Shofar of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch.

Large, narrow, light-colored and curved shofar. The shofar's wide opening is carved with a wave pattern.

Enclosed is a letter of authenticity (handwritten note in English), signed in Hebrew by Rebbetzin Chana Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of the Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift… one of my great-great grandfather's Shofar. The Tzemach Tzedek used this Shofar. I received it as a gift from my grandmother Shterna Sarah the week of my wedding [11 Sivan 1921]". The letter is dated March 4, 1990.

The custom of Chabad rebbes was to blow the shofar themselves for the community to thereby fulfill their obligation. The Lubavitcher Rebbe owned another light-colored shofar attributed to the Tzemach Tzedek, which he used to blow for many years until it cracked, rendering it invalid for use. [Even after its invalidation, the Tzemach Tzedek's shofar remained in place on the Rebbe's table during the blowing of the shofar. Two other shofars placed on his table were a black one from his father R. Levi Yitzchak, attributed to the Rebbe Maharash, and a light one from his father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz.]

In his old age, the son of the Alter Rebbe, R. Chaim Avraham, used to come to the shofar blowing by the Tzemach Tzedek. The Rebbe Maharash once asked him: Why do you trouble yourself to come here? Can't you arrange a minyan to blow the shofar by you? R. Chaim Avraham answered: The verse states, "Happy is the nation that knows the shofar blast" – not "that blows the shofar". In my minyan, as in all minyans, they only blow the shofar. Here, the person blowing the shofar knows the shofar blast (LeShema Ozen, p. 39; HaTamim VIII, pp. 9-10 [leaf 381]).

Length of the shofar: Approx. 27.5 cm. Good condition. Light damage.

Included is a wooden box that may have also been used by the rebbe or his family (the box was given along with the shofar, but it is not mentioned in the letter of authenticity).