Rav Yeshaya was orphaned at a young age and grew up in Lask, in the kehilla of his father and grandfather. He made a name for himself as a genius early on, and mastered so much Torah that no suitable tutor could be found for him. Thereafter he was taught privately by the illustrious Rav of Lask, Rav Pinchos Zelig, author of Ateres Paz. As his renown grew, a wealthy merchant from Pshedburzh, Rav Dov Weinberg, chose the budding talmid chacham as a son-in-law, and promised to take care of all his physical needs so he would be free to pursue Torah study exclusively. Rav Yeshaya married at the young age of fourteen, cloistered himself from any contact with the outside world, and sat and studied for eighteen years straight.
The chief rabbi of Pshedburzh, Rav Nosson Neta Eibschitz, was a misnaged – opposed to the ways of the Chassidim. Gradually, however, he changed his mind, and was drawn to the Maggid of Mezritch and to one of his successors, Reb Elimelech of Lizensk. However, he refused the throngs of Chassidim who flocked to him in Pshedburzh, telling them, “I am no rebbe.” Young Yeshaya became his study partner, and together they plumbed the depths of Toras HaNistar, the mystical and esoteric aspects of Torah. When Rav Nosson Neta passed away, his successor, Rav Aryeh Leib Halperin, assumed the role of chief rabbi, and R.Yeshaya continued his role as study partner. It was in the home of Rav Halperin that Rav Yeshaya met the sharp young scholar by the name of Yaakov Yitzchok, who later became known as the Yid HaKadosh of Peshischa.
Rav Yeshaya’s desire to grow in Torah eventually led him to the yeshiva in Lisa, where he studied under Rav Dovid Tebel. There he met another young genius named Rav Akiva Eiger, and the two became study partners and fast friends. Their friendship lasted a lifetime, and later in life when the misnagdim would complain to Rav Akiva Eiger that Chassidim don’t learn, he would reply, “But Rav Yeshaya is a gaon and a Chassid!”
Eventually, Rav Yeshaya’s father-in-law passed away, and the money from his inheritance was depleted. Rav Yeshaya was left with no source of income. After completing all four volumes of the Tur, Shulchan Aruch and their commentaries, Rav Yeshaya had a dream. He dreamed that he saw the former Rav of Pshedburzh, Rav Nosson Neta, who told him, “Know that I hereby gift the position of chief rabbi to you!” That very morning, the dignitaries and town leaders arrived with a letter of appointment, and declared that they had elected Rav Yeshaya as the Rav of Pshedburzh! He served as the Rav and Av Beis Din for 42 years. When the Chozeh of Lublin passed away, the Chassidim crowned Rav Yeshaya as one of his successors. He refused the title of rebbe for as long as possible. Among his foremost disciples include: Rav Kalonymous Kalman Epstein, author of Ma’or VaShemesh, and his sons; Rav Aharon of Krakow and his brother Rav Yosef Baruch of Neustadt (the “Gitter Yid”); Rav Moshe of Lelov; Rav Shlomo of Radomsk; Rav Yissacher Ber of Radoshitz; and Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel (the “Seraph of Mogolinitza”).
