A significant project has been launched to rebuild and restore the historic home of Reb Shayale of Kerestir, who has become one of the most revered and beloved figures in the world of Chassidus.

The initiative seeks to faithfully reconstruct the house in the Hungarian village of Bodrogkeresztúr (Kerestir) where Reb Shayale, Rabbi Yeshaya Steiner, lived and conducted his extraordinary life of chessed more than a century ago. The home served not only as the residence of the tzaddik but as a center of hospitality that became legendary throughout the Jewish world.

For decades, the house of Reb Shayale was known as a place where any Jew could find food, warmth, and kindness. Travelers, poor Jews, and visitors from across Europe would arrive at the home, often unannounced, and Reb Shayale ensured that no one ever left hungry. It is said that Reb Shayale would personally ensure that guests were fed and cared for, often standing in the kitchen himself to help prepare meals for the many visitors who arrived each day. His home became a symbol of hachnasas orchim (hospitality) on a scale rarely seen. Even when resources were limited, Reb Shayale insisted that food be provided to anyone who knocked on the door.

Today, more than a century later, the legacy of Reb Shayale remains extraordinarily powerful. Each year, tens of thousands of Jews travel to Kerestir to visit his kever, particularly on his yahrtzeit, where they daven and draw inspiration.

Many visitors continue the tradition associated with Reb Shayale of distributing food and drinks to fellow travelers, continuing the chessed that defined his life. The new restoration project aims to preserve this legacy by rebuilding the historic house as it once stood, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of the tzaddik’s home and the environment in which so much kindness was extended.

For so many Jews around the world, Reb Shayale represents a model of what true kindness and generosity can look like. Many organizations and Jewish soup kitchens are made and named in his memory as his legacy is carried by those who prioritize chessed in their lives.