Rav Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir zt"l
הרב ישעיה בן משה שטיינר זצ"ל
Iyar 3 , 5685
Rav Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir zt"l
(1851-1925 / 5611- 5685)
Rabbi Yeshayaleh Steiner of Kererstir was born to Rav Moshe and Hentshe Miraim Steiner in 5611/1851. He was orphaned from his father at age three and was raised and educated by his saintly mother who sacrificed much to give him a proper chinuch.
By age twelve, his mother realized that it was in her son's best interest to be in a true makom Torah. With great self-sacrifice, she sent the young boy away from home to study under the rebbe, Rav Tzvi Hirsch Lisker, author of Achi Pri Tevuah. Rav Tzvi Hirsch would eventually become his rebbe muvhak.
The Liska Rav sent him to study in the yeshivah in Semihali. Within half a year, all the locals knew of the young budding genius from whom they began to seek out his heartfelt blessings. They would hand him a coin and request that he recite Tehillim on behalf of the sick and ill. They saw wonders as the result of his supplications and soon, word spread that at the fair, it would be best if Rav Shayaleh would stand beside them as they traded so that in his merit they would be assured of their success in trading.
Rav Shayaleh was a disciple of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, and after his passing, he became a disciple of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna. The Nadvoner Rebbe suggested that he move to the town of Kerestir (Karstir). In Kerestir he became a famous rebbe known as a miracle worker.
After about half a year, the Lisker brought him back to help as his gabbai and he recognized his immense potential. He treated him with honor and respect and allowed the young tzaddik the opportunity to learn from his holy ways. After some time, his rebbe recognized his disciple’s own hidden and holy ways. Rav Shayaleh was appointed to distribute the challos at his rebbe's tisch to the many guests. They said regarding this that once he continued giving out challos even when the sack was empty! Eventually, this miraculous distribution moved on from Liska to Kerestir where Reb Shayaleh would give out chulent from his pot and continue ladling out portions, long after the pot was empty!
Of course, no one was allowed to see inside the pot; the rebbe would simply ask if they needed more. And if anyone requested more, he got some, even when it was clear that the pot was empty and that, long before, all the portions the pot could possibly hold had already been distributed. In fact, very little had even been cooked and prepared, yet somehow, there was always more than enough and plenty to go around!
It was said of him that he had an otherworldly ability to give others since he gave of himself in a supernatural manner. He gave away all his food and distributed all his money to charity. He gave until there was nothing left to give and so Hashem gave him more to give!
After his service and studies under the Liska Rav, he studied under Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz. There, he demonstrated his way of giving. For instance, the Sanzer Rav once requested a large sum and Rav Shayaleh had some 600 reinish in his pockets. The Divrei Chaim asked, and Rav Shayele gave. He emptied out pocket number one.
"Don't you have anymore?" asked the Sanzer Rav.
He emptied out the second pocket. The Sanzer kept asking until Rav Shayaleh had given him the entire sum. Rav Chaim wondered out loud about Rav Shayaleh’s giving nature and exclaimed how generous he was.
On 4 Nissan 5635/1875, he married Sarah bas Yitzchok Yona, the son-in-law of Rav Shaya Hakohen Gadol of Kerestir. Rav Shayale's Shabbos aufruf was conducted by his rebbe Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna who promised him that although there was no one around to shower the young groom with candies--as is the custom-- instead, he, the rebbe, will shower the chassan with followers and chassidim!
After a rough start in Liska where he lived in dire poverty, Rav Mordechai advised him to move to Kerestir and told him that there, he would find success. Like the Sanzer and Lisker, Rav Mordechai held Rav Shayaleh in great esteem and urged him to take on the role of leader and rebbe. Thus, he was appointed rebbe and if chassidim came to Rav Mordechai from Kerestir and the environs seeking his blessings, he sent them back to Rav Shayaleh for salvation saying they belonged to him. When Rav Mordechai found out that they were not calling up Rav Shayaleh for his aliyah to the Torah with the title of “Rebbe, Master and Teacher,” he admonished them to do so.
Despite his success, he had profound humility. He continued to sign his name as "Yeshaya ben Moshe who used to be meshamesh the holy tzaddik of Liska”!
He passed away on 3 Iyar 5685/1925 and was laid to rest in Kerestir.
After his passing his tziyun became a central location for those seeking blessings and salvation and this continues to be the case until this day.
His successor was his only son, Rav Avraham of Kerestir. His sons-in-law were Rav Raphael Gross of Berbesht, Rav Shmuel, Rav Yisroel Avraham Alter Landau AvBeisDin Edelin.
Stories of Rav Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir zt"l
The Shabbos before his own chasuna, Rav Yeshayeh’leh came to spend Shabbos with Rav Mordechai’leh. Rav Mordechai’leh displayed warmth, open affection and honored him very much. It was Rav Mordechai’leh who recognized Rav Yeshaya’leh as the Liska Rav’s successor and he therefore appointed him to be a rebbe and a leader among the Jewish people and publicized his greatness and spread word among the chassidim. Before Rav Yeshaya’leh got an aliyah that Shabbos, Rav Mordechai’leh declared publicly addressing the Chassidim: “There is no one here to shower you with sweets [as is the custom to throw sweets and candies over the chassan] but instead I will shower you with Chassidim!”
After Rav Hershel Lisker passed away the Chassidim were unsure as to who should succeed him as the next rebbe and leader and they decided amongst themselves to travel together to ask the holy opinion of Rav Mordechai’leh of Nadvorna. The Lisker Chassidim arrived together with Rav Yeshaya’leh as he was the Lisker rebbe’s gabbai always serving the holy rebbe in his inner sanctum.
They listed various possible candidates to Rav Mordechai and he responded “In my opinion Rav Yeshaya’leh should succeed the Liska Rav!” However the chassidim did not agree and remained unable to accept this since they argued that Rav Yeshaya’leh was not the son of a rebbe and how therefore could here he succeed the Liska Rav?
Rav Hershel Lisker’s descendants also came to complain to Rav Mordechai that by appointing Rav Yeshaya’leh as the Liska Rav’s successor he was usurping their inheritance and taking away their rightful position and source of income. Rav Mordechai listened to them and their arguments and then he turned around and stood in front of the window gazing outside into the distance. The Chassidim gathered around the window to see what the Nadvorna rebbe was gazing at and scrutinizing, but all they saw were a few bales of hay and straw strewn about. Rav Mordechai opened his holy mouth and declared with customary humility: “If Mordechai’eh would point with his finger at those bundles of straw and declare that this is a rebbe what would people say about that? All Mordechai’leh is saying is that there is a hidden barrel filled with gold, but it is covered in shmattes and filthy rags. All Mordechai’leh is doing is removing the rags and taking off the shmattes, then all of you will see the gold!” “I ask you to allow Rav Yeshaya’leh to remain in Liska, it would be a great favor and do good for you and for many generations hence!” However Rav Mordechai’s advice and requests fell on deaf ears and Rav Yeshaya’leh had no choice but to leave Liska. Instead Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna advised him to move to Kerestir.
And so it was that Rav Yeshaya’leh went to Kerestir and it was transformed into the source of shefa and beracha that we know of until this very day. When a chassid once asked Rav Mordechai if it was permitted to give Rav Yeshaya’leh a kvitel of petition to ask him to bless him and daven for him, Rav Mordechai’leh responded by rising up from his seat to his full height and declaring emphatically that: “It says in Sanhedrin 89 that he who holds back prophecy, not on I nor you do I wish what it says there, rather I will not hold back my prophecy and I tell you that in the Heavens above it has been decided and established that Rav Yeshaya’leh is the successor who inherits the Liska Rav.”
Rav Mordechai’leh himself moved to Kerestir and for the first year and a half that Rav Yeshaya’leh was there Rav Mordechai supported and strengthened the new rebbe, Rav Yeshaya’leh, to lead and be a rebbe. All those who came to Rav Mordechai for his blessing and advice were refused and turned away, instead he ordered them to first seek the counsels and blessings of Rav Yeshaya’leh. He also refused emphatically to receive any kvitelach anyway in Rav Yeshaya’leh’s domain and surroundings saying that they belonged to Rav Yeshaya’leh alone.
May his holy merit shield us all.
Rav Yeshaya Gross a descendant of Rav Yeshaya’leh of Kerestir, from Williamsburg wrote: It is well known that our great grandfather Rav Yeshaya’leh of Kerestir had no male heir they all died very young. When his son Rav Avrhame’leh grew ill his mother travelled to Rav Mordechai’leh of Nadvorna and asked for a blessing for her son’s recovery, “Why do you come to me?” asked Rav Mordechai in surprise, “your own husband Shaya’eh has an open road with no hindrances in Heaven above!” The Rebitzen however would not let up and continued to beg the Nadvorna rebbe’s blessings, “I promise you that after 120 years on this earth you shall indeed have someone to recite Kaddish for you.” And so it was. The Rebitzen passed away on 22 Tammuz תרפא while Rav Yeshaya’leh was niftar 3 Iyar תרפה and Rav Avrahame’leh passed away 18 Adar תרפז just as Rav Mordechai had promised they both had some to recite the Kaddish after them.
Rav Yoel was very close and on very friendly terms with Rav Shayaleh of Kerestir and from time to time they would visit one another and send regards and greetings. Rav Yoel used to say that Rav Shayalah was a world class genius a velts Chacham!
It so happens that there was a well known problem in Uhjel, a serious breach in the fence erected by Chazal and the Torah. There were many simple uneducated Jews whose work among the goyim forced them to have to wear leather shoes even on Tisha B'Av and therefore they made the error that they mistakenly believed that since they were forced to wear leather shoes while working for the gentiles they therefore believed that they could continue to wear these shoes all day long, even coming to shul on Tisha B'Av morning itself while wearing leather shoes for Shacharis and to recite kinnos and from there they each went to their jobs to work for the goyim.
This was the first year that Rav Yoel was serving as the Rav of Uhjel, and the leaders of the community were worried that when he would witness this breach of the halachah and the acts of the unlettered uneducated Jews he would publicly humiliate and rebuke the offenders and cause a new rift in the community!
Therefore, in order to prevent communal strife they sought out the new Rav to placate him and explain the erroneous beliefs and mistake of these ignorant congregants.
The heads and leaders of the kehillah sought an audience with the Rav and told him that when he would witness this foolish custom and see how the ignorant Jews come to shul on Tisha B'Av wearing leather shoes and that they have already become accustomed to this foolish incorrect custom for so many years he should forgive them and not rebuke them since better that they remain shogeg and sin unintentionally than mezidim willful and rebellious transgressors! no?
When the Rav Yoel heard this he was completely taken by surprise and he asked them: "Do you mean to tell me that on the day that our holy bais hamikdash was destroyed and went up in flames these Jews will come to shul in leather shoes?!"
"What should we do?" exclaimed the leaders of the community, "I hereby declare," said the Rav, "that I cannot remain heading the rabbinate in such a place where some members of the community so brazenly go against the halachah in a public display of disregard for Jewish law and something so clearly stated black and white in Shulchan Aruch!"
The communal leaders did not know what to do and so they departed the house of the Rav downcast. Meanwhile, Rav Yoel did not know what to do. . .after a few days it so happened that Rav Yoel was in Kerestir for a din Torah and as was his custom he went to visit Rav Shayaleh and inquire as to his welfare and well being.
During their conversation Rav Yoel presented his problem to Rav Shayaleh, asking for his sage advice, how could Rav Yoel possibly extricate himself from this predicament?! "Regarding this matter your best bet is to discuss the matter with rabbiner Roth!" was Rav Shayaleh's terse response. Needless to say such a response astonished Rav Yoel, who could not understand how the rabbi of the status quo congregation could possibly advise or aid him in this matter?!
Rav Shayaleh did as was his custom and he closed his eyes and laid back in a trance like manner and appeared almost as if he was asleep. Rav Yoel posed his question, "what connection does rabbiner Roth have to the matter and what possible answer could he have for me?" Rav Shayaleh again responded: "Discuss this matter with rabbiner Roth and your honor shall see success!" was his blessing and reply.
The strange and bizarre advice seemed out of place, and Rav Yoel had misgivings and said to himself: "Although Rav Shayaleh is a world renowned sage but I think this time he has missed his mark. . ."
However, when he arrived back in Uhjel he decided to give Rav Shayaleh's advice a shot, what did he have to lose already?!
Rav Yoel asked that someone go visit rabbiner Roth and request him to visit, explaining that Rav Yoel had an urgent matter to discuss with him.
Rabbiner Roth was extremely surprised that the Rabbi of the Orthodox congregation wanted to seek a meeting and speak with him, out of respect he hurried over to Rav Yoel's home to see what was the matter. "Please rabbiner Roth I have an urgent request of you, during your Shabbos sermon please mention to your congregants about the upcoming day of Tisha B'Av and how it commemorates our national tragedy, teach them the history of the destruction of Jerusalem and our holy temple that was set aflame twice on this fateful tragic date and how throughout the generations Jews world over have fasted and mourned over the destruction and that one of the customs was to refrain from wearing leather shoes."
When rabbiner Roth heard the modest request it seemed odd but he agreed and so his sermon did indeed contain the content as requested. When Rav Yoel heard the news that rabbiner Roth had indeed kept his word he had the solution, he himself spoke before his congregants and chastised and rebuked them: "What shame and how will you face the fact that even the status quo congregation has heard the strict stringency of mourning on Tisha B'Av and refraining from wearing leather shuls and how will it look when even they all know this and yet the Orthodox congregants blatantly flagrantly ignore the law and publicly walk around in leather shoes on Tisha B'Av?! What shame and disgrace!?"
The sage advice of Rav Shayaleh did the trick and it worked, all the members of the kehillah that year showed up in shul on Tisha B'Av and not one was wearing the shameful leather shoes on their feet! (Mofes HaDor)