Kiddush cup used by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn – Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch, at fabrengens.
Silver cup. Makers' mark, Kiev (ИЕЗ [IEZ] - Israel Eseevich Zakhoder). Decorated with vegetal motives.
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 Kiddush cup used by my father in Riga, Warsaw and Otwock. This cup was used by him for fabrangens". Dated 12th September 1989.
For 102 years (1813-1915), Chabad Chassidut was centered in the town of Lubavitch, Belarus. In 1915, due to the outbreak of WWI, Rebbe Rashab left Lubavitch and settled in Rostov, south-western Russia. Following his passing on 2nd Nissan 1920, his son Rebbe Rayatz succeeded him. In 1924, the Rayatz left Rostov for Leningrad, and after his release from prison on 12th-13th Tammuz 1927, he left Soviet Russia with several family members and settled in Riga, Latvia, where he remained for six years, until he moved to Warsaw in 1933. Two years later, he relocated to Otwosk (Otwock), a nearby town. Several days after the outbreak of WWII, the Rayatz returned to Warsaw, until he eventually succeeded in escaping occupied Europe, with the intervention of the American government, and set sail for America.
According to the enclosed letter, the present cup was used by Rebbe Rayatz for fabrengens and kiddush for over twelve years, 1927-1940, while in exile in Riga (Latvia), Warsaw and Otwosk (Poland).
Height: 5.5 cm. Good condition.
