Before us is a rare and extremely exciting item for those engaged in acquisitions of Chassidic material and lovers of tsaddikim—an amulet given by the Tzaddik from Krestir to someone seeking salvation, and which was hidden for close to 100 years. “The following things the author would write on a small parchment, and no evil would befallen him nor to any members of his household, ” so wrote Rabbi Hillel Liechtenstein in his book “Tshuvot Beit Hillel HaChadash” (32).
With a certificate from the seller testifying: “I have in my possession an inheritance from my forefathers, my grandfather was
Rabbi Meir Yaakov Shapira, who received it from the Admor of Przmyslan the gaon tzaddik (Rabbi Mordechai Naftali), Rav Shmerler managed his chatzer in Acre…”. Size: 3×6.5cm.
“Yelshat B’Asher Boliv v’haAph HaBamug v’la” (the words written on the parchment)—three verses for preservation are hinted at in it, appearing in the book Elef Katav, and this is the exegesis: “the verses are ‘Yehi Shalom B’Kheilech Shalva b’Armnotaich’ (Psalms 122:7); ‘Lo TeUna Elayech Ra’ah v’Negah Lo Yikrav B’Ohalayech’ (Psalms 91:10), linked by the first initials of the first line. The verse ‘Ve’et HaAnashim Asher Petach HaBayit Hiku BaSanverim MiKotan v’Ad Kadol Vayelu Limtzo HaPatach, ” (Genesis 19:1), appears in the first initials of the second line.
”For many generations, the deeds of the Tzaddik from Krestir, Rabbi Yeshaya Steiner, have reverberated, especially the story of the Jew who immigrated to the United States, who opened a laundromat for parnasa that he profited off. Two goyim opened a laundromat across the street from him to compete, and the Jew sent another Jew to Hungary with a request to go to Rabbi Yeshayla and ask him for deliverance from his difficulty. The Jew returned to the United States and brought with him an amulet similar to the one before us here.The competitors decided to burn the Jew’s store, and sent someone to light it on fire, but the person couldn’t identify the storefront and accidentally burned down the Italians’ store. When the Rabbi Yeshayla died, the Jew dared to open the amulet and was astonished in seeing the verse and people who entered the home were struck with blindness.
R
abbi Yeshaya Steiner (1852-1925) from Krestir (Bodrogkeresztur) was one of the most important and well-known Admorim in Hungary. When he was 3, his father died, and at age 12 his widowed mother sent him to Rabbi Zvi Hirsch from Liska, where he was until his Rav died, and then he succeeded him, but remained indigent and did not think of himself. He is considered a miracle-worker and many amazing stories are told of him. Until today thousands of people continue to visit his grave and unburden their hearts there, and many amazing stories have been generated about the power of that event. He is known for his merciful heart and his care for the parnasa of the Jewish people. The amulets given during his lifetime to those seeking deliverance were written on parchment by professional scribes from his students, and he would himself bless them and give them by hand. His picture is also known as a segula against rats in a home, after an incident when he blessed a home and rats left their holes in Jewish homes, as well as another where he blessed a Jew who had been sued and rats came and ate the suit that was hanging before him in the court.
