Online Auction 38 - Chabad
Special Chabad Auction in Honor of 11th Nisan - 120 Years from the Birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Desk clock of Rebbe Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch. After the passing of the Mitteler Rebbe (Kislev 1827), his son-in-law the Tzemach Tzedek inherited the clock and gave it years later as a wedding gift to his son the Maharash.
Pendulum clock – presumably Paris, first decades of the 19th century. Mahogany with Ormolu mounts. Rests on four stylized feet. The pendulum is decorated with (modern?) rhinestones.
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 desk clock that the Mittler Rebbe my ancestor received from graf Lumormirsky. The Tzemach Tzedek gave it to his son the Maharash as a wedding gift. My great-grandmother Rivkah [wife of the Maharash] gave it to me for my 10th birthday". Dated – 3rd December 1989. A large wooden box is enclosed, presumably also used by the Rebbe or his family (the box was given together with the present clock, though it is not mentioned in the letter).
The Mitteler Rebbe and Prince Lubomirski
Rebbe Dov Ber – the Mitteler Rebbe settled in the town of Lubavitch, Belarus on 18th Elul 1813, several months after the passing of his father the Baal HaTanya on 24th Tevet 1812, after fleeing Napoleon's army. Following the destruction of Liadi, the hometown of the Baal HaTanya, during the French invasion of Russia, the Mitteler Rebbe, who had just recently succeeded his father as rebbe, sought a place to reestablish his court. Upon the invitation of Prince Lubomirski, member of the prominent Lubomirski Polish princely family, the Mitteler Rebbe settled in Lubavitch in 1813. Lubavitch served as center of the Chabad movement for the next one hundred and two years. The prince, who showed great sympathy to the Jews, even provided the rebbe with wood to build his home and communal buildings.
The support of the Lubomirski family began already in the days of the Baal HaTanya, who settled in Liadi at the invitation of Prince Lubomirski. They were also instrumental in easing the terms of the imprisonment of the Mitteler Rebbe in 1827, and in helping rebuild Lubavitch after a fire destroyed it in the times of the Tzemach Tzedek.
According to the enclosed letter, the Mitteler Rebbe received the present clock from Prince Lubomirski, presumably around the time he settled in Lubavitch in 1813 (for other silver items Prince Lubomirski gifted the Mitteler Rebbe, see Kedem Online Auction 32, item 1; Online Auction 34, item 1; Online Auction 35, item 1).
Further in the enclosed letter, Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary relates how the clock was passed down as an inheritance in the Chabad dynasty from generation to generation. It was first inherited by the Tzemach Tzedek, son-in-law and successor of the Mitteler Rebbe; and later, ca. 1849, the Tzemach Tzedek gave it to his son Rebbe Maharash on the occasion of his wedding to Rebbetzin Rivkah; and many years later, ca. 1909, Rebbetzin Rivka gave the clock as a gift to her great-granddaughter Rebbetzin Chanah (eldest daughter of her grandson Rebbe Rayatz), on the occasion of her 10th birthday.
Clock: 45X9 cm. Good condition. Clock mechanism not examined. Minor defects. One foot loose. Without key. Defects and soldering marks to pendulum (lacking some rhinestones).
Kiddush cup of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn – the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch.
Silver, marked: Moscow – 1853, maker's mark: СГ [SG].
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 kos used by the Tzemach Tzedek in the final years of His life. My grandmother [wife of the Rashab] gave it to me as a gift during the sheva brochos week when I got married". Dated – 26th November 1989. A wooden box which may have also been used by the rebbe or his family is enclosed (the box was given together with the kiddush cup, though it is not mentioned in the letter).
The Tzemach Tzedek discusses the kabbalistic concepts alluded to by the silver kiddush cup in several of his discourses: "The silver kiddush cup… is a receptacle for receiving salvations…".
Silver Utensils on the Seder Table of the Tzemach Tzedek
The first Chabad rebbes used to place their valuable utensils on the Seder table, in commemoration of the "great possessions" the Children of Israel took with them upon leaving Egypt.
Reputedly, the Tzemach Tzedek also owned a kiddush cup which he had inherited from his grandfather the Baal HaTanya. This cup, which had been used by the Baal HaTanya on the last Shabbat of his life, in Pena, contained the dried-up remnants of the Baal HaTanya's kiddush wine. The Tzemach Tzedek, and later the Maharash and his wife Rebbetzin Rivkah, would place it on their Seder Table, until one year the maid mistakenly rinsed it out.
Approx. 6X6 cm. Good condition. Minor bends.
Watch worn by Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in the 1950s.
A woman's mechanical watch made by Dorset, Switzerland (band made by Speidel).
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by her sister Rebbetzin Chana Gurary (1899-1991): "I hereby gift... the Dorset 17 jewels watch worn by my sister and I in the 1950's". The letter is dated November 5, 1989.
Body of watch: Approx. 1.5X2 cm. Good condition. Mechanism not tested (watch appears to work). Minor damage.
Kiddush cup of Rebbe Shmuel Schneersohn – the Maharash of Lubavitch.
Silver, marked: Moscow – 1874 and maker's mark: пл [pl]. Decorated with niello and foliate designs
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by the great-granddaughter of Rebbe Maharash, Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift to… the kiddush cup of my great-grandfather the Maharash which He used on shabbos in the final years of His life. I received it as a gift from my grandmother [wife of the Rashab] shortly after I got married". Dated – 5th November 1989.
For another Kiddush cup (also marked Moscow, 1876), which Rebbe Maharash (1834-1882) received as a gift from one of his Chassidim and used on Pesach in the final years of his life, see Kedem Online Auction 35, item 2.
Height: 6 cm. Good condition.
Matzah perforator of Rebbe Shmuel Schneersohn – the Maharash of Lubavitch.
Handmade. With wooden handle.
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by the great-granddaughter of Rebbe Maharash, Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift… the matzah perforator used by my great grandfather the Rebbe Maharash. He used it up until the time he got sick and could no longer grip it comfortably". Dated 12th November 1989.
R. Yaakov Landau's memoirs contain a discussion he held with Rebbe Rashab with the approach of Pesach 1919, regarding the use of wooden or metal knives for matzah baking. The Rashab told him: "The matzah perforators are handmade; we should make the knives as well" (Yiddish. Otzar Minhagei Chabad, part II, p. 32; Shemuot VeSippurim, I, p. 341).
Rebbe Maharash (1834-1882), fourth rebbe of the Chabad dynasty, reputedly suffered from various ailments and was required to travel from time to time to spa towns in Russia and beyond. Due to his poor health, his doctors advised him to engage in handicraft, in particular carpentry and scribal writing. There were several items in the home of the Maharash handcrafted by the Maharash himself – a large 12-13 branch candelabra, tables, and more. This handmade perforator may have also been crafted by the Maharash.
After Shavuot 1882, the Maharash was diagnosed with a cancerous illness and lay for several months on his deathbed. He passed away on Monday night, 13th Tishrei 1882, at the young age of 48. According to the enclosed letter, Rebbe Maharash used the present perforator for Matzah baking until his health failed.
Approx. 13 cm. Good condition. Minor defects.
Seder plate of Rebbe Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn, Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch. The plate was used by the Rebbe until ca. Pesach 1905 (see following item, Seder plate used by the Rashab from 1906 onwards).
Silver plated, with foliate designs. Rests on four stylized feet.
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by his granddaughter Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift ... the seder tray my grandfather [the Rashab] used in the early years of him being Rebbe until about 1905. My grandmother [Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, wife of the Rashab] gave it to me as a gift when I got married." Dated – 5th November 1989.
Chabad Rebbes and the Silver Seder Plate
The custom in Chabad was that the rebbe placed his matzot on a silver plate, while the other members of the family placed theirs on a cloth. Indeed, several days before Pesach 1950 (after the passing of the Rayatz and before the appointment of the Lubavitcher rebbe), the Lubavitcher rebbe had a young man buy a large kiddush cup and silver plate for him for Seder night.
Diameter: 41.5 cm. Good condition. Silver plating worn. Minor breaks.
Seder plate of Rebbe Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn, the Rashab of Lubavitch. The plate was used by the rebbe in Lubavitch and Rostov, from Pesach 1906 until Pesach 1919 (the Rashab passed away close to Pesach, on 2nd Nisan 1920. See previous item for the first Seder plate used by the Rashab, from his appointment as rebbe until Pesach 1905).
Large, oval silver-plated Seder plate, with engraved foliate and geometric designs. Openwork rim. With two stylized foliate handles.
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by his granddaughter Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift... the silver-plated seder tray my grandfather the Rashab used from 1906 - until he passed away. My grandmother [Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, wife of the Rashab] gave it to me the week of my wedding." Dated – 5th November 1989.
Chabad Rebbes and the Silver Seder Plate
The custom in Chabad was that the rebbe placed his matzot on a silver plate, while the other members of the family placed theirs on a cloth. Indeed, several days before Pesach 1950 (after the passing of the Rayatz and before the appointment of the Lubavitcher rebbe), the Lubavitcher rebbe had a young man buy a large kiddush cup and silver plate for him for Seder night.
Maximum width: 73.5 cm. Good condition. Silver plating worn.
Glasses of Rebbe Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn, Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch. The present glasses were used by the Rashab during his travels out of Lubavitch (for an additional pair of glasses of Rebbe Rashab, which he wore at home, see Kedem Auction 30, item 6).
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by Rebbetzin Chanah Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz and granddaughter of Rebbe Rashab: "I hereby gift… the travel glasses of my grandfather the Rashab. One he always kept at home. This was his travelling Glasses. When he took a trip this was always with him". Dated – 3rd December 1989. A wooden box which was possibly also used by the rebbe and his family is enclosed (the box was given together with the glasses, though it is not mentioned in the letter).
R. Refael Nachman (Fole) Kahn in his book Lubavitch VeChayaleha mentions the glasses Rebbe Rashab wore: "The rebbe did not carry in public domain on Rosh Hashana, and when he went to Tashlich, he would give his siddur and glasses to one of the students. Once he gave me the siddur and glasses, and when we reached the river, I wished to return them to him, and the students around him wished to give them themselves to the rebbe but I refused. I pushed forward and gave them myself" (p. 29, note 9). Another testimony is brought in the book Ashkavta DeRebbi, by R. Moshe Dov Ber Rivkin, where he describes the final days before the passing of Rebbe Rashab on 2nd Nissan 1920: "I did not budge from his bed and from him almost for even a second, until he was taken… and throughout his illness I would help him sit up or stand when he had to… and I would pour water on his hands when he wanted to wash his hands" and he mentions the glasses the Rashab needed when praying from a siddur: "I would put his glasses on him each time he would pray from a siddur (apart from Sunday when he put them on himself)" (ibid., p. 52).
Good-fair condition. Minor defects.
Silver cup of Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch.
Silver, with Russian hallmarks (presumably Kiev, early 20th century) and maker's mark: ИЕЗ [IEZ] - Israel Eseevich Zakhoder.
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 silver kos that my father said the broches on under the chuppah of our wedding". Dated – 3rd December 1989.
The wedding of Rebbetzin Chanah and Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary (the Rashag)
During WWI, Rebbe Rashab fled Lubavitch together with his court, settling after several days of wandering in Rostov-on-Don, south-western Russia.
Before his passing (2nd Nissan 1920), as his health took a turn for the worse, the Rashab selected a groom for his eldest granddaughter Rebbetzin Chanah – R. Shemaryahu son of R. Menachem Mendel Gurary, director of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva. The Tena'im were signed three months after the passing of the Rashab, on 12th Tammuz 1920.
The wedding took place about a year later, on 11th Sivan 1921. Due to the difficult situation in Russia at that time, the wedding was a modest and small affair celebrated in the courtyard of Rebbe Rayatz in Rostov.
The book Shemuot VeSippurim describes the despondent atmosphere at the wedding: when the Daled Bovos niggun was played at the wedding, Rebbe Rayatz wept and thumped his hand on the table. The Rashab's chair stood empty at the head of the table in the same place as in the past, and no one touched it. The mood was so morose that no one even danced. The Rayatz went round sharing out a piece of cake and cup of lemonade for LeChaim – that was the extent of the wedding meal.
Approx. 6 cm. Fair condition. Bends and defects.
Decanter which stood on the Seder table of Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn – Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch.
Glass, with foliate designs on the front.
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 glass wine decanter that my father used for pessach in 1940 before we moved to 770". Dated – 3rd September 1989.
The First Pesach of Rebbe Rayatz in the United States
When WWII broke out in 1939, Rebbe Rayatz, his mother Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Dina and his daughter Rebbetzin Chana and her husband, R. Shemaryahu Gurary were living in perilous conditions in German-occupied Warsaw. After several months of travail and wandering, on Tuesday 9th Adar II, the Rayatz and his family finally reached American shores. After a short reception at the port, the Rayatz arrived at his temporary quarters – Room 609 at the Greystone Hotel on Broadway and 91st Street in Manhattan NY.
Rebbe Rayatz celebrated his first Pesach in the US in Lakewood, NJ. On 8th Nissan, the Rayatz arrived in Lakewood, where he stayed in the home of Charles Paston.
According to the enclosed letter, the Rayatz used the present decanter on Pesach 1940, in the home of the philanthropist Charles Paston in the resort town of Lakewood.
The Rayatz and his family remained for close to a month in Lakewood, returning to New York on 7th Iyar 1940. On 19th Elul 1940, after some six months of temporary residence, the Rayatz and his family moved to their new home at 770 Eastern Parkway in the center of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. There, the Rayatz rebuilt the Chabad court and its institutions, heading them until his passing on 10th Shevat, 1950.
Maximal height (with lid): 39 cm. Good condition.
Pair of candlesticks and set of four candles which adorned the Seder table of Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Rayatz of Lubavitch. Purchased immediately upon his arrival in the United States in Adar 1940, by the Chassid R. Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky.
Pair of candlesticks made by the Cambridge glass company (crystal two-light candlesticks, with medallions and flowers in gold encrusted Rose Point etching), and four decorative candles, presumably from the Georgia Copper company (Lucite candles, acrylic with gold flecks, for decoration only) – United States, ca. late 1930s.
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 rose point candlesticks used by my parents at the seder in 1940. My father said to put things that are beautiful on the table even if it not necessary to beautify the seder table". Dated – 10th December 1989.
The First Pesach of Rebbe Rayatz in the United States
When WWII broke out in 1939, Rebbe Rayatz, his mother Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Dina and his daughter Rebbetzin Chana and her husband, R. Shemaryahu Gurary were living in perilous conditions in German-occupied Warsaw. After several months of travail and wandering, on Tuesday 9th Adar II, the Rayatz and his family finally reached American shores. After a short reception at the port, the Rayatz arrived at his temporary quarters – Room 609 at the Greystone Hotel on Broadway and 91st Street in Manhattan NY.
Immediately thereafter, the Agudas Chasidei Chabad invested great efforts in finding an appropriate permanent residence for the rebbe and his family. R. Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky headed the committee established for this purpose.
With the approach of Rebbe Rayatz's first Pesach in the United States, R. Shlomo Aharon Karzanovsky purchased for him several crystal dishes from the Cambridge Glass company (Rebbe Rayatz celebrated his first Pesach in the US in Lakewood, NJ. He stayed in Lakewood from 8th Nissan to 7th Iyar 1940, then returning to Greystone Hotel). For other dishes which R. Karzanovsky bought for the Rayatz for Pesach, see following item (crystal pitcher), and see Kedem Online Auction 35, items 8 and 9 (a pair of plates and pair of cups).
The first Chabad rebbes used to place their valuable utensils on the Seder table, in commemoration of the "great possessions" the Children of Israel took with them upon leaving Egypt.
According to the enclosed letter, on his first Pesach on American soil, the Rayatz placed the present candlesticks on the Seder Table, in order to embellish it with beautiful items.
Height of candles: approx. 29 cm. Height of candlesticks: 14 cm. Good condition.
Pitcher used by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Rayatz of Lubavitch, on Pesach 1940.
Pitcher made by the Cambridge Glass company – Ohio, U.S., in the second half of the 1930s. Crystal decorated with medallions and flowers (Rose Point etched).
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 rose point lemonade pitcher my father used for pessach 1940". Dated – 10th December 1989.
The First Pesach of Rebbe Rayatz in the United States
When WWII broke out in 1939, Rebbe Rayatz, his mother Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Dina and his daughter Rebbetzin Chana and her husband, R. Shemaryahu Gurary were living in perilous conditions in German-occupied Warsaw. After several months of travail and wandering, on Tuesday 9th Adar II, the Rayatz and his family finally reached American shores. After a short reception at the port, the Rayatz arrived at his temporary quarters – Room 609 at the Greystone Hotel on Broadway and 91st Street in Manhattan NY.
Immediately thereafter, the Agudas Chasidei Chabad invested great efforts in finding an appropriate permanent residence for the rebbe and his family. R. Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky headed the committee established for this purpose.
With the approach of Rebbe Rayatz's first Pesach in the United States, R. Shlomo Aharon Karzanovsky purchased for him several crystal dishes from the Cambridge Glass company. For other dishes which R. Karzanovsky bought for the Rayatz for Pesach, see previous item (pair of crystal candlesticks and four Lucite candles), and see Kedem Online Auction 35, items 8 and 9 (a pair of plates and pair of cups).
According to the enclosed letter, the Rayatz used the present pitcher on his first Pesach on American soil.
(Rebbe Rayatz celebrated his first Pesach in the US in Lakewood, NJ. He stayed in Lakewood from 8th Nissan to 7th Iyar 1940, then returning to Greystone Hotel).
On 19th Elul 1940, after some six months of temporary residence, the Rayatz and his family moved to their new home at 770 Eastern Parkway in the center of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. There, the Rayatz rebuilt the Chabad court and its institutions, until his passing on 10th Shevat, 1950
The first Chabad rebbes used to place their valuable utensils on the Seder table, in commemoration of the "great possessions" the Children of Israel took with them upon leaving Egypt.
Maximum size: approx. 17X25X23 cm.