Reb Yeshayale of Kerestir’s Personal Segulah Chumash
Segulah sefer – Chumash Devarim with Heichal HaBrachah commentary including Megillas Eichah and Koheles.
This is an original copy that belonged to the holy miracle worker and baal chessed Reb Yeshayah ben Reb Moshe of Kerestir, whose gravestone bears the words: “His piety and holiness are beyond comprehension.”
On the flyleaf there are three stamps in foreign letters: “Saje Steiner – Bodrog-Keresztur” [Yeshaya Steiner – Bodrog-Kerestir] and inscriptions of Reb Yeshayale’s name in foreign script handwriting.
The sefer later came into the hands of his son-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Krausz, Av Beis Din of Karoly whose stamps appear as well, on the title page and on the final leaf.
A sefer segulah of unique power!
In a letter written by the author of ‘Heichal HaBrachah’ of Komarno to the Jews of Hungary regarding the distribution of chumashim with his commentary, the author bestowed a special blessing and revealed the segulah of these sefarim:
“…And I am confident that whoever keeps our chumash in their home will be spared from all harm and misfortune, illness and lack. His home will be filled with Hashem’s blessing, goodness, success, wealth, and long life for him and his children… with children, life, and sustenance, with kindness and mercy, and with merit and a judgment for long life.”
With this holy and auspicious sefer, Reb Yeshayale immersed himself in learning, in holiness and purity!
Throughout the sefer are clear signs of use, and drops of wax can be seen on various leaves of the chumash and Megillas Eichah.
Rabbi Yeshaya Steiner (1852-1925), known far and wide as
Reb Yeshaya’le Kerestirer, was a paragon of holiness, loving-kindness and charity who performed miracles and wonders for the masses and distributed colossal sums of money for charity. His door was open to every Jew, and every meal in his home was a communal gathering, as the poor and hungry came together to eat at his table.
Rabbi Yeshaya’le was the prime disciple and personal aide of the Admor Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch of Liska who praised his student’s holiness and spiritual greatness. After the passing of his rebbi Reb Tzvi Hirsch, Reb Yeshayale’s renown grew, and tens of thousands streamed to him. Yet, in his humility, he always signed himself simply as: “Devoted attendant in the holy service of the Rebbe of Liska, zt”l.”
Reb Yeshayale would travel to the holy Admor Rabbi Yaakov Moshe of Komarno, son of the author of ‘Heichal HaBrachah’.
On leaf 159b, several pesukim are inscribed in handwriting.
Chumash Devarim, Lemberg 1874. First edition of Heichal HaBrachah.
Page count: [3], 211, [1]; 26 leaves. First title page is missing.
Size: 27.8 cm.
Condition: Noticeable signs of use; fair to good condition. Small holes and tears; corners of the final leaves are missing. Original leather binding, worn and damaged (partially restored).
Additional inscriptions in foreign script. A signature in pencil appears on leaf [2]. On several leaves there are numeric notations (possibly for gematria).
Bibliography: Stefansky Chassidus, no. 218.
