Silver Kiddush Cup – "LiChevod Shabbat Kodesh" – Owned by Rebbe Meir Yehuda Shapiro of Bikovsk (who Would Bring Salvations with Items of Tzaddikim)

Large silver cup, with the inscription "LiChevod Shabbat Kodesh" (In honor of the holy Shabbat), belonging to Rebbe Meir Yehuda Shapiro of Bikovsk (Bukowsko). Austro-Hungary, late 19th century. Engraved silver, stamped with an Austro-Hungarian hallmark, maker's mark (E.G.) and Swedish import marks. The cup is ornamented with symmetrical foliate motifs, flanking a medallion inscribed "LiChevod Shabbat Kodesh". The inscription: "R. Meir Yehuda Shapiro Rabbi of Bikovsk" is engraved around the base of the goblet. Rebbe Meir Yehuda Shapiro Rabbi of Bikovsk (1846-1907, Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, III, p. 66-67), son of the Tzemach David Rebbe of Dinov, and grandson of the Bnei Yissaschar. He was the son-in-law of Rebbe Yosef Alter Hager of Radovitz, and in his second marriage of R. Yisrael of Kremenitz (son-in-law of Rebbe Chaim Hager of Kosov). He was appointed rebbe in 1874 and many Dinov Chassidim accepted his authority. He authored Or LaMeir on the Torah (Przemyśl 1913). A merciful father to his Chassidim, he would prescribe them medication and they would not seek the opinion of doctors. His home was open to the destitute and downtrodden, who would eat at his table regularly. Reputedly, he would bring about salvations for sick people through items in his possession which were previously owned by Tzaddikim. In a wondrous testimony documenting the final day of his life, his use of silver items is recorded. On the first night of Sukkot, when he asked R. Naftali, a disciple who would record his discourses, whether he had understood his extremely profound discourse, the latter responded in the negative. R. Meir then went to a case of silver items, and repeated his discourse over and over again, each time holding a different silver item (quoted in Zoharei Chen by R. Noach Gad Weintraub, Jerusalem 1951, p. 9; see there more accounts of the time of his passing). Height: Approx. 10 cm. Diameter: Approx. 8 cm. Good condition. Minor bends.