Rabbi Yeshaya ben Moshe Kerestirer

 

Reb Yeshaya (Shaye'le) Kerestirer was a talmid of the Divrei Chaim of Tzanz and the Ach Peri Tevuah of Liska.

He was known as a Baal Mofet (miracle-worker). His photograph is one of the most widely recognized in the world.

He lived more than 100 years ago and was a great tzadik. Sages such as Rabbi Yissachar Dov of Belz and Rabbi Meir of Midvorna testified that Rabbi Yeshaya of Kerestir had a unique connection to Shamayim.

Tzadikim and Admorim of his time sent all those in need of a blessing for parnasa to Kerestir. It was there, with the tzadik's help, that many Jews found the key to a stable livelihood.

  Chassidim Instead of Candies On the Shabbat of his aliyah to the Torah before his wedding, he went to his Rebbe, Mordechai of Nadvorna. And before the "beavarfen" (the throwing of candies at the groom), the tzadik said to him: "There is no one here to throw candies at you, so I will throw chassidim at you instead" — and his holy promise was fulfilled in full, for over the years our rabbi had hundreds and thousands of chassidim.   The Blessing of the Rebbe of Tzanz When, after the passing of his teacher the Rebbe of Liska, he came to Tzanz for Shabbat, he sat, as always, in a secluded spot, hidden among the vessels. But it was impossible to hide from the holy eyes of Rabbi Chaim of Tzanz, who called out loudly: "Yeshaya, kum a'rif!" ("Yeshaya, rise to the top!") said the Divrei Chaim. With the greatest humility, his face lowered to the ground, Rav Shaye'le rose to the head of the table, and the Rebbe of Tzanz handed him a bowl with a large piece of kugel, proclaiming loudly: "You have kugel, so that you may distribute it among all the Jews." This declaration carried eternal significance, and so it was — from that time on, Reb Shaye'le fed Jews. When the Rebbe of Liska appointed Shaye'le to distribute the challahs at the table, he would say: "When Yeshaya distributes the challahs, blessing rests upon them." The tzadik said that even in his youth, one could see from the way he distributed the challah what kind of rabbi he would become. Rebbe Shaye'le followed the customs of his rav, Tzvi Hirsh of Liska, all his life. His custom was to give sick people pieces of sugar for healing and good fortune. It is known that the chassidim said he had inherited a box of sugar from his righteous rav of Liska, and from that box he would distribute sugar cubes. When the box was half empty, he would add his own pieces of sugar, mixing them with the old, so that it never ran out. In Kerestir, where Rav Chaim of Tzanz had directed him, a new chapter of Rebbe Shaye'le's life began. There he brought the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim (hospitality) to the highest level. Together with his righteous wife, the Rebbetzin Sarah, they built a home like that of our forefather Avraham, open on all four sides to everyone who passed by. And indeed, from every direction people streamed to the rav's home, which became a refuge for the poor, the hungry, and every guest who happened to pass by. The Rebbe used to say with a smile that he had three kinds of guests: "guests, fleeing ones, and trampling ones." That is, honored guests who came to stay a day or two or longer; people fleeing the horrors of the kingdom who came seeking refuge in his shadow, to spend a night or a week under the shelter of his roof; and winemakers from the neighboring wine town of Tokay who came to eat and sleep in a comfortable bed. Simple people felt like welcome guests here. Hardworking laborers, the poor, and the destitute were members of the family all year round. When a Jew entered the house, he was greeted with peace, offered a loaf of bread, and warmly invited to wash his hands before a hearty meal. Over the years, thousands of Jews dined at his table on Shabbat and holidays. In Kerestir it was a common occurrence for poor relatives of a groom to come to town to celebrate their children's weddings in the Rebbe's Beit Midrash. Rav Shaye'le would welcome them, arrange the kiddushin, and pay all the enormous costs of the meals for hundreds of guests out of his own pocket. In addition, the Rebbe would give a large sum of money to the groom as well. The same was true for britot: poor people who had a son would perform the brit in the holy courtyard of Kerestir. The Rebbe would be honored as sandak and would pay all the expenses of the brit himself. After Birkat Hamazon, the Rebbe would approach the father of the child and quietly give him a large sum for the expenses of raising his son. Rabbi Yeshaya never asked anything in return from those who ate at his table, but he himself, and the atmosphere of holiness and purity in his home, did their work — everyone who saw his radiant face wanted to become better and purer. The chassidic court of Rav Shaye'le was devoted entirely to acts of kindness toward Jews. Unlike other renowned rebbes, Rav Shaye'le served his Creator standing by the oven while preparing food to feed hungry Jews. Hundreds of thousands of Jews made their way to his home to be saved by his blessings, which caused a stir in Heaven and brought about miracles on earth. Once (though it was really always so), a giant challah wrapped in a large white tablecloth was placed on the table for a holiday meal, with two candlesticks with lit candles set on either side. It is told of a guest from Israel who was there for the first time and was unfamiliar with the custom — he was frightened to death when he saw what looked like "a body" lying on the table, surrounded by candles. Only after the Rebbe took him by the hand, lifted the tablecloth, and showed him the challah did the man calm down. The Melaveh Malkah meal in Kerestir was known throughout the country, and people streamed to it from every corner, and even from far away. In winter, when Shabbat ended early, chassidim would board the express "Schnellzug" train after Havdalah, and even if they arrived in Kerestir by midnight, they were never late. On Motzaei Shabbat, all the roads leading to Kerestir were filled with wagons loaded with Jews making their way to Rabbi Yeshaya. It reminded me of pilgrims coming to Jerusalem. The difference was that they arrived in Kerestir empty-handed and hungry, and left full, laden with money and blessings... His son, Rabbi Avromele, took his place and passed away less than two years after his father's death, on 16 Adar, and his grandson, Rabbi Meir Yosef Rubin, held his position for twelve years, until he was murdered by the cursed Nazis in Auschwitz on 16 Sivan, 1944. On his deathbed, as the pure soul of Rabbi Shaye'le was about to leave his body and ascend to Heaven, his family and close friends asked him: "What will be? What will we do without you? We have received so many salvations through you — what will happen now?" Rabbi Yeshaya, with his last strength, sat up on his pillow, leaned against the headboard, and with all his strength promised: "If you continue to do good deeds, as I did in my lifetime, salvation will continue to come from Heaven as well."   The Key to Parnasa

How did it come to be that "the Key to good parnasa" was placed in the hands of Rebbe Shaye'le, as the people fondly called him?

The Gedolei HaDor of his generation said that he performed this mitzvah to perfection! The "Beit Avraham" of Slonim said to one of his chassidim as he was about to set out for home: "On your way back, stop in the town of Kerestir, and you will see a unique tzadik who reached the highest levels of holiness simply through his complete mesirat nefesh for Bnei Yisrael!"

Anyone with a serious problem related to parnasa, zivug, or health... if he turned to the tzadik Rebbe Shaye'le, supernatural miracles occurred for him.

Rebbe Shaye'le made a deal with Ha-Shem Yitborach: "Ribono Shel Olam," he said to the Creator, "I will do more than I am able to feed the hungry and the unfortunate, and You, in return, do more than You are able to help me be capable of feeding them all."

And so, Rebbe Shaye'le managed to provide for everyone, sometimes even in ways that surpassed nature. Those who helped him prepare food recount with awe that they cooked with a limited amount of ingredients that were in the house, and there was always enough food to feed everyone, no matter how many people came to sit at his tables.

An Open Miracle

Once, when a group of chassidim arrived at Rebbe Shaye'le's court, our rabbi instructed everyone to set the table for the group. One of his assistants said to him anxiously: "There is almost no soup left in the pot. What should we do?" Rebbe Shaye'le took a ladle, stirred the pot a bit, and said: "Why do you speak this way? There is enough for everyone." The same assistant came and looked into the pot — it was almost full to the brim. It was an open miracle.

On Motzaei Shabbat, Rebbe Shaye'le would take a pot from the pantry and distribute food to all who asked. He kept feeding people, and the contents of the pot never ran out until there was no one hungry left in the room.

When Rebbe Shaye'le was gravely ill and about to leave this world, he called for one of the women of the community who was in need of help. When she came to him, he promised her that he would take care of her, on the condition that she would make sure that everyone present at his funeral would have enough food and drink. This was what concerned him at the moment he was about to leave his earthly home. The woman fulfilled his last wish, and she was provided for the rest of her life.

 

A Segula for Parnasa — Tefillah Baal Mafteach Parnasa

On 3 Iyar, Rebbe Shaye'le left this world. He himself was one who gave his entire self to gemilut chassadim — and before leaving this world he asked: "Be my partners in gemilut chassadim, and I will pray to open for you the gates of parnasa!"

In his hands is the Key to Parnasa. Tzadikim composed a special tefillah for the day of Rebbe Shaye'le of Kerestir's hilula, which has brought many yeshuot throughout the world. This is the "Tefillah Baal Mafteach Parnasa."

  Tefillah Baal Mafteach Parnasa Ribon ha-Olamim, atah hu gadol ha-eitzah verav ha-alilah asher einecha pekuchot al kol darkei bnei adam latet lechol echad ve-echad dei parnasato ve-dei machsoro venatatah lanu tzadikei emet ha-mashpi'im le-vriyotecha sova chayim uvracha, veshefa, kodesh, uverachamecha ha-rabim natatah be-olamenu et Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe zachur tzadik livracha, ki hu hamashbir lechol am ha-aretz uveyado hifkadta mafteach shel parnasa. Vehinei bati lefanecha be-yom ani avdecha (name and mother's name) lehitchanen ve-la'amod lefanecha ulevakesh rachamim be-yoma de'illula kemo she'amar Rabbi Chama bar Chanina, gedolim tzadikim bemitatam yoter miv'chayeihem la'asot imanu ka'asher bachayim heyotam ve'af yoter, shebizchut hatzadik hakadosh hazeh tazmin li ulechol bnei beiti parnasa berevach uvekalut belo amal merubeh, vetakel me'aleinu et kilelat ha'adam harishon bezei'at apecha tochal lechem ki kasheh aleinu hadavar me'od, ulefanecha Adon haniflaot ein koshi ume'akev klal milazun otanu belo torach gadol. Ozreini na Ribon ha-olamim hazan et ha-olam kulo be-chen be-chesed uverachamim shetaspik li ulechol bnei beiti kol tzorkeinu bechayei alma bein bemazon bein belevush bein bedirah bein bechol davar sheyavo lefanecha ve'al etztarech litol midei basar vadam af betorat halva'ah, ki im miyadecha hamele'ah hapetucha hakedosha veharechava yushpa lanu shefa gadol bechol eit kefi mah shenitztarech lo ve'al yechsar lo li velo lemi me'anshei beiti davar mikol tzorkeinu ad olam. Ana aseh imi tzedakah vachesed bizchut she'asah hatzadik Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe im amcha Yisrael, vetarbeh lechaneni bemida tovah umarbah, ve'al teshiveini reikam bevo'einu la'asot tachanunim lefanecha, u'tevarcheini beracha shleimah ki atah shomea tefillah. Translation Master of the Universe! You are great in wisdom and counsel, and Your eyes are open, watching over the ways of all people, to give each one what he needs and what he lacks. And You have given us true tzadikim who bring to Your creatures sustenance, life, blessing, and abundance, and holiness. In Your great mercy You gave this world Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe, for he gives abundance to the entire people, and into his hands You placed the Key of Sustenance. And behold, I have come before You today, I, Your servant (name plus mother's name), to plead, standing before You, and to ask for mercy on the day of the hilula, as Rabbi Chama bar Chanina said: "After their passing, tzadikim are even greater intercessors for us than in their lifetime" — therefore, in the merit of this holy tzadik, send me and all my household sustenance, but without hard labor, and lighten for us the curse of Adam HaRishon, "by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread," for this is very hard for us, while for You, the Worker of Wonders, it is easy to sustain us without great toil. Please help me, You Who sustain the whole world with kindness and mercy, and give me and all my household everything we need in the material world — sustenance, clothing, housing, and everything that may be needed, so that I will not have to ask of mortals, but only from Your full, open, holy, and generous Hand may great abundance always come to us whenever we are in need, and let there be no lack of anything, neither for me nor for my household. Please deal with me according to Your mercy and truth, in the merit of what the righteous Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe did for Your people Israel; forgive me again and again, do not turn away our pleas unanswered, and bless me with a complete blessing, for You are the One Who hears prayer.  

A Segula Against Mice

A portrait of Rabbi Shaye'le of Kerestir is a segula against mice. The Rebbe promised that no home or building where his portrait is kept will suffer from mice.

(https://kerestir.org.il/?lang=en)https://silatehilim.com/13540-2/)