“Set an adornment of grace upon your head, a crown of splendor upon you” (Mishlei 4:9).
Chassidic leaders revealed the sanctity concealed within the personal belongings
of tzaddikim, and that they have the power to bring about great salvation. It is told in the name of Rabbi Mordechai of Nezkizh, zy”a, that he said regarding the vessel given to him by his rabbi, Rabbi Michel of Zlotshov, zy”a: “This vessel gives the power to do miracles and wonders …” (Divrei Binah leaf 47).
The source of the importance of the tzaddik’s personal belongings was brought
long ago in the name of the Ba’al Shem Tov, by his grandson, author of Degel Machaneh Ephraim (in parashat Bo): “… All that a person has – his slaves, his servants, his livestock and even all his vessels, are all his sparks, belonging to the root of his soul.” Even the Chatam Sofer, who is not counted among Chassidim, writes in parashat
Toldot: It can be understood from the Yerushalmi that a person’s garments are infused with the wearer’s sanctity, and he who wears them after him will be infused with the same spirit for the better, the secret of his sons wearing them after him …
This is the atarah for the tallit used by the Admo”r of Ribnitz, Rabbi Chaim Zanvl Abramowitz – “The Ribnitzer Rebbe” – for many years, in which he poured out his heart in sublime prayer, and which he wore while conducting ritual circumcisions, both as sandek and as mohel. There are many miraculous stories connected to it, such as when the bleeding from the circumcision did not stop (which happened to him more than once, due to his devotion). He would cover himself and the baby with this tallit, and the bleeding would stop. The first known event in which the Ribnitzer Rebbe conducted the blood-miracle was in Communist Russia. Once, the wife of a senior military officer of the Red Army asked him to circumcise her son, without her husband’s knowledge. The rebbe went together with his friend the Chabad mashpia Rabbi Mendel Futerpass. Rabbi Mendel was the sandek and the rebbe was the mohel. After the circumcision, the bleeding did not stop (which happened to him more than once over his lifetime). The mother started to cry out, and the four of them were in mortal danger. The rebbe threw his tallit over them such that it covered his head together with the baby, and raised his voice in prayer, saying: “Master of the World, I came to do your mitzvah, please do not shame me,” and the bleeding stopped. There was also the episode of a circumcision which took place in the United States, when the Ribnitzer Rebbe was the mohel and Rabbi Yoel’ish of Satmar was the sandek. It happened again, apparently due to the Ribnitzer Rebbe’s devotion, that the bleeding did not stop for several long seconds, and the baby began to turn blue. All the people there were deeply concerned. The Ribnitzer Rebbe, as was his way, threw his tallit on the baby, said what he said, and the bleeding stopped. The people all breathed a sigh of relief. After the circumcision, Rabbi Yoelish of Satmar said to the Ribnitzer Rebbe, “I would like the rebbe to know that I am also a mohel.” The Ribnitzer Rebbe, who knew the Satmar Rebbe, and knew that he did not serve a mohel, was astonished, and asked him “If so, then why does the rebbe never practice as a mohel?” The Satmar Rebbe responded, hinting thickly, “Because I don’t know how to circumcise …” But the Ribnitzer Rebbe did not accept the hint and continued to circumcise. Needless to say, despite these may instances, none of the circumcised babies was ever damaged, all of them are in good health. The Admo”r Rabbi Chaim Zanvl Abramowitz [1898-1996] was known as “The Ribnitzer Rebbe” or “The Rimnitzer Rebbe.” He was wondrously righteous and holy. It was said about him that he was “a tzaddik from previous generations.” He was orphaned of his father at the age of two and a half. The wondrous tzaddik Rabbi Avraham Matityahu Friedman, “The Rebbe of Shtefanesht,” who did not have any children of his own, adopted him and raised him as his own son. He would say to him, “You are my chiddush.” He was totally dedicated and nothing deterred him from observing a mitzvah. He would devotedly circumcise Jewish children in Communist Russia – even the sons of senior government officials, occasionally without their fathers’ knowledge. The rebbe would break through the layer of ice above the lake and though the resulting hole, he would immerse himself in the river underneath, taking the mortal risk that he might not find his way back up. Until his old age, he used to immerse himself many times in the mikveh, and would do so astonishingly quickly. In Russia, the Ribnitzer Rebbe had two close friends with whom he studied many Talmudic topics. (He said of himself that at 18 years old, he knew the entire Talmud with Rash”i’s commentary.) All three friends eventually became leaders among the Jewish people: the Rebbe, the Admor of Skver, ztz”l, and the Admor of Skulen, ztz”l. He was known as having divine inspiration and as being a salvation-worker. Thousands came to him and were saved by his blessings. He passed away at an advanced age, close to a hundred years old. Masses visit his grave in Monsey on the day of his yahrtzeit, as well as other days. One of his well-known Chassidim is Mordechai Ben David, who dedicated the song ‘Oy Rebbe’ in his album Ein Od Milvado to him, and also Yvette Lieberman, for whom the Rebbe of Ribnitz was the mohel. 12×18 cm, 287 grams. Fine condition. Minimal unraveling of stitches and detachments. Signed confirmation from the Admo”r’s shammash included, attesting that this is the atarah from the Admo”r of Ribnitz’s tallit. Pay Attention! On this lot VAT Should be Added to the Commission For Foreign Residents As Well.
