The Holy Bookshelf of the Saintly Admor, the ‘Avir Yaakov’ of Sadigura, of Blessed Memory

The Holy Bookshelf of the Saintly Admor, the ‘Avir Yaakov’ of Sadigura, of Blessed Memory

"That which we find as the practice of the righteous, our masters and forefathers, who esteemed objects used by tzaddikim, and that certain tzaddikim and chassidim paid vast sums for such items... The source is in the Jerusalem Talmud, which states that an object used by a tzaddik, even if it is a physical item, grants wisdom to those who possess it, and even more so brings material blessings in this world."

(Minchat Elazar of Munkács)

An antique wooden bookshelf, a magnificent piece of furniture from the personal study of the saintly and wonder-working Admor, Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Friedman, known as the ‘Avir Yaakov’ of Sadigura. A member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and one of the greatest Admorim in Eretz Yisrael.

"A Ruzhiner Bookshelf"—a unique sacred artifact, one of the regal furnishings found in the treasure chambers of the Admorim of the Ruzhin dynasty, traditionally used to house their sacred items and ancestral heirlooms. A signed certificate from the seller details the chain of ownership of this artifact, as outlined below:

After the passing of the saintly Admor of Sadigura, who left no direct heirs, the inheritance was handled by his relative, the Admor of Kopyczynitz, who resided in America. This bookshelf was gifted by the Admor to the Kloiz of Boyaner chassidim in the city of Ashdod. After the shtibel in Ashdod was closed, the bookshelf was taken by Reb Asher Rabinowitz, who was the gabbai of the shtibel. Proof of ownership from the son of the Rebbe of Kopyczynitz will be provided to any interested party upon request.

Before us is a rare and unique sacred artifact, capable of enhancing any Chassidic home or office with an aura of holiness unparalleled in grandeur—the bookshelf of one of the greatest tzaddikim of his generation, about whom all the tzaddikim of his time testified regarding his sanctity and his immense power to transcend natural limitations.

Wooden Bookshelf:

Dimensions: Height: 2 meters, Width: 45 cm, Depth: 40 cm.

Features: A glass display section in the upper part.

Condition: Moderate. Some minor wear. With a bit of restoration, this could become a magnificent regal piece that does not take up much space.

The Saintly Admor, Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, the ‘Avir Yaakov’ (1884–1961)

One of the most famous tzaddikim of his generation. He was the son of Rabbi Yisrael of Sadigura, who was the son of Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura, the son of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, the founder of the Ruzhin dynasty, whose major branches include Sadigura, Chortkov, Husiatyn, Boyan, and others.

He immigrated to Eretz Yisrael in 1938 (תרצ"ח). He was one of the leading figures of Agudath Israel, a key architect of its policies, and a prominent leader of organized Orthodox Jewry. He was one of the greatest members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and, for a short period, even served as its president. He passed away in 1961 (תשכ"א) without leaving any children. His Torah teachings were compiled in the book Avir Yaakov.

The great sages of his time revered him, and their statements about him appear in the two-volume work Avir HaMalchut (Aryeh Becknerot, Jerusalem, 2004):

The Yanuka of Stolin, Rabbi Yisrael, said about him: "This young man is the very source of truth." (p. 401)

Rabbi Aharon of Belz once refused an additional attendant, stating: "Here, nearby, lives a tzaddik in whose house the King of Israel once resided, and he has only one gabbai. And you expect me to take an additional one?" (p. 413)

The Beit Yisrael of Ger declared: "If the Sadigura Rebbe had even three chassidim, I would be one of them." He also said of him: "He is a guardian of the covenant." (p. 428)

The Admor Rabbi Moshe Mordechai of Lelov said: "On Nachmani Street, where the Sadigura Rebbe lives, the Shechinah resides." (p. 437)

The Gaon of Tchebin once mentioned the Rebbe’s wife when she was unwell. (p. 428)

The Chazon Ish advised someone who was worried about surgery: "If you have consulted with the Sadigura Rebbe, why are you worried? Go ahead—the surgery will be successful." (p. 447)

The Power of Objects Used by Tzaddikim

The mystical power of objects once used by tzaddikim has been deeply embedded in Jewish tradition for thousands of years.

As stated in Divrei Torah (First Edition, §22-23) by the saintly Minchat Elazar of Munkács:

"That which we find as the practice of the righteous, our masters and forefathers, who esteemed objects used by tzaddikim, and that certain tzaddikim and chassidim paid vast sums for such items... The source is in the Jerusalem Talmud, which states that an object used by a tzaddik, even if it is a physical item, grants wisdom to those who possess it, and even more so brings material blessings in this world."

This is based on the Jerusalem Talmud, Nedarim (29b), where it is related that one of the Sages of Israel surpassed all his colleagues in wisdom. When asked where he had acquired such knowledge, he answered: "I had the staff of Rabbi Meir in my possession, and it taught me wisdom." Meaning, simply holding an item that belonged to a tzaddik enhanced his intellectual ability.

A similar idea is expressed by the Baal Shem Tov (Keter Shem Tov, Part 1, 194):

"A person’s soul—Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshamah—is infused into their belongings… Since parts of their soul are wrapped within these objects, there is no greater connection than this."

Additionally, it is recorded that Rabbi Mordechai of Neshchiz, of blessed memory, stated that he was able to perform miracles with an item given to him by his Rebbe, the saintly Rabbi Michel of Zlotchov (Divrei Binah, p. 47).

The Chatam Sofer likewise writes in his commentary on the Torah regarding the garments of tzaddikim:

"A person's garments absorb holiness from the one who wears them, and whoever dons them afterward will be influenced by that same spirit, whether for the better or for the worse, in accordance with the mystical concept of ‘that which is worn by his sons after him’." (Chatam Sofer on Parashat Toldot)