(“Reb Shayele,” Grand Rabbi of Kerestir, 1851-1925). Letter Signed written on letterhead in Hebrew.

STEINER, YESHAYAH OF KERESTIR.

Kerestir (Bodrogkeresztúr)

n.d

With full Hebrew signature: “Hakatan Yeshaya ben…Moshe za’l Shehaya Meshamesh BaKodesh etzel HaRav HaTzadik MeLiska Z[echutho] Y[agen] A[leinu].”

R. “Shayele” Kerestir as he was affectionately known, was a disciple of R. Tzvi Hirsch Friedman of Liska who appointed him as his Shamash in 1870. Upon the death of R. Hershele, the great R. Chaim Sanzer and R. Mordechai Leifer of Nadvorno proclaimed R. Shayele as a Chassidic Rebbe. Out of deference to R. Hershele’s family, R. Shayele moved to Bodrog-Kerestir, near Miskolc in Hungary, where for the next fifty years, he became celebrated as a saintly miracle worker and astute arbitrator of disputes.