Shabbat Challah board and knife, used by R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv for many years, and given as a gift for charitable purposes. His son-in-law, R. Chaim Kanievsky, inscribed the board with a blessing in his handwriting: "בו"ה" (= Beracha VeHatzlacha – blessing and success).
A testimony was handwritten on the back of the board by R. Yisrael Elyashiv, attesting that the board and knife were used "for many years" by his grandfather R. Elyashiv.
For a video clip  of R. Chaim Kanievsky inscribing his blessing on the Challah board click here.
Enclosed is a letter addressed to R. Chaim Kanievsky, with questions regarding the significance of items belonging to Tzaddikim and the study and knowledge of Torah, with answers handwritten by R. Chaim Kanievsky. In response to the question whether items previously owned by Tzaddikim are a segulah, R. Chaim refers to an explicit source: "See Yeru[shalmi] Nedarim 9:1 – R. Meir's staff was in my hand and it taught me knowledge". To the question: "Does that refer to any item used by a Tzaddik or only specific items", R. Chaim replied: "Any item"; and regarding the question "What is the rabbi's opinion of people who spend large sums of money to acquire items of Tzaddikim", R. Chaim responded: "They act well".
These items are being offered for sale now in collaboration with the Aish HaTorah institutions to fund their activities.
Aish HaTorah is an international organization which reconnects Jews worldwide to their Jewish heritage and the State of Israel through Torah knowledge. Aish HaTorah was founded in 1974 by R. Noach Weinberg, and serves as a global platform fostering personal and communal responsibility, by building bridges between Jews of different backgrounds, through Torah study and cultivation of the connection with the Jewish homeland. Aish HaTorah is a network comprising today 35 branches throughout the world. Over 150,000 Jews participate in their activities every year. The Aish.com website logs over a million user sessions a month. The Aish HaTorah Word Center, located opposite the Western Wall, offers daily programs and lectures which are open to the general public.
Challah board: 23.5X34 cm. + a matching knife. Extensive wear due to prolonged use by R. Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.
Leaf handwritten by R. Chaim Kanievsky: 29.5 cm. Fair condition. Folding marks, stains, tears to folds and margins.

Bezalel style silver plaque bearing views of Palestine and a dedication to Meyer Weisgal for his activity. [Ca. 1940s].
Repoussé, cast and engraved silver; gemstones; rivets; velvet.
Large silver plaque; at its center is a round relief of a farmer driving a pair of oxen pulling a plow (after Erich Goldberg), on which the Hebrew legend "Bezalel Jerusalem" appears. Two blue gemstones are set on the sides of the relief and below appears an engraved Hebrew dedication: "This plaque is a gift to Mr. Meyer Weisgal in appreciation and thanks for your devoted work, your contribution to the Zionist pioneer vision". The central relief is surrounded by reliefs depicting David's Tower, farmers in various tasks and the spies carrying a cluster of grapes on a pole. The verso of the plaque is covered with velvet to which a sticker is attached: "[…] Meyer Weisgal, Weizmann Institute for Science 1988, sale of the collection" (Hebrew).
Meyer Weisgal (1894-1977) was one of the founding fathers of the Weizmann Institute for Science, Chaim Weizmann's confidant, fundraiser and Zionist activist and propagandist. He was born in Kikół, Poland and at a young age immigrated with his parents to the USA. As an adult, he was an active member of the Zionist Movement in the USA, edited the "New Palestine" journal published by the Zionist Organization of America, supervised the Jewish Palestine Pavilion at the 1939-40 New York World's Fair and produced the play "A Flag is Born" by Ben Hecht, which advocated the establishment of the Jewish State. During the years 1940-1946, he served as Chaim Weizmann's representative in the USA.
In 1944, towards Chaim Weizmann's 70th birthday, Weisgal established in the USA a fundraising committee for the scientific institute founded by Weizmann in Rechovot in 1934, which was then called The Sieff Institute, after the son of the donors, Lord Yisrael and Rivkah Sieff. On the initiative of Weisgal (and with the agreement of the Sieff family) the institute was renamed the Weizmann Institute of Science and with the money he raised, it was expanded and additional departments were added to it. When Weisgal immigrated to Israel in 1949, he continued working for the development of the Institute. In 1954 he was appointed the head of its executive committee, in 1964, in honor of his 70th birthday, he received an honorary degree from the Institute and in 1967 was appointed its president. At one and the same time, Weisgal was active in additional fields, heading the committee responsible for the 10th anniversary celebrations of the State of Israel, establishing the Israeli branch of the Variety charity organization, assisting in the production of the film "Exodus" and even playing the role of Ben-Gurion in the film, and more; he also worked tirelessly to publish Chaim Weizmann's writings.
36.5X41 cm. Good condition. Two suspension loops affixed in holes drilled into the upper part of the plaque. Minor dents. Velvet back slightly torn and threadbare.

The Journals of the Proceedings of Congress, held at Philadelphia, from January to May, 1776. Philadelphia: R. Aitken, 1776. English. "Cartridge Paper" edition.
A rare edition of the records of the Continental Congress – the legislative body of thirteen American colonies at the eve of the Declaration of Independence.
The Congress, of which members many were among the Founding Fathers of the USA, was active during the years 1774-1789 and its decisions shaped, to a large extent, the image of the USA to this day: the unification of the thirteen colonies, the establishment of the Continental Army, the appointment of George Washington as the commander in chief of the army, the adoption of the Articles of Confederation (which were later replaced by the USA Constitution) and most important, the Declaration of Independence of the Unites States of America.
The records before us were printed during the months of January-April 1776, in the midst of the War of Independence and a short while before the establishment of the United States, and they contain important documentation of the Congress' activity during this time. The records include references to letters from the commander of the army George Washington, letters from Benjamin Franklin, allocation of resources to the various fronts, appointments and additional matters. Jewish figures who took part in the war are also referred to: a record from 7.2.1776 refers to David Franks, the representative of the British Crown in Pennsylvania, who took upon himself to provide food to the prisoners-of-war in the city of Reading; another record from 10.4.1776 refers to the brothers Barnard and Michael Gratz, suppliers of the Continental Army and among the first to trade with the population of Native-Americans, who are asked to arbitrate a dispute with White Eye, chief of the Lenape people.
When the records were published, the number of Jews in the United States was very small: in the late 18th century, only approx. 2000 Jews lived in the USA.
The brothers Barnard (1738-1801) and Michael (1740-1811) Gratz were born in Lagendorf, Germany. During the 1750s, they immigrated to the USA and settled in Philadelphia. Together, they engaged in trade, among others with the Native-Americans, and provided the USA government with Native-American goods. The Gratz brothers established trade routes between New Orleans and Quebec and due to the political climate, also did business in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Kentucky. Among other things, they signed the 1765 Non-Importation Resolution – a regulation against the importation of goods from Britain, which was declared in protest against the Stamp Act of 1765, imposed by the British parliament on the American colonies that same year. About a decade later, the Gratz Brothers served as suppliers of the Continental Army. Barnard Gratz was the first leader of the Mikveh Yisrael community in Philadelphia.
David Franks (1720-1794), a Jewish merchant born in New-York, was one of the supporters of the British Empire in America (the Loyalists). During the French and Indian War, he was appointed by the British Army to supply food to the soldiers and after the defeat of the forces in his place of residence, Pennsylvania, he succeeded in raising approx. 5000 pounds for the defense of the settlement. In 1765, he was among the signatories of the Non-Importation Resolution – a regulation against the import of goods from Britain; yet after the outbreak of the war, returned to support the English and became their representative in Pennsylvania. Franks was imprisoned several times after the war due to his support of the enemy and for a short time even moved to Britain. Eventually, however, he returned to the USA and renewed his business. He died at the age of 74 from Yellow Fever.
[1], 93, 70, 73-237 pp, 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Blank cardboard binding. Stains and creases. Small tears to margins. Handwriting on the upper margin of the front binding, the title page and two additional pages [ownership inscriptions of Theo B. Booraem(?)]. Stamp on the inside of front and back bindings. The front binding is detached. Spine missing.
The records of the Continental Congress from January-April 1776, which were named "Cartridge Paper", were printed for the internal use only of the members of the Congress and are considered the rarest edition of the records of the Congress before the Declaration of Independence. In April 1776, the Congress ordered the printer Robert Aitken to stop printing this edition and print a new one instead. 80 copies of the first edition were sold and the rest were given to the army and were used for making paper cartridges for firearms (thus the name). See: American Bibliography by Charles Evans, no. 15145.
Today, only a few copies are known of.