By COLlive reporter
Hundreds of Jewish books, rare Judaica and other precious items were sold at the “Jerusalem of Gold” auction house in Israel on Tuesday.
Among them was a pair of silver candlesticks for Shabbos that were reported to be used by Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, wife of the Rebbe.
According to the auction house, the Rebbetzin lit with these candlesticks in the first years after her marriage. They came with her upon escaping Europe during the Second World War.
They said the candlesticks continued to used by the Rebbetzin up until the 1950s when her father, the Frierdiker Rebbe, passed away and her husband, the Rebbe, become the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
They were in the possession of Mrs. Mere Halperin OBM, a friend of the Rebbetzin for some 50 years. When the Nazis rose to power, Halperin remained behind in Europe and miraculously survived the atrocities.
When she arrived in the United States, she was penniless. The Rebbetzin, known for her grace and kindness, gave Halperin a few personal items that would support her financially. Among them were the candlesticks and a glass and silver serving dish.
“It is rare to find today items of the Rebbe, as most of the belongings belong to the movement,” said Yehuda Galil, a researcher at the auction house.
“We see that the Rebbetzin was an amazing benefactor who gave the Holocaust survivor not only clothes and money but also precious silver,” Galil said. “It was a great sacrifice from the most personal things that she had.”
The candlesticks sold this week for $86,000. The serving dish was purchased for $16,000.
The Rebbetzin is known to have been a very thoughtful and magnanimous person. As such, she gave her friends and acquaintances personal gifts. She chose to give Mrs. Halperin A”H this set of leichter. It’s pretty safe to assume that the leichter were passed on to someone in Mrs. Halperin’s family. Nobody chooses to sell this kind of item, one that can only go up in value, unless they need the money. Hopefully the leichter were sold to someone with a deep appreciation of their ruchniusdikeh value. Who knows? it may very well have been sold to one of Anash… Read more »
I won’t donate because I haven’t the leichtern nor $86,000 to buy them back. But I can, and do, daven. This is pidyon shevuim, bli guzma!!!
If someone paid $86,000 for the leichters & and an additional $16,000 for the the serving dish I think they most probably do believe there’s something special about them. Do feel it would be better if it could be part of Lubavitch collection & hope they’re being used or stored respectfully. But the Rebbitzin did give them away and whoever inherited them from that lady could do as they wish with them especially if they realized the value and needed money.
The leichters belong to who the Rebbetzin would choose to
to give them or someone that knows to appreciate the
special Kedusha . Certainly not to antique dealers!
If it’s so important to you that אגו״ח gets the רבצי׳נס לייכטער back, why don’t YOU donate or do anything to help them?
“The moving story of how the silver candlesticks of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson ended up in an auction house in Jerusalem.”
This story only says how this lady got them from the rebetzing abut not how it got to the auction house. is there a special story behind that as well?
they aren’t specifically english letters, most european languages have the same letters… Thats why the frierdiker rebbe and the whole family had their initials on their silverware using these letters way before they came to the u.s.
The leichtern are in galus! we must redeem them. The Rebbe belongs to the chassidim. The Rebbetzin and the REbbe are one. Therefore, the REbbetzin belongs to the chassidim. Her personal belongings belong to Lubavitch.
I will pray that they return and that we may dance when they do…
It’s probably the same characters in Russian or whatever other European language.
Where are the actual ones the Rebbetzin used all the years after.
There is no checks and balances a few individuals can walk into rebbe’s house and walk out with the place!!
I hope a Lubavitcher got it
Lucky person
Why didn’t they let someone in the Labavitch movement know that it was for Sell
These were bought in Europe before the Rebbe & Rebbetzin came over here I think.
NO if u want them there then buy them and give them to the Rebbe.
I have a bigger question DO U KNOW WHERE THE REAL LEICHTER ARE WHO THE REBETZIN USED ALL HER LIFE AFTER THESE?
IN A PERSONS PRIVATE POSSESSION AND AGUCH DOES NOTHING TO GET THEM BACK
With that way of thinking every dollar or coin or safer and kutrais the rebbe gave our also belongs in the library…
The Rebbetzin gave it to the women thy can do what thy want!!.
No they don’t. Please read the article.
No, since she gave it away.
Doesn’t say how they got to the auction house or did I miss something? Only says how it got to this lady
Nope. The Rebbetzin specifically gave them away. Unlike the library which was stolen. Though it would be a very nice gesture for the purchaser to gift them to the library.
They should have been offered first to “the movement” ie Chabad. I bet they are in the hands of a private collector, who may not appreciate them the way we would.
.
they were a gift, not personal property.
Wonder who bought them, lucky people.