“Purge me of sin with hyssop and I will be purified”
Spice tower that belonged to the renowned wonder-worker Rabbi Chaim Zanvl Abramowitz of Ribnitz, that the Rebbe smelled over many years after Shabbat during havdalah . Including the besamim from the wondrous hyssop plant, capable of many salvations, which the Rebbe smelled for over 14 years, and he experienced wonders with this, as despite over forty years having passed since the hyssop was picked, the Rebbe’s hyssop still emitted the fragrance of the Garden of Eden, suitable for blessing according to all opinions.
This hyssop plant was received by the Rebbe of Ribnitz from his dear friend, the renowned Yerushalmi Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Yair Weinstock, as attested in the included confirmation signed by the Admo”r’s legendary attendant, Rabbi BenTziyon Adler. Rabbi Moshe Yair passed away in 1982, approximately 14 years before the Admo”r of Ribnitz did. As such, the Rebbe used this hyssop plant for no less than 14 years, possibly even longer.
Kabbalistic tradition maintains that smelling the hyssop plant – the entire plant – is a segulah for many things: Protection, distancing damagers and klipot , healing, marital harmony and livelihood. Following is a small collection: The sacred Zohar on Shemot, and Kitvei HaAr”i z”l explain that hyssop conveys evil spirits, and drives away all sorts of damagers and harsh klipahs . Therefore it is beneficial to have hyssop on one’s table at all times, and to smell it several times a day. Rabbi Moshe Zakut writes in his commentary on the Zohar (brought in BaMidbar Kedemot , first me’arechet ), that one who walks all the time and has hyssop with him, will not be damaged by any sorcery. Sefarim Kedoshim also relate: “It is a great segulah for livelihood and to be saved from bad things, may Hashem protect us.”
It is appropriate to quote the words of the segulah expert Rabbi Emmanual Mizrachi as well: “A segulah I heard from Rabbi Pinchas that is customarily maintained by many tzaddikim and geonim , and I personally do it as well at home, is to place hyssop – za’atar , on my Shabbat table. This is a wonderful segulah for blessing and to eliminate troubles, and not only that, it is also capable of bringing healing to a person. Hyssop was one of the components of red heifer purification, by which a person would be purified. Hyssop draws peace, tranquility and calm to a home and results in no fighting on Shabbat, and no “eruptions”; it removes the Sitra Achra and damaging factors. So if you have despaired of finding a solution, let go, and place hyssop “עזוב אותך – שים אזוב.”
It is difficult to overstate the power of the segulah of smelling this hyssop plant received by the Ribnitzer Rebbe from one of the leading in-depth Kabbalists active in recent generations, from which the Rebbe smelled so many years. Is it possible to speculate what sacred yichudim were used by the G-dly kabbalist and the sacred Rebbe when they smelled it, and what salvations were elicited for the community and the individual by way of this smelling? Is it at all possible to estimate the power of this sacred hyssop, sniffed by the leading wonder-worker of recent generations into his pure soul, as it says in the gemera (Berachot 43:) “What does the soul enjoy? Clearly, it is smell! As it says, “The entire soul praises Hashem.”!
The power of this segulah is doubled and tripled when it utilizes the wondrous hyssop that is in the Rebbe’s personal spice tower, from which the Rebbe smelled over years and blessed the blessing for smell many times, by which he cut off damagers and worked salvations, healing and sustenance for his community and for the entire Jewish people. This here is indeed a ritual item and an extremely rare segulah that is unmatched anywhere.
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for brief biographies of Rabbi Chaim Zanvl Abramowitz and Kabbalist Rabbi Bentziyon Moshe Yair Weinstock .
Specifications: Spice tower made of silver, apparently not stamped. Height: 16 cm; maximum width: approximately 6 cm. Decorated with filigree work and plant decorations. The top of the tower is removable with a large crown on top, like a spire. The spire is topped by a greenish ball.
The spice tower is in very fine condition. Many years worth of usage marks are evident. The hyssop emits significant fragrance.
Signed confirmations included from the Admo”r’s attendant, Rabbi BenTziyon Adler, regarding the authenticity of the spice tower and the hyssop plant, and that the Rebbe used them for many years.
