he would append to his amulets: “the holy Shaya ben Moshe who served in holiness under the tzaddik and rabbi of Liska.” This picture, taken at the end of his life, has been known for the last hundred years as a segula for preservation and wealth, and has been hung in homes and businesses across the Jewish world.
Framed are the parchment with a copy of the amulet given from his holy hands to those seeking salvation, and many well-known stories about its unnatural deeds have spread.
Analysis of the amulet – three verses for preservation are alluded to: the first line includes a compilation of initial letters from the verses “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces” (Psalms 122:7); “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent (Psalms 91:10)
The second line has the initial letters from the verse: “And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great; so that they wearied themselves to find the door” (Genesis 19:11)
The Admor Rebbi Shaya’la of Kerestir
(1852-1925, 5612-5685)
A leader of his generation and an important Chassidic Admor of the 19th and 20th centuries, Rabbi Yeshaya Steiner was the student and successor of Admor Rabbi Zvi Hirsch of Liska—student of Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum (the Yismach Moshe). He was known for his merciful heart and his care for the parnasa of the Jewish people, and he would say “while other sages deal with ‘Razin d’Razin’ (Kabbalah and chassidut), I am dealing with ‘sustenance and not emaciation (razon)’.” Rabbi Shaya’la is considered a miracle worker, many deeds are attributed to him. Thousands continue to visit his grave to pray to him for salvation, and many wonderful stories have spread about the power of such prayer.
ג’ אייר תש"פ – צ"ה שנה להסתלקותו
Numbered copy: 45/100 Series A
“He who sees the face of a tzaddik, he returns a good abundance and blessing to his soul, for the light of the shekhina immerses him”
(Ye’arot Dvash, Section 1, Drash 12)
