Rabbi Yeshayah Steiner, affectionately known as Reb Shayele of Kerestir, was a profoundly influential Hungarian Hasidic Rebbe who founded the Kerestirer dynasty. Born in 1851 in the village of Zboró, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary and now in Slovakia, he faced early hardship when his father, Rabbi Moshe Steiner, passed away when Yeshayah was only three years old. His spiritual journey began in earnest at the age of twelve when his mother sent him to study under the renowned Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Liska, the author of Ach Pri Tevua. Showing exceptional dedication, he eventually became the personal aide, or Gabbai, to the Lisker Rebbe, a role that shaped his future emphasis on communal service and charity. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Following the passing of the Lisker Rebbe, Steiner became a disciple of other major spiritual leaders, including Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz and later Rabbi Mordechai Leifer, the Nadvorner Rebbe. It was Rabbi Mordechai who suggested that Steiner move to the town of Bodrogkeresztúr, known in Yiddish as Kerestir, where he would eventually establish his own court. In Kerestir, he gained a reputation as a miracle worker (Baal Mofes), drawing tens of thousands of followers who sought his blessings and guidance. Despite his growing fame, he maintained profound humility, often signing his name simply as "Yeshaya ben Moshe who used to be meshamesh the holy tzaddik of Liska".
The hallmark of Reb Shayele's leadership was his unparalleled hospitality and his obsession with feeding the hungry. He believed that the physical needs of a person were a spiritual priority, often spending his entire day ensuring that visitors to his court were provided with fresh food and comfortable lodging. This institutional-scale hospitality became his legacy, and even today, his home at 65 Kossuth Utca remains a site of pilgrimage where hospitality projects continue in his name. He passed away on the 3rd of Iyar in 1925 and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Avraham Steiner.
In contemporary Jewish tradition, Reb Shayele is also famous for the "mouse story," in which he reportedly blessed a man’s warehouse to be rid of a mouse infestation. This led to a widespread custom of using his portrait as a segulah(amulet) for protection against mice and general misfortune, a practice that remains visible in many Jewish homes and businesses today. His grave in Bodrogkeresztúr continues to attract thousands of visitors annually, especially on his yartzeit (anniversary of death), who come to draw inspiration from his life of boundless kindness and charity.
3 Iyar: R'Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir (1851-1925). "Reb Shayele" was know for his extraordinary ahavas Yisrael, tzedaka, chessed as well as for his miraculous work for those in need of yeshuos.