Posted on 05/01/25
Today, 3 Iyar, marks the 100th yartzheit of the great Tzaddik, Rabbi Yeshayaleh Steiner of Kerestir, a.k.a. Reb Shayaleh ! Reb Shayaleh lived from 1851-1925, and studied under some of the greatest teachers of the generation, including Rav Tzvi Hirsch Lisker, Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, and Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna.
Each year, thousands of yidden visit his tziyun (grave) in Kerestir (Hungary), which has become a central location for those seeking blessings and salvation.
Although I have not (yet!) visited his tziyun , nor am I familiar with all of the stories about Reb Shayaleh, what I do know and what I have learned is that he was an adam gadol , not just in Torah, but in Gemilus Chasadim. He was a master ohev yisroel , someone that constantly looked out for the welfare of his Jewish brothers, and constantly pushed himself to give, give, and give.
Somehow, someway, he managed to always give, even if there was nothing left to give. A mysterious story is told how the Rebbe was once appointed to distribute challos to the many guests at a tisch , and he continued giving out challos even when the sack was empty! This happened with chulent too; Reb Shayaleh would continue ladling out portions long after the pot was empty.
About Reb Shayaleh they say, "He gave until there was nothing left to give and so Hashem gave him more to give!"
His level of love and respect for others was incredible.
Perhaps, it's not a coincidence that Reb Shayaleh's yartzheit (3 Iyar) always falls out during Sefiras HaOmer, the time period where we are meant to work specifically on this inyan of respecting and valuing other yidden! The 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died during this period because שלא נהגו כבוד זה לזה - they did not respect each other (Yevamos 62).
Notice, the Gemara does not say, "They hated each other" or "They disrespected each other," rather, it says, "They did not respect each other." What's the problem? Ok, so they didn't show respect, but at least they didn't show disrespect or hatred towards each other! What was the big mistake (on their level, of course)?
Perhaps, the Gemara is teaching us that ideal yiddishkeit requires ACTIVE respect towards others. It's not enough to live by default and merely "tolerate" others. The mistake of the students of Rabbi Akiva was that they were not נהגו כבוד, they did not actively live with respect of one another.
Reb Shayaleh was an individual who didn't just "tolerate" yidden, he ACTIVELY loved and respected yidden! He was נהגו כבוד, constantly looking for opportunities to give to others and accord them with the proper honor they deserve.
May we be zoche to tap into the holiness of this Tzaddik and may Reb Shaya ben Reb Moshe serve as a meilitz yosher for all yidden!
B'hatzlacha!
Ori Strum