Spoon and Bowl of Rebbe Chaim Zanvil Abramowitz - The Ribnitz Rabbi

Spoon and Bowl of Rebbe Chaim Zanvil Abramowitz - The Ribnitz Rabbi
Spoon and bowl used by R. Chaim Zanvil Abramowitz - the Ribnitz Rebbe, [1980s-90s].
A bowl, decorated with a strip of leaves and flowers. Stainless steel spoon.
R. Chaim Zanvil Abramowitz - The Ribnitz Rebbe (1898-1996) born in Botoșani, Romania was orphaned from his father at the age of two and a half. An exceptional Torah genius, tsaddik and wonder-worker, he served as rebbe under the Communist rule in Romania endangering his life. As a young orphan, he was raised in the house of Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Frankel of Botoșani and was ordained by Rabbi Yehuda Leib Tzirelson but was especially close to Rebbe Avraham Matityahu Freidman of Ştefăneşti. Reputedly, the Rebbe of Ştefăneşti who had no children called Rebbe Abramowitz "my dear son" and said that "You are my chiddush" and Rebbe Chaim Zanvil used to say of the Rebbe of Ştefăneşti, "I am his only son". On the rebbe's deathbed, he told Rebbe Abramowitz: "I am bequeathing you three things, my ruach hakodesh, my tzura (form) and my chen (grace)". He was an outstanding Torah genius and extremely erudite in Torah knowledge. He himself said that at the age of 18, he knew all the Talmud. In his youth, he was already known for his virtuous ascetic conduct. He used to practice self-denial, immerse in icy water, fast for days wrapped in his tallit and donning tefillin and he would say Tikun Chatzot wearing sackcloth and shedding bitter tears for many hours.
After World War II, many rabbis left Russian-occupied areas due to the difficulties in conducting a religious Jewish life under Communist rule, but he remained in the city of Râbniţa (today in Moldova) filling the capacity of Chassidic rebbe completely devoted to his community. In spite of the government's prohibitions, he continued observing all the mitzvoth openly, performing the duties of a shochet, performing circumcisions and teaching Torah.
In his merit, full Chassidic life was preserved behind the Iron Curtain. The Communist officials knew of his activities but they respected him and left him alone. Once he was taken into custody for his actions but he was released when he promised the judge that his wife would be cured if he was freed. After the Iron Curtain fell, he moved to Jerusalem but thereafter immigrated to the US where masses flocked to his door.
He was known to possess "ruach hakodesh" and he himself said that he could see "from one end of the world to the other". He became famous as a tsaddik and a wonder-worker. Many thousands came to ask his advice and receive his blessings and they saw incredible divine salvation. His blessings helped cure illnesses and many found their matrimonial matches and gave birth to children by his virtue. He was an exceptional Ohev Yisrael and would bitterly shed tears when he heard the pain of another Jew. He used to say that the salvations he brought were in the merit of the pain he felt for the other person and his tears and prayers on behalf of the distressed.
He died at a very old age, almost 100 year old. He is buried in Monsey, NY and his grave is frequently visited each year by thousands of people. Mordechai ben David (Werdiger), the Chassidic singer who was attached to him with all his heart and soul dedicated the song "Oy,
Rebbe" (from his album "Ein Od Milvado") to the rebbe.
Diameter of the bowl: 15.5 cm, height: 4.5 cm. Very good condition. Length of spoon: 19 cm. Good condition.
Enclosed is a photo of the utensils and on its verso is an authorization signed by the rebbe's gaba'i who served him (mashbak) and attests that these utensils were used by the rebbe.