Torn pants of late haredi Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky will be auctioned starting at $3,200
(JTA) — A pair of pants coming up for auction are being described as “holy” — and not just because they’re a little torn.
Rather, the pants once belonged to the late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, an Israeli haredi Orthodox leader considered by his followers to be the leading Jewish authority of his generation. Kanievsky died last year at age 94, and now anyone can be the owner of his trousers – provided they can afford them. The starting bid is $3,200.
The bidding at the Prime Judaica auction house, in the heavily haredi New Jersey city of Lakewood, begins March 1. The item is listed in Hebrew as “Holy pants from the Prince of Torah, our leader Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky.”
Included on the auction house page is a letter written and signed by Gedalyahu Konigsberg, who identifies himself as a grandson of, and former aide to, Chaim Kanievsky.
“I, the undersigned, testify that these black pants… of the Shai Shaul company, with a rip on the bottom, were worn by my elder, the esteemed Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, of blessed righteous memory, for a long period of time,” reads the letter signed by Konigsberg. “I merited to see him wearing this with my own eyes.”
On the website of an online retailer, Shai Shaul pants run from roughly $13.50 to $16.25.
Letters and legal rulings written by Kanievsky have gone to auction for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars, and started going up for sale during his lifetime.
I think the Shai Shaul company should take full advantage of this and release "The Sar HaTorah Pants" line. Buy a pair of pants identical to the ones Rav Kanievsky ztl wore, for only $250 a pair!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the starting bid at auction should be for a jar of sediment from Rabbi Kaneivsky's cesspool.
ReplyDeleteWould it be listed in Prime Judaica's catalog as "Holy Shit?"
Wait for the new book:
ReplyDeleteMaking of a Godol : A Study of Torn Holy Pants in the Lives of Great Torah Personalities.
Michael Jordan’s ‘Last Dance’ jersey sells for record-breaking $10.1 million
ReplyDeleteYes, Air Jordan, but here's the difference - we're supposed to not worship celebrities.
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as I know, R' Chaim didn't know how to dunk a basketball!
ReplyDeleteGarnel Ironheart 11:54 --
ReplyDeleteWould the Shai Shaul "Sar HaTorah Pants" feature that fashionable rip in the fabric?
I have an inventory of technology that was hammered by R Kanievsky. Note, none of it works of course, and I have it on good heiliga Rabbinic authority he held it in his hands and cursed those who used it. Purchasing these items is a segula for parnasah and to merit a long life of good deeds.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity!
ReplyDeleteHad they taken up a needle and thread, they could have sewn up the tear in the pants and started the bidding at $10,000!
Anonymous Prof Ryesky said...
ReplyDeleteThat would be $100 extra!
Not about idolatry, about some chareidim with no employment trying to cash in on grandpas legacy however they can . .
ReplyDeleteWait, are these weekday or Shabbos pants?
ReplyDelete