Five sets, containing dozens of diverse drafting and measuring tools, placed in original cases. Made by different firms in Germany and the USA: E. O. Richter., Eugene Dietzgen, Keuffel & Esser, and Tower – [ca. 1920s-1940s]. T

he sets include various drafting tools, which were used by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (the future Lubavitcher Rebbe), while he was studying electrical engineering in Paris, and later, while working as an electrical engineer on American Navy ships in New York.

Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by the Rebbes nephew, R. Shalom Dovber (Barry) Gurary (1923-2005), the only grandson of Rebbe Rayatz (son of his daughter, Rebbetzin Chana, and her husband, R. Shemaryahu Gurary – the Rashag): "I hereby gift… the drafting tools sets my uncle used in Paris and New York. He gave it to me after his father passed away and he gave up his Job as an electrical engineer. I spent hours watching him use these drafting tools and was fascinated by it". Dated – January 30, 1991.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (the future Lubavitcher Rebbe), began his studies in the local gymnasium and university of his native town, Yekaterinoslav [today Dnipro, Ukraine], and later took courses in the shipbuilding department of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. During his time in Berlin (1927-1933), he attended lectures in philosophy and mathematics in the Friedrich Wilhelm University (today, the Humboldt University), while at the same time studying at the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary (Rabbiner-Seminar zu Berlin). Following the Nazi seizure of control in Germany, he moved to Paris, where he studied at the ESTP (École Spéciale des Travaux Publics), taking courses in geometry, infinitesimal calculus, chemistry, physics, mathematics, electricity and design; he received his mechanical and electrical engineering diploma in 1938. In the month of Sivan, 1941, the Rebbe managed to escape Europe. He immigrated to the USA and settled in the court of his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz, located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY. During his early years in the USA, parallel to his work in the official Chabad institutes, the future Lubavitcher Rebbe was employed as an electrical engineer by the American Navy in New York. According to the enclosed letter of authenticity, signed by the Rebbe's nephew, R. Barry Gurary, the present drafting tools were used by the Lubavitcher Rebbe during his studies in Paris, and later on, while he was employed by the American Navy in New York. [After the Rebbe discontinued his work as engineer, these drafting and measuring tools were passed on to his nephew, Barry Gurary, who may have used them in his own scientific work.]

Size and condition vary.

Hat worn by Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, mother of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Black hat, with velvet ribbon. Made by Mitseré, USA, ca. 1940s.

Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift… the Mitseré French hat worn by my brother-in-law's mother. When my sister and daughter-in-law cleaned out her apartment after she passed away my sister gave me the hat. I wore it a few times in the 1960's". Dated – December 3, 1989.

There are several pictures of Rebbetzin Chana Schneersohn, dating to the 1940s-1950s, where she is seen wearing a dark-colored hat, similar in shape and style to the present hat.

Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson (1880-1964),  mother of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and daughter of the Rabbi of Mykolaiv (Ukraine), R. Meir Shlomo and his wife, Rebbetzin Rachel Yanovsky. Married R. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, and with utmost devotion joined him in fearlessly spreading Judaism under communist rule, first in Ekaterinoslav and later in his exile to Chiali, Kazakhstan. During this time, she produced ink from weeds, to enable her husband to write his Torah novellae, and later risked her life by carrying his writings while traveling from place to place. These writings were later printed in his series of books Likutei Levi Yitzchak on the Zohar.

R. Levi Yitzchak passed away in Alma-Ata (Almaty), Kazakhstan in 1944. In 1946, Rebbetzin Chana crossed the Russian border to Poland, and reached Paris in Adar 1947. Upon hearing the news of his mother's arrival in Paris, her son, Rebbe Menachem Mendel, who was already living in Brooklyn, immediately boarded a plane to meet his mother, who had been confined behind the Iron Curtain and whom he had not seen for 20 years. The Rebbe stayed in Paris for three months to arrange all the necessary authorizations for her immigration to the United States and in Sivan, embarked with his mother on a ship to the US.

After her arrival in the United States, Rebbetzin Chana lived near her son and near 770, on the corner of President St. and Kingstone St. no. 1418 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. Some three years later, the Rayatz passed away and her son Rabbi Menachem Mendel became the Rebbe of Chabad.

Rebbetzin Chana was very involved in the lives of the Chassidim and in the various Chabad activities and served on the board of Chabad women's organization in the United States. She passed away on Shabbat, 6th Tishrei 1964, and is buried near the Rayatz and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Beit Chana network of girls' schools was named after her.

Approx. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains and minor blemishes.

Likutim Yekarim, anthology of Chassidic essays from the founders of Chassidut, R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, and his disciples: R. Dov Ber Maggid of Mezeritch, R. Menachem Mendel of Premishlan and R. Yechiel Michel Maggid of Zlotchov. Lviv: R. Yehuda Shlomo Yarish Rappoport, [1792]. First Edition.

The present book mostly comprises selections of the teachings of the Maggid of Mezeritch.

The printing press of R. Yehuda Shlomo Yarish Rappoport of Lviv notably published the holy book "Noam Elimelech" in 1788. The printing workers employed in the press were reputed to be holy men, among the 36 hidden Tzaddikim of the generation.

Signatures and stamps.

[2], 40 ff. 22 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Wear. Worming, affecting text, mostly repaired. Large open tears to title page margins, affecting border. Marginal open tears to most leaves, affecting headings and text, repaired with paper (with photocopy replacement). Book professionally restored. New leather binding. 

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.

Amudei Gola, Sefer Mitzvot Katan (Semak) by R. Yitzchak (Isaac) of Corbeil. Liadi: Baruch, Yitzchak and Moshe Segal, [1805].

Approbations by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Baal HaTanya, and R. Chanoch Henich Shick of Shklov. This is one of the few approbations of the Ba'al HaTanya to ever be printed.

Approx. 21 cm. Blueish paper. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Wear. Tears, including small open tears to title page (not affecting text). Minor worming. Leaves unevenly trimmed. Stamps. New binding.

The only Hebrew book printed in Liadi, Ba'al HaTanya's home town. For more about the Liadi printing house, see: Friedberg, Toldot HaDfus HaIvri B'Polania (History of Jewish Printing in Poland), p. 137. 117, 116-117 ff.

[Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Yoreh De'ah], Part II: Laws of Niddah (sections 183-191), Shechitah (sections 1-2, 18, 23-26), Terefot (sections 31-33), and responsa, by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Baal HaTanya. Kopust (Kopys): R. Yisrael son of R. Yitzchak Yoffe, [1814]. First edition.

[1], 48; 54; [16] ff. Approx. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Minor Stains and wear. minor worming, slightly affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Long marginal tear to title page, restored with tape. Inscription to title page. New leather binding.

Mondshine, Sifrei HaHalacha Shel Admor HaZaken, Bibliography, Shulchan Aruch, I, p. 26-27.

PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.