By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, who served as the Rebbe’s secretary, has publicly scrutinized the Kedem Auction House in Jerusalem that is selling a silver-plated kiddush cup it claims belonged to the Rebbe.
Rabbi Krinsky used the word “fraud” about the authentication that Kedem produced for the becher which they said was used by the Rebbe for birchas hamazon, havdalah and kos shel bracha.
“Something that I heard about just today – an alleged silver becher that belonged to the Rebbe and is going to be auctioned off in Israel by the auction house Kedem and they used my name to authorize its identity and its prominence, and it’s a fraud,” he said.
Kedem wrote on its website that the becher is in good condition and they have “a certificate by one of the Rebbe’s close attendants, ascertaining that this cup was indeed used by the Rebbe for a long period of time.”
The auction house, which has sought wide publicity for the sale, has numbered the opening bid this week at $18,000. They wrote that the estimation of the becher is between $25,000 and $30000.
Rabbi Krinsky, who is also Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel – Chabad’s central organizations, discussed the sale during a speech at a farbrengen in Crown Heights on Monday.
“Before I came here,” he said, “I sent an email to the auction house and I notified them that they should not do that – I did not threaten any action, but I said that I am allegedly the authorizer of that possession and it’s not true, and it’s a fraud.”
This is the second time Rabbi Krinsky is speaking out against Kedem and the items they got their hands on. A few months ago, Rabbi Krinsky said historic Chabad manuscripts that Kedem was selling were considered stolen property.
Where does it says Levi in Hebrew???
As one that personally witnessed R’ Berel Junik’s purchasing the Eastern Silver Co.’s style #5 bechers, first as employee of Flohr”s store in the mid 60’s, and from 1969 and on in my own store on Kingston Ave/, I can attest that that is the only becher that the Rebbe used all the years ( except for the slightly smaller version # 4 becher which the Rebbe used for Pesach , but the same exact style ). Although these bechers were each made from the same mold all the years by Eastern, it is remarkable to note the fastidiousness that… Read more »
Good of R Yudel to come forward about it but it was obviously a fraud. No one needed to point that out
Yes standing up for the Rebbe’s honor!
They got the cup somewhere else, but I think the person used Rabbi Krinsky’s name as authentication. He is saying THAT is a fraud – he never authenticated any kiddush cup.
Still standing up for the Rebbe’s rights TODAY!
The truth has surfaced.
maybe they got the cup from someone else how does rabbi krinsky know its a fraud ?
If you look carefully at the becher you could see the name Levi engraved in Hebrew!!