Born in Senica, he became a prominent journalist and editor in Vienna. One of the first to join Theodor Herzl in launching the Zionist movement, he participated in a small conference early in 1897 which decided to convene the first Zionist Congress. From then on, York-Steiner worked closely with Herzl and helped him to publish Die Welt, the first official periodical of the World Zionist Organization. He also assisted Herzl in his political activities. In 1933 he settled in Tel Aviv. During his last years he was a member of the Revisionist movement.