing).

When he was twelve, his mother understood that he needed to be in a true makom Torah (place of Torah). With great self-sacrifice she sent the young boy away to learn under Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Liska, author of Ach Pri Tevuah, who in time became his rebbe muvhak (primary Rebbe).

The Rebbe of Liska sent him to learn in the yeshiva of Semihali. Within half a year, everyone in the area knew of the budding genius, and people began to seek his heartfelt blessings. They would hand him a coin and ask him to say Tehillim for the sick, and they saw wonders from his tefillos. Word spread that at the fair it was best to have Rav Shayaleh standing beside you as you traded, so that in his merit you would be sure of success.

His teachers

After about half a year, the Rebbe of Liska brought him back to serve as his gabbai. He recognized his young talmid's great potential, treated him with honor and respect, and let him learn from his holy ways. In time the Rebbe also saw his talmid's own hidden holiness. Rav Shayaleh was appointed to distribute the challos at his rebbe's tisch to the many guests, and it was said that once he kept giving out challos even when the sack was empty.

After the Rebbe of Liska passed away, his son-in-law, Rav Chaim Friedlander, author of Tal Chaim, succeeded him. Rav Yeshaya then began to travel to Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz. The Divrei Chaim once asked him for a large sum. Rav Shayaleh had about 600 reinish in his pockets, and he emptied out the first pocket. "Don't you have any more?" asked the Sanzer Rav. He emptied the second pocket, and the Sanzer kept asking until Rav Shayaleh had given the entire sum. Rav Chaim marveled aloud at his giving nature and said how generous he was.

After the passing of the Sanzer Rav, Rav Yeshaya became a talmid of Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna, who suggested that he move to the town of Kerestir.

Rebbe of Kerestir

On 4 Nissan 5635 (1875) he married Sarah, the daughter of Rav Yitzchok Yona, a son-in-law of Rav Shaya HaKohen Gadol of Kerestir. After a hard start in Liska, where he lived in dire poverty, Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna advised him to move to Kerestir and promised him that he would find success there.

Like the Rebbes of Sanz and Liska, Rav Mordechai held him in great esteem and urged him to take on the role of leader and Rebbe. And so he was appointed Rebbe. When chassidim from Kerestir and its surroundings came to Rav Mordechai for his blessing, he sent them back to Rav Shayaleh for their salvation, saying that they belonged to him. When Rav Mordechai learned that the chassidim were not calling him up to the Torah with the title "Rebbe, Master and Teacher," he told them to do so. In Kerestir he became famous as a miracle worker.

The miraculous distribution that had begun in Liska continued in Kerestir. Reb Shayaleh would give out chulent from his pot and keep ladling out portions long after the pot was empty. No one was allowed to see inside the pot. The Rebbe would simply ask whether anyone needed more, and whoever asked received, even when it was clear that the pot was empty and that very little had been cooked. Somehow there was always more than enough.

It was said that he had an otherworldly ability to give, because he gave of himself in a supernatural way. He gave away all his food and distributed all his money to tzedakah. He gave until there was nothing left to give, and so Hashem gave him more to give.

Despite his success he remained deeply humble. He continued to sign his name "Yeshaya ben Moshe, who used to be meshamesh (attendant) of the holy tzaddik of Liska." He kept two residences. One was at 65 Kossuth Ut. When he sought seclusion, or when there were too many guests, he went to his other house, at 3 Sipos Koz.

Later years and passing

Rav Yeshaya passed away on 3 Iyar 5685 (1925) and was laid to rest in Kerestir. His only son, Rav Avrohom of Kerestir, succeeded him. His sons-in-law were Rav Raphael Gross of Berbesht, Rav Shmuel, and Rav Yisroel Avraham Alter Landau, Av Beis Din of Edelin.

Legacy

After his passing his tziyun (resting place) became a central place for those seeking blessings and salvation, and it remains so to this day. Many Jews keep his image as a segulah (protective charm), believing that it protects against misfortune and keeps away mice.