Bidspirit auction | Goblet “ Cup of Salvations

Goblet “ Cup of Salvations ” of the Wondrous Hidden Tzaddik, Who Effected Salvations, Rabbi Yosef Waltuch – with Confirmation Signed in the Handwriting of the Mekubal Rabbi Shmuel Shmueli Shlit”a Attached to the goblet is a confirmation in the handwriting of the Mekubal Rabbi Shmuel Shmueli: “ I hereby testify that the goblet with the imprinted words ‘Cup of Salvations’... was in the personal use of the hidden Tzaddik R. Yosef Waltuch zt”l... ”. The hidden Tzaddik, Rabbi Yosef Waltuch, 5682–5743 (1921/22–1982/83) - was a descendant of the Maggid Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov. He was among the heads of the group of hidden Tzaddikim of Tel Aviv, including “the Shoemaker” (Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Ravikov), “the Floor-Layer” (Rabbi Avraham Fish), “the Painter” (Rabbi Yehuda Patilon), and others. Rabbi Yosef Waltuch would frequently prostrate himself at the graves of Tzaddikim and in holy places, and effected salvations through his prayer. He was a man of suffering all his days, and did not merit Zera Shel Kayama (like most of the “hidden ones”); nevertheless, he served Hashem Yisbarach all his days with supreme joy. Heavenly and wondrous miracle stories of revelations of Ruach HaKodesh circulated about him by word of mouth already during his lifetime. He passed away suddenly after fainting inside the cave of “the Idra”. Rabbi Ben Zion Mutzafi Shlit”a, who merited to know him, writes about him: “ ... He was a great Talmid Chacham, he was a Chassid, he was humble and lowly in spirit, he was a man of much suffering, he hid in the background... I merited to study with him, and perhaps much; a jar filled with all kinds of delicacies of the Torah: Talmud and Midrashim, Zohar and Kabbalah, commentaries and Sefarim of Mussar, Poskim and Sefarim of Halachah; everything was lodged in his mind. He was also very knowledgeable in the events of the times and in the history of the annals of our people. There was no Chacham who lived in any generation whatsoever, or author of a Sefer, whose name and period Rabbi Yosef Waltuch z”l did not know. He accorded great honor to all the Torah sages who dwell in the dust, and, to distinguish, to the living on earth. He knew pains and illnesses, and was silent and accepted them in silence. He wandered from place to place, with his Sefarim, his Tallis, and his Tefillin with him. He became acquainted with many of the Gedolei HaDor, and especially those who, like him, hid in the background. He lived in a very modest room; most of his days he was alone, for, may it not befall us, his wife was ill and hospitalized. Chagim and Moadim, Shabbos and weekdays he spent alone, between himself and his Maker, when he had nothing of this world, not even someone to launder for him a handkerchief or a sock. He was holy; he was a giant; and he did not agree that they tell his praise or know of his hidden deeds. ”