The United States saw a mass immigration of Jewish people from 1880 through 1927 and many people brought with them their cherished family items, passing them down through the generations. These are the pieces that are often being sold as older people are dying off and younger family members might need the money due to the state of today's economy.
Jonathan Greenstein says "Rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts and antiques are now surfacing that haven't seen the light of day in generations as the effects of the sinking economy and the Madoff scandal congeal."
The June 2009 auction became particularly enmeshed in the public consciousness because of the story of the family of Rabbi Alexander Schindler – one of Bernie Madoff's many victims. Wife Rhea is not only forced to sell the family home, she is also forced to liquidate some of their prized possessions. On the auction block was sacred treasures given to the Rabbi when he retired as head of the largest wing of Reform Judaism and as a leader of the World Jewish Congress. "One of the artifacts is a silver Torah crown, an ornately detailed piece which adorns the holy scroll. Another is a silver Torah pointer, used so that fingers never touch the sacred text. It dates from the 1700s and is extremely, extremely rare," said Greenstein.
Sampling of Auction Pictures and Estimates
"Very few objects of this quality survived the Holocaust," said Greenstein, adding that Madoff raided "little old ladies' bank accounts" like the Nazis raided the temples.
Rhea Schindler decided she must part with these objects to get an income of some sort and went to Greenstein to sell them at his upcoming auction. Greenstein said no fee will be charged to the family and hopes that in some way these two pieces will wind up at the daughter's synagogue, where it is felt the sacred objects belong.
Greenstein, the leading expert on antique Judaica, explained how many pieces were lost in 1939 when Hitler came to the conscious decision of ridding the country of Jewish religious items. He had the Ornaments melted for the silver and the Torahs were used for the soles of shoes. Hundreds of years of Jewish history was wiped out, making the stuff that remains that much more rare and valuable.
Greenstein also explained how he, even at the young age of 41, has already been working in the field for over 27 years. He is often retained to see if items are authentic. Approximately 70% of the items he sees for sale are fake, most made with the intention to deceive the buyer. Greenstein also has lectured at major institutions and museums. He is also the author of The Lost Art a book describing the lost art of making silver kiddush cups in the 18th and 19th century.
About J. Greenstein & Co, Inc.:
Greenstein owns the only auction house solely devoted to the sale of Jewish Ritual objects. Founded by Jonathan Greenstein in 2004, a lifelong collector of Judaica and Judaic art, the Company’s biannual auctions feature rare Jewish ritual objects, works of art, books and manuscripts.
