Rabbi Yeshayah Steiner was born in 1851 to Rabbi Moshe and Hentsha Miriam Steiner in the village of Zborov near Bardeyov (today in Slovakia). When he was 3 years old, his father died. At the age of 12, his mother sent him to study in Hungary with Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh of Liska the author of Ach Pri Tevua, who later appointed him as his aide (Gabbai). When Tzvi Hirsh died and his son-in-law Rabbi Chaim Friedlander author of Tal Chaim succeeded him, Steiner started travelling to Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz. After the death of Rabbi Chaim of Sanz, he became a disciple of Rabbi Mordechai Leifer. Rabbi Mordechai Leifer suggested that he move to the town of Bodrogkeresztúr (Kerestir), in Hungary.

In Bodrogkeresztúr, Steiner became a Hasidic Rebbe and became known as a miracle worker, and tens of thousands of Hasidim came to his court.

He was known as hospitable on an institutional scale. In recent years, hospitality projects have developed in his town of Bodrogkeresztúr.

Steiner’s image is used as an amulet by those Jews who believe that it wards away mice.

His children were: Rabbi Avraham; Kreintsheh wife of Rabbi Shmuel Gross Rabbi of Krula; Rivka Feiga, wife of Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein, Rabbi of Snina; and Rachel the wife of Rabbi Yisrael Avraham Alter Landa Rabbi of Edelin and author of Beith Yisrael. In 1925 he was succeeded by his son Avraham.