He has dressed me in a cloak of salvation, in a robe of righteousness he has garbed me, like a bridegroom who exalts himself with splendor (Yeshayahu 61:10)
The first Admo”r of Toldot Aharon’s, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kahn’s, silk kaftan. He wore it over many years on a daily basis (as detailed in the attached authorization). Important and sacred ritual item that belonged to one of the tzaddikim of recent generations.
Striped Yerushalmi robe in black and gold, similar to the garb worn by members of the Old Yishuv in Jerusalem, yet more regal and made of high-quality fabric. The kaftan has a matching gartel attached. This kaftan was worn by the rebbe on weekdays (as opposed to the Shabbat kaftan made of fabric in a different color). The Rebbe’s way was to be wrapped in the kaftan the entire day, without a break, except when attending to his needs and going to sleep. He would perform his pure Divine service while wearing this kaftan all throughout the day over many years, during his famous glory-saturated prayers for the salvation of the community and individuals, while lighting Chanukah candles, during ritual circumcisions, at his followers’ weddings and while running his pure tisches .
Not many know it, but the Yerushalmi kaftan is not like the kapotehs worn by Chassidim. Legend has it that it was designed by the Admo”r Rabbi Elazar Mendel of Lelov himself, when he ascended to the Land of Israel in 1851. Rabbi Elazar Mendel would say that our forefathers, when they were in the Land of Israel, would wear the Yerushalmi kaftan. Tailors of this kaftan, primarily those from the Old Yishuv, sew it according to Rabbi Elazar Mendel of Lelov’s tradition, from precisely 26 pieces of fabric, the numerical value of G-d’s name [שם הוי”ה]! It is told that the Mahari”tz Dushinsky, when he ascended from Hungary to Jerusalem, refused to alight from the train until the Yerushalmi kaftan was brought into the train for him. Only after he wrapped himself in it did he deign to descend from the train and enter the gates of Jerusalem.
An especially sacred garment in which one of the sacred personages of recent generations wrapped himself. The Chata”m Sofer famously said on parashat Toldot regarding the garments of tzaddikim: “The Yerushalmi indicates that a person’s clothing draws from its wearer’s sanctity, and one who wears it after him will draw to him that same spirit for the good or otherwise; this is the secret by which sons wear their father’s clothes …”
Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the Admo”r Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kahn .
Yerushalmi kaftan, average size.
Fine condition: Years of wear; no tears.
Confirmation included from the Rebbe’s close associate and disciple, the renowned Chassid Rabbi Aharon Blum (owner of the famous book publisher A. Blum) regarding the authenticity of this garment and that the Rebbe wrapped himself in it over the years.