Most Sacred: The Tosher Rebbe's Tobocco Box - Including the Tobacco

Most Sacred: The Tosher Rebbe's Tobocco Box - Including the Tobacco

Personal tobacco case that belonged to the pillar of the Jewish people, Rabbi Meshulim Feish Lowey of Tosh. The box is entirely silver, with leftover tobacco from that which was sniffed by the sacred rebbe, and through which he would enact his salvations for one and all. Extraordinarily rare segulah object, only a few like it are known to have been inherited from tzaddikei hadorot like him. Especially wondrous stories are told about them:

• Rabbi Yeshayah of Chechnov, son of the Admo"r, the author of Divrei Chayim of Sanz, who inherited his father's tobacco box, was known to use it to enact wonders [mainly for the childless].
• In recent generations as well, the Admo”r R’ Mosheleh of Lelov’s tobacco box, in his grandchildren’s the Bernstein family’s possession, is a known magnet for the ill of Jerusalem. Anyone who felt unwell would sniff from this box and recover.
• Even in the previous generation, the previous Admo"r of Vizhintz was known to have had the tobacco box with a bit of tobacco in it from the progenitor of the dynasty. He would sniff from it during prayers of the Yamim Nora'im as a segulah for his prayers to be willingly accepted.

Rectangular silver tobacco case. A matching lid opens on a hinge. Dimensions: 5x3x1 cm.

Fine condition. Usage marks and smelling stains.

Detailed confirmation of the box's authenticity along with that of the tobacco inside, and that it was used by the Rebbe for a long time.

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Personal belongings of tzaddikim are known to have great segulah value. It is told in the name of Rabbi Mordechai of Nezkizh, that he said regarding the vessel given to him by his rabbi, Rabbi Michel of Zlotchov: “This vessel gives the power to perform miracles and wonders …” (Divrei Binah leaf 47). The source of the importance of the tzaddik’s personal belongings was brought long ago in the name of the Ba’al Shem Tov, by his grandson, the author of Degel Machaneh Ephraim (in parashat Bo): “… All that a person has – his slaves, his servants, his livestock and even all his vessels, are all his sparks, belonging to the root of his soul.” Even the Chata”m Sofer writes in parashat Toldot: It can be understood from the Yerushalmi that a person’s garments are infused with the wearer’s sanctity, and he who wears them after him will be infused with the same spirit for the better or otherwise; this is the secret of his sons wearing them after him.” It is brought in the name of the Rebbe R’ Moshe of Kossov, the author of Leket Ani, that “Every item received from the hand of a sacred person, if a person who is ill wears it, the external force flees from him and as a direct result, he recovers.”

All the more so leftover food from tzaddikim that enters the body and becomes part of the person eating it. Leftover tobacco is at a level beyond this, as it is used for sniffing, and not consumed like food. It directly nourishes the soul, as stated by Chaza”l (Tractate Berachot): “What does the soul enjoy? Scent – as it says, 'The entire soul shall praise Hashem.'" What a tremendous privilege, what a segulah, to hold this box in one's hands and sniff from it, especially during the prayers of the Yamim Nora'im - on Rosh HaShanah and on Yom Kippur, when Jews would sniff tobacco at synagogue to ease the fast. And any time one requires salvation.

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi  Meshulim Feish Lowey.