Large Copper Kettle Bought by Rebbe Rashab for the Wedding of His Son Rebbe Rayatz – Used by the Rayatz Since His ...

Large Copper Kettle Bought by Rebbe Rashab for the Wedding of His Son Rebbe Rayatz – Used by the Rayatz Since His Wedding Until He Left Russia in 1927

Copper kettle used by Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Rayatz of Lubavitch, and his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, from their wedding on 13th Elul 1897 until they left Russia for Riga, Latvia in Tishrei 1927. The kettle was purchased by rebbe Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn, the Rashab of Lubavitch, during one of his visits in Paris, given to his son and daughter-in-law as wedding gift.
Large, copper kettle. With a handle and a long spout. Ca. late 19th century.
Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by Rebbetzin Chana Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch: "I hereby gift... the copper kettle my parents used in Lubavitch from when they got married until leaving Russia. In Latvia my mother bought a new one. This Pot made of copper my grandfather bought it in Paris and gave it to my parents when they got married. It has a dovetail construction - that is the type of construction of the pot. This is what my father explained to me and not sure what it exactly means". Dated – 10th December 1989.

Rebbe Rashab's Trips to France
Rebbe Rashab was frail and sickly, and frequently travelled to various health spas in Europe, to consult with specialists. He took advantage of these trips to do his upmost to improve the material and spiritual situation of his Jewish brethren, particularly of Russian Jews. His travels took him to France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia, the Crimean Peninsula, and more. The Rashab's various trips to France are well documented in his letters. His first trip was to Paris in winter 1883, approximately a year after the passing of his father Rebbe Maharash and his appointment as rebbe. The visit lasted almost an entire year. He thereafter paid many visits to France (in 1885-1888, 1901, 1904, 1911-1914), some for extended periods of time. On most of his trips, he either passed through or stayed in Paris. According to the enclosed letter, Rebbe Rashab bought the present kettle during one of these visits to Paris.
For one hundred and two years (1813-1915), Chabad Chassidut was centered in the town of Lubavitch, Belarus. In 1915, during WWI, Rebbe Rashab fled Lubavitch and settled in Rostov-on-Don, in south-western Russia. In these difficult times, Rebbe Rashab devotedly worked on improving the spiritual and material state of Russian Jewry. On 2nd Nissan 1920, Rebbe Rashab passed away, and was succeeded by his only son, Rebbe Rayatz. In 1924, after repeated persecutions by the authorities, Rebbe Rayatz left Rostov-on-Don and moved to Leningrad (St. Petersburg). In 1927 he was arrested and imprisoned by the Soviet authorities for his religious activities, and following his release on 12th-13th Tammuz, he left Leningrad with part of his family, eventually settling in Riga, Latvia. Rebbe Rayatz arrived in Riga on 25th Tishrei 1927 and resided there for six years, until 1933.
According to the enclosed letter, the present kettle served Rebbe Rayatz and his wife Rebbetzin Nechama Dina for close to thirty years, from their wedding in 1897 until they reached Riga in 1927 – while living in Lubavitch, Rostov and Leningrad.

Maximal size (without handle and spout): approx. 28X25 cm. Good condition. Minor bends and defects.