Authentication letters bearing the signature of Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, which accompanied items sold over the past month said to have been from the Rebbe’s house were fraudulent, according to a statement by Rabbi Krinsky on Thursday.
By Anash.org reporter
Authentication letters bearing the signature of Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, which accompanied items sold over the past month said to have been from the Rebbe‘s house were fraudulent, according to a statement by Rabbi Krinsky.
The recent months have seen numerous items said to have been from the house of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin being auctioned off by various auction houses in Israel. They each said claimed to have authentication, and some had pictures of letters allegedly signed by Rabbi Krinsky.
In a notarized letter released on Thursday, Rabbi Krinsky, Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, who served as the Rebbe’s secretary for decades, disputed the claims of the auction houses.
“In response to inquiries I have received regarding items promoted for sale by various auction houses (mostly in Israel) claiming such items supposedly belonged to and were used in the home of the Lubavitcher Rebbe… let it be known that any letter of authentication accompanying any of these items bearing my signature are fraudulent,” he wrote.
Among the items auctioned off in recent months include a fork and table napkin, as well as a pair of candlesticks said to have belonged to the Rebbetzin. The fork sold for $3,800, and the napkin for $5,500. The candlesticks, however, were removed from the auction before it took place.
Other items included a salt cellar, sold and resold within a span of a few months, as well as a spoon that was claimed to be from the Rebbe’s house which was auctioned off as recently as Wednesday.
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