Leilão Bidspirit | Lechatchilah Ariber Coin Received from

Lechatchilah Ariber Coin Received from the Lubavitcher Rebbe – Lag BaOmer 1991 - Special coin distributed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the eve of Lag BaOmer 1991. The coin (silver or silver-coated, approx. 25 g) is placed in a small nylon bag, pinned to a pink paper card with the printed caption: ”Lag BaOmer 5751” (Hebrew). One side of the coin features a relief of the 770 building, captioned in Hebrew and English, with the English part reading: ”Iyar 2 5751 • Lubavitch World Headquarters”. The reverse side of the coin features the caption (Hebrew): ”The Rebbe Maharash • 2nd Iyar [1834] – 13th Tishrei [1883] • Ninetieth Year, Year of 'I Will Show Him Wonders'”. Above is the famous saying of the Rebbe Maharash (Yiddish): ”But I say, Lechatchilah Ariber” [the full quote is: ”The world says that when one cannot go below one should go above, but I say that one should go above from the outset (Lechatchilah Ariber)”]. The distribution ceremony of the present coin is described at length in Kovetz LeChizuk HaHitkashrut – 26 (p. 71): On 16th Iyar, on his way to the gravesite of the Rayatz, the Rebbe had instructed that special coins should be minted for distribution. Upon his return, he finalized the text and the next morning, he decided the coins should be placed in a special bag. In his talk before the distribution, the Rebbe explained the connection between Lag BaOmer and the Rebbe Maharash. News of the distribution later in the evening had spread in the afternoon, and a huge crowd came to 770. After a 15-minute talk on the subject of Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe began distributing the coins. He was visibly in an uplifted mood, and he blessed everyone. The distribution lasted about three and a half hours, from 21:05 to 12:30 at night, after which the Rebbe exited while encouraging everyone to sing Hineh Mah Tov. Further details are recounted in Kovetz LeChizuk HaHitkashrut – 29 (p. 52). On their way to the gravesite of the Rebbe Rayatz, after having instructed R. Chaim Yehuda Krinsky to mint coins for 2nd Iyar to be distributed on Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe asked R. Krinsky what the connection was between those two dates. R. Krinsky answered that he had once heard from the Rebbe that Lag BaOmer and 2nd Iyar are both the thirty-third day, corresponding to the attribute Hod of Hod, only that Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day from Pesach and 2nd Iyar is the 33rd day when counting backwards from Shavuot. The Rebbe was gratified with this response, and they began to prepare the coins. The contents of the Rebbe's talk are cited in Hitvaaduyot 5751 (III, p. 214). The Rebbe explains how in the reverse order, counting from Shavuot, Lag BaOmer is connected with the attribute Tiferet of Tiferet, which expresses the idea of Lechatchilah Ariber – going over and above from the outset. Diameter: 3.8 cm. Paper card: 9 cm. Overall good condition. Enclosed is a signed letter of authenticity, attesting that the coin was received from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.