He was born in Kosava (now Brest Voblast), the eldest son of Rabbi Shmaryahu Yosef Karelitz, the Rav of Kosova; his mother was Rasha, the daughter of Rabbi Shaul Katzenelbogen.
:For the town formerly known as Kossów or Kossów Poleski, see Kosava, Belarus.
Several of his other paintings depict the interiors of churches, he made portraits, and also painted stage sets for Count Pusłowski's private theater at his palace in Kosava.
The character of Reb Avraham-Shaye the Kosover is very closely based on Reb Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz from Kosova, commonly known as the Chazon Ish.
Kosava, Belarus | Kosava | TV Košava | Košava |
The couple had two children, son Marko and daughter Marija, which founded a Serbian television Košava in 1998, and she was an owner of this television until 5 October 2000.