 Born circa 1745 in the Galician town of Kalush (presently located in Ukraine), Heller was a fifth-generation descendant of Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller.Heller was the youngest of five brothers with Chaim, Mordechai, Daniel, and Yehuda (author of "Kuntras HaSfeikos"), and one sister (about whom nothing is currently known).In his youth, after being recognized by his father as a prodigy, Heller was sent to learn Torah from Rabbi Meshulam Igra of Tysmienica, Poland, an outstanding authority.