Segula for Parnassah — “Tefilah Baal Mafteach Parnassah” in the merit of Rabbi Yeshaya Kerestir

Segula for Parnassah — “Tefilah Baal Mafteach Parnassah” in the merit of Rabbi Yeshaya Kerestir

Rabbi Yeshaya ben Moshe Kerestir possessed the “Key to Good Parnassah.” The tzadikim and Admorim of his time would send anyone in need to Kerestir to receive a blessing for parnassah. There, with the help of the tzadik, many Jews found the key to a stable life. How did the “Key to Good Parnassah” come into the hands of Rebbe Yeshayale? The Gedolei ha-Dor of his generation said that he performed this mitzvah perfectly! Beit Avraham of Slonim said to one of his chassidim as he was preparing to leave: “On your way home, stop in the town of Kerestir, and you will see a unique tzadik who reached the highest levels of holiness simply through his complete mesirut nefesh for Bnei Yisrael!” Anyone facing a serious problem involving parnassah, a shidduch, health, or anything else who turned to the tzadik, Rebbe Yeshayale, experienced supernatural miracles. Rebbe Yeshayale made a pact with Hashem Yitbarach. “Ribono shel Olam,” he said to the Creator, “I will do more than I am capable of to provide for the hungry and the destitute, and You, יביוכל, do more than You are capable of to help me be able to feed them all.” And indeed, Rebbe Yeshayale succeeded in providing for everyone, at times even through means beyond the laws of nature. Those who helped him prepare the food would recount with awe that they prepared meals from the limited supplies available in the house, yet 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 Yeshayale’s courtyard, Rabbeinu instructed everyone to set the table for them. One of his assistants anxiously said to him: “There is almost no soup left in the pot. What should we do?” Rebbe Yeshayale took a ladle, stirred the pot a little, and said: “Why are you speaking that way? There is enough for everyone.” The same assistant went over and looked into the pot—it was almost full to the brim. It was an open miracle. On Motzaei Shabbat, Rebbe Yeshayale would take a pot from the pantry and distribute food to everyone who asked. He continued feeding people, and the contents of the pot never ran out until there were no hungry people left in the room. When Rebbe Yeshayale was very ill and preparing to leave this world, he summoned a woman from the community who was in need of assistance. When she approached him, he promised to take care of her on the condition that she ensure that everyone attending his funeral would have enough food and drink. This was what concerned him at the moment when he was preparing to leave his earthly home. The woman fulfilled his final wish, and she was provided for until the end of her life.   Segula for Parnassah — Tefilah Baal Mafteach Parnassah On 3 Iyar, Rabbi Yeshaya (Shayele) of Kerestir departed this world. He was the one who devoted himself completely to gemilut chasadim, and before leaving this world he asked: “Be my partners in gemilut chasadim, and I will pray to open the gates of parnassah for you!” The Key to Parnassah was in his hands. The tzadikim composed the Special Prayer for the Yom Hilula of Rabbi Yeshaya of Kerestir, which has brought many yeshuot throughout the world. This is the “Tefilah Baal Mafteach Parnassah.”   Tefilah Baal Mafteach Parnassah ריבון העולמים אתה הוא גדול העצה ורב העליליה אשר עיניך פקוחות על כל דרכי בני אדם לתת לכל אחד ואחד די פרנסתו ודי מחסורו ונתת לנו צדיקי אמת המשפיעים לבריותיך שובע חיים וברכה ושפע קודש וברחמיך הרבים נתת בעולמנו את רבי ישעיה בן רבי משה זכר צדיק לברכה כי הוא המשביר לכל עם הארץ ובידו הפקדת מפתח של פרנסה. והנה באתי לפניך ביום הזה אני עבדך (פלוני בן פלונית) להתחנן ולעמוד לפניך ולבקש רחמים ביומא דהילולא דיליה כמו שאמר רבי חמא בר חנינא גולים צדיקים במיתתם יותר מבחייהם לעשות עימנו כאשר בחיים חיותם ואף יותר שבזכות הצדיק הקדוש הזה תזמין לי ולכל בני ביתי פרנסה ברווח ובקלות בלא עמל מרובה ותקל מעלינו את קללת אדם הראשון "בזיעת אפך תאכל לחם" כי קשה עלינו הדבר מאד ולפניך אדון הנפלאות אין קושי ומעכב כלל מלזון אותנו בלא טורח גדול. עזרני נא ריבון העולמים הזן את העולם כולו בחן בחסד וברחמים שתספיק לי ולכל בני ביתי כל צרכנו בהאי עלמא בין במזון בין בלבוש בין בדירה בין בכל דבר שיבוא לפנינו ואל אצטרך ליטול מידי בשם ודם אף בתורת הלוואה כי אםמידך המלאה הפתוחה הקדושה והרחבה יושפע לנו שפע גדול בכל עת כפי מה שנצטרך לו ואל יחסר לא לי ולא למי מאנשי ביתי דבר מכל צרכנו עד עולם אנא עשה עימי צדקה וחסד בזכות שעשה הצדיק רבי ישעיה בן רבי משה עם עמך ישראל ובזכות הצדקה שנדבתי עבורו ותרבה לחנני במידה טובה ומרובה ואל תשיבני ריקם בבואני לשאת תחנונים לפניך ותברכני ברכה שלמה כי אתה שומע תפילה Ribono ha-Olamim, atah hu gedol ha-etzah ve-rav ha-ilulah asher einecha pekuchot al kol darkei bnei adam latet lechol echad ve-echad dei parnassato ve-dei machsoro ve-natata lanu tzaddikei emet hamashpiim livriyotecha sova chaim u-verachah, veshefa, kodesh, u-verachamecha harabim natata be-olameinu et Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe, zichrono tzaddik livrachah, ki hu hamashbir lechol am ha-aretz u-ve-yado hifkadta mafteach shel parnassah. Ve-hineh bati lefanecha ba-yom ani avdecha (name and mother's name) lehit'chanen ve-la'amod lefanecha u-levakesh rachamim be-yoma de-hilula, kemo she-amar Rabbi Chama bar Chanina, gedolim tzaddikim be-mitatam yoter mi-bechayeihem la'asot imanu ka'asher bechaim chayotam ve-af yoter, she-bi-zchut ha-tzaddik ha-kadosh ha-zeh tazmin li ve-lechol bnei beiti parnassah be-revach u-ve-kalut be-lo amal merubeh, ve-takel me-aleinu et kelilat ha-Adam ha-rishon, be-ze'at apecha tochal lechem, ki kasheh aleinu ha-davar me'od, ve-lefanecha Adon ha-niflaot ein koshi u-me'akev klal mi-lazon otanu be-lo torach gadol. Azreini na Ribono ha-Olamim ha-zan et ha-olam kulo be-chen be-chesed u-ve-rachamim, she-taspik li ve-lechol bnei beiti kol tzarchenu be-hai alma, bein be-mazon bein be-levush bein be-dirah bein be-chol davar she-yavo lefanecha, ve-al etztarech litol mi-yad basar va-dam af be-torat halva'ah, ki im mi-yadecha ha-melei'ah ha-petuchah ha-kedoshah ve-ha-rechavah yushpa lanu shefa gadol be-chol et kefi mah she-nitztarech lo, ve-al yechsar lo li ve-lo le-mi me-anshei beiti davar mi-kol tzorchenu ad olam. Ana aseh imi tzedakah va-chesed bi-zchut she-asah ha-tzaddik Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe im amcha Yisrael, ve-tarbe le-chaneni be-middah tovah u-verivah, ve-al teshiveinu reikam be-vo'einu la-asot tachanunim lefanecha, u-tevarcheni berachah sheleimah, ki atah shome'a tefilah. Translation Master of the Universe! You are great in Your wisdom and glory, and Your eyes are open, watching over the ways of all people, to give each person what he needs and what he lacks. You have given us true tzadikim who bring Your creations sustenance, life, blessing, abundance, and holiness. In Your great mercy, You gave our world Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe, for he provides abundance for the entire nation, and You placed the Key to Parnassah in his hands. And here I have come before You today; I am Your servant (name and mother's name), pleading and standing before You and asking for mercy on the day of his hilula, as Rabbi Chama bar Chanina said: “After their passing, tzadikim are even more powerful intercessors for us than during their lifetime.” Therefore, in the merit of this holy tzadik, send parnassah to me and to all the members of my household, without strenuous labor, and ease for us the curse of Adam ha-Rishon: “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread,” because this is very difficult for us, while for You, Master of Miracles, it is no difficulty to sustain us without great toil. Please help me, O One who sustains the entire world with Your kindness and mercy, and grant me and all the members of my household everything we need in this material world—food, clothing, housing, and anything else that may come before us—so that I will not need to seek from mortal beings, even in the form of a loan, but only from Your full, open, holy, and generous hand. May great abundance flow to us whenever we need it, and may nothing be lacking, neither for me nor for any member of my household. Please deal with me with Your mercy and kindness, in the merit of what the tzadik Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe did for Your nation Israel, and increase Your grace toward me with a good and generous measure. Do not turn me away empty-handed when I come to plead before You, and bless me with a complete blessing, for You hear prayer.