"Who, What, When, Where – Interesting and Curious Facts from the Tanach, Talmud and Midrash" (Yiddish), edited by Nissan Mindel, Gershon Kranzler and Uriel Zimmer. Brooklyn, New York: Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, 1964.

Collection of facts and stories from Jewish history that were published between 1942-1964 in the popular column Mah Nishtanah of the Yiddish monthly Shmuessen Mit Kinder Un Yugent; with many illustrations.

The book was gifted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to his nephew R. Shalom Dov Ber (Barry) Gurary. In an enclosed letter of authenticity (handwritten note in English, signed in Hebrew), Barry Gurary describes how he received the book from his uncle: "I hereby gift… the book ווער-וואס-ווען-וואו that my uncle handed me once while visiting my parents during Tishrei [in their apartment in the third story of 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn] and my uncle was running out of his office [on the first story of 770]. He quickly returned in to his room and handed me this book. I was polite I took it and just put it on the bookshelf in my house". The letter is dated March 4, 1990.

[5], 6-75, [4] pages. 25.5 cm. Good condition. Light wear. Original binding.

"Bucharan" kippah bought by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch, for his only grandson R. Shalom Dov Ber (Barry) Gurary - son of his daughter Rebbetzin Chana and her husband R. Shemaryahu Gurary, when he was a small boy.

Embroidered with gilt, wrapped metallic thread on black velvet.

Enclosed is a letter of authenticity (handwritten note in English), signed in Hebrew: "I hereby gift… the Bucharan Yarmaka that my grandfather [the Rebbe Rayatz] gave me. I have a Photo with my great-grandmother [Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah] wearing – one of three Yarmaka's that my grandfather gave me. This one was my favorite because one year on Purim while we were eating the Seuda I traded Yarmakas with my grandfather. For the whole Seuda my grandfather wore this Yarmaka - Shalom Ber  Gurary". The letter is dated March 4, 1990.

As mentioned in the letter of authenticity, there is a known photograph of Barry Gurary from the 1920s, at the age of 6 or 7, next to his great-grandmother Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneerson (wife of the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch) depicting him wearing a Kippah with a style strongly reminiscent of this one (see enclosed picture).

Approx. 15 cm. Good condition. Damage and light wear.

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

Small scissors of Rebbetzin Rivkah Schneerson, wife of the Rebbe Maharash of Lubavitch.

Small metal scissors for sewing, embroidery and other handiwork. In the center of the hinge, one of the blades is inscribed with the letter S – the initial of Rebbetzin Rivkah's surname (Schneerson).

Enclosed is a letter of authenticity (handwritten note in English), signed in Hebrew by her great-granddaughter Rebbetzin Chana Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of the Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift… my great-grandmother's small scissors. Rebbetzin Rivkah was the wife of the Maharash. These scissors had engraved on them the letter S for Schneerson". The letter is dated March 4, 1990.

Rebbetzin Rivkah Schneersohn, mother of the Rebbe Rashab and grandmother of the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch. Born in 1833 to Rebbetzin Sarah, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch and to R. Aharon Alexander of Shklow, she was orphaned of both her parents at a young age, and was raised by her grandmother, Rebbetzin Sheina, wife of the Mitteler Rebbe (who had himself passed away before she was born, in 1827). In 1849, her wedding to the Rebbe Maharash was celebrated. After her marriage, Rebbetzin Rivkah assisted her husband in all communal matters. She took upon herself the responsibility of the finances of the rebbe's court, and was in charge of distributing the Maamad funds (charity given by Chassidim to support the rebbe's court). She also worked actively on behalf of the students of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch. She supervised the boys' eating and sleeping arrangements, inquired about their wellbeing and made sure they could study diligently without material worries.

She was known as a Baalat Shemuah, a source for many stories on the history of the Chabad Chassidut and its rebbes. Her grandson, the Rebbe Rayatz, would visit her regularly to hear her stories, as instructed by his father the Rebbe Rashab. Many of these stories were later published in the books of the Rayatz – Sefer HaZichronot, Likutei Diburim, Sefer HaSichot, and others. The Rashab once related to his son the Rayatz that his father the Maharash once stated that when his wife Rebbetzin Rivkah would relate a certain story to him, he would experience an "inner pleasure", since she was a Baalat Shemuah. Her father-in-law, the Tzemach Tzedek, blessed her with longevity, and Rebbetzin Rivkah indeed lived to the ripe old age of eighty, passing away on Erev Shabbat, 10 Shevat, 1914. She was buried in Lubavitch, near the gravesite of her father-in-law the Tzemach Tzedek and her husband the Maharash. In a letter to his daughter-in-law and grandsons, her son the Rashab wrote: "There are no words sufficient to describe our great loss. A great and holy light was removed from our home… I am consoled only with the clear knowledge that she is still with us now, and wherever we are, she is there with us" (Igrot Kodesh of Rebbe Rashab, Part II, p. 781). The Beit Rivkah network of educational institutions were established in her memory.

Approx. 8 cm. Good condition.

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

Etz HaChaim, along with a dollar for charity, received from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York: Kehot, 20 Cheshvan, 1990. "Forty years of the Rebbe's leadership" (1951-1990).

Etz HaChaim is an instructional booklet written by the Rebbe Rashab in 1904 for students of the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch yeshiva, containing an explanation of the objectives of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva and the necessity to study the "inner Torah" (Chassidut) in order to succeed in the "outer Torah" and fear of heaven. The booklet was first printed in 1946 and is prefaced by an introduction by his son, the Rebbe Rayatz. Shortly before 20 Cheshvan, 1990, on the 130th anniversary of the Rebbe Rashab's birth, the booklet was printed anew in a special edition at the behest of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; at the beginning were added a portrait of the Rebbe Rashab and a facsimile of his manuscript.

On 20 Cheshvan, 1990, the Rebbe distributed the booklet along with a dollar bill for charity.

On the inner side of the cover and in the margins of the dollar bill appears an inscription by the recipient, R. Shaul Shimon Deutsch: "from the Rebbe's hand".

Booklet: [3], 88 pages. Approx. 23 cm. Good condition. Damage, stains and light wear. Erased stamp at the top of the first title page. The dollar is in good condition.