Online Auction 42 - Chabad
Special Chabad Auction in Honor of Chag HaGeulah Yud-Tes Kislev – Rosh Hashana of Chassidut - Marking the Date in which Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi was Released from Czarist Imprisonment
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Courthouse protocols, testimonies, affidavits, compact cassettes, letters, receipts and various documents, pertaining to the "Hey Teves" trial ("the Seforim Case"), and subsequent mutual lawsuits. [ca. 1985-1990]. English.
The "Hey Teves" trial (The "Seforim Case") was held at United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, before the federal judge Charles P. Sifton. The crux of the matter was the question of the legal ownership over the library of Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch. The plaintiffs in the trial, the Agudas Chassidei Chabad of United States (Association of Chabad Hasidim) represented by attorneys Nathan Lewin and Jerry (Yosef) Shestack, filed suit against R. Sholom Dovber (Barry) Gurary, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Gurary, who were represented by attorneys Alvin Hellerstein and Brian Mark Cogan. The trial lasted for some 3 weeks (December 2-22, 1985).
The present collection comprises hundreds of photocopied documents, among which are protocols of the direct examinations, cross-examinations and redirect examinations of central witnesses who appeared before the court:
* Testimony and affidavit of the witness for the prosecution, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (December 11, 1985). Due to her old age, the Rebbetzin's testimony was heard at her home, and was read before the court.
* Testimony and affidavit of defendant, Rebbetzin Chana Gurary (December 20, 1985). Due to her old age, the Rebbetzin's testimony was heard at her home, and was read before the court.
* Examination of the defendant, R. Sholom Dovber (Barry) Gurary.
* Direct examinations of the secretary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, witness for the prosecution R. Chaim Yehuda (Yudel) Krinsky.
* Affidavit, signed by R. Chaim Yehuda (Yudel) Krinsky (August 2, 1985; first page missing).
* Direct examinations, cross-examinations and redirect examinations of secretary to Rebbe Rayatz and director of the Rebbe Rayatz' library, defense witness, scholar and bibliographer, R. Chaim Lieberman. Due to his old age, part of R. Lieberman's testimony was heard at his home, and was read before the court.
* Direct examination, cross-examination and redirect examination of witness for the prosecution, scholar of the Hassidut movement, Louis Jacobs.
Affidavits, prosecution and defense exhibits, copies of letters, receipts and various documents, among which are:
* Signed affidavit by Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary (Rashag), pertaining to the Agudas Chassidei Chabad ownership of the library, and to the letter sent by the Rebbe Rayatz to Dr. Alexander Marx.
* Affidavits, signed by Rebbetzin Chana Gurary, pertaining to her son's ownership of the Rayatz' library.
* Petition to the court by attorney Nathan Lewin of the prosecution, requesting that proceeds from the sale of the books will be trusted to a third-party beneficiary, until the end of the trial (October 25, 1985).
* English translations of letters by the Rebbe Rayatz, copies of letters, receipts, and various other documents presented in court.
Court documents pertaining to the lawsuit filed against the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Agudas Chassidei Chabad:
* Document pertaining to ownership rights over the property and assets of R. Shemaryahu Gurary (the Rashag; passed away Adar 6 5749). Rebbetzin Chana, and her son Barry against Agudas Chassidei Chabad; court compromise agreement signed by the judge (August 15, 1990).
* 66 audio tapes (compact cassettes), published by the WLCC – "World Lubavitch Communications Center” – Audio records of Farbrengens held by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, where he addresses the matter of the "Seforim Case". The cassettes were collected, catalogued, and presented to the court by the prosecutors – the Gurary family – as evidence of the Rebbe's alleged "Hate speech" against them.
The lawsuit was filed by the Gurary family following a violent attack against Rebbetzin Chana Gurary, who was severely beaten with an iron bar, leaving her wounded and blind in one eye.
* Objection to a request filed by the prosecution, which demanded that the Lubavitcher Rebbe will testify in person before the court, or at the very least will present the court with a video testimony. The ground for the objection to the Rebbe's testimony is his ill health.
* And more.
Approx. 900 leaves (arranged in folders and files) + 66 audio cassettes. Size and condition varies. Overall good condition.
The description and condition report appear below in Hebrew. For information in English, please contact us at officekedemltd.com.
שני מכתבים (מודפסים במכונת כתיבה) חתומים בידי הרב שמריהו גורארי', חתנו הבכור של רבי יוסף יצחק שניאורסון האדמו"ר הריי"ץ מליובאוויטש. אנגלית.
* מכתב על נייר מכתבים רשמי של "חגיגה שנתית 25 של מרכז הישיבות תומכי תמימים ליובאוויטש"; מכתב תודה על תרומה עבור הישיבות. ברוקלין, ניו יורק, 23 בנובמבר 1964.
[1] דף. 35 ס"מ. מצב טוב. סימני קיפול.
* מכתב על נייר מכתבים רשמי של "מרכז הישיבות תומכי תמימים ליובאוויטש, מיסודם של כ"ק אדמו"ר רבי שלום דובער ובנו כ"ק אדמו"ר רבי יוסף יצחק זצוקלל"ה נבג"מ זי"ע מליובאוויטש"; מכתב תודה על תרומה עבור הישיבות. לונג ביץ', ניו יורק, 6 במרץ 1964.
[1] דף. 28 ס"מ בקירוב. מצב טוב. סימני קיפול.
הרב שמריהו גורארי' – הרש"ג (תרנ"ח-תשמ"ט), חתנו בכורו של האדמו"ר הריי"ץ מליובאוויטש ונשיא הועד הפועל של "מרכז ישיבות ליובאוויטש". היה מתלמידי תומכי תמימים בליובאוויטש ומחסידי האדמו"ר הרש"ב, אשר בחר בו לחתן עבור נכדתו חנה, בתו הבכורה של בנו האדמו"ר הריי"ץ. החתונה נערכה בחצר הרבי ברוסטוב, י"א סיון תרפ"א. עמד לצד חותנו האדמו"ר הריי"ץ במשך 30 שנה והתלווה אליו בכל נדודיו וגלגוליו. בשנת תרפ"ח היגרו יחד מרוסיה לריגה בירת לטביה, ובשנת תרצ"ג עברו לפולין, שם התיישבו בוורשה ובאוטבוצק. בראשית ת"ש נמלטו מפולין הכבושה, ובאדר ת"ש הגיעו לארה"ב, שם התגוררו בבניין 770 בשדרת "איסטרן פרקווי", במרכזה של שכונת קראון הייטס היוקרתית שבברוקלין ניו-יורק. הרש"ג היה איש אמונו ויד ימינו של חמיו הריי"ץ בכל פעילותו הציבורית הענפה ובעסקנותו למען הכלל. באחת מאגרותיו כותב הריי"ץ: "חתני הר"ש [הרב שמריהו] שי' עובד בעמל רב במלוא מובן המילה". בשנת תרצ"ט מונה על ידי חמיו האדמו"ר הריי"ץ לכהן כנשיא הוועד הפועל של "מרכז ישיבות ליובאוויטש", ובתפקיד זה פעל במרץ ובמסירות עד ליומו האחרון. נפטר בבוקר יום השבת, ו' אדר ראשון תשמ"ט, ונטמן לצד ציון חמיו בחלקת חב"ד שבבית העלמין מונטיפיורי ברובע קווינס שבניו יורק.
Original printed subscriber's label on the front page of each of the magazines, bearing the names and address of R. Shalom Dov Ber (Barry) Gurary, grandson of Rebbe Rayatz, and his Wife Rebbetzin Mina Gourary: "187 Gates Avenue, Montclair, NJ".
2 newspaper issues (number of pages varies). Approx. 37 cm. Overall good condition. Creases and minor wear.
Brief video (1:58 minutes; in color) from the wedding day of R. Shalom Dov Ber (Barry) Gurary, with Mrs. Sara Mina Haskind – Sunday 10th Sivan 1953 (The bride and groom are not seen in the video).
The video shows the guests, men and women in festive attire, gathering at the entrance of the hotel in Manhattan where the wedding took place. Seen on the video are the fathers of the groom and bride – R. Shemaryahu Gurary (the Rashag) and R. Alter Dov Ber (Berel) Haskind; and several prominent Chabad Chassidim in the United States – R. Yisrael Jacobson (president of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the U.S.), R. Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky (president of the executive committee of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the U.S.), Sam Kramer (member of Agudas Chassidei Chabad and Chabad activist in the U.S.), Mr. Philip M. Kleinfeld (Justice in the New York Supreme Court and New York State Senator. Member of the executive committee of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the U.S., he assisted the Rayatz in attaining American citizenship), and other public figures (many of the guests seen in the video have not been identified).
Original film reel (CD and memory card with digital file of the video enclosed). Good condition.