MEZUZAH COLLECTION: Breslov Mezuzah

In 1808, a congregant of Reb Nachman, the venerated Rebbe of Breslov, presented him with a gift of a magnificent throne chair. It was a masterpiece of gloriously carved images of biblical birds, animals and floral garlands entwined in a tree of life.

After the Rebbe's demise, the chair was hidden and preserved by his followers until 1936, when it was dismantled and smuggled out of communist Russia, piece by piece, to the Breslov community in Palestine.

In 1985, the Breslov Chassidim (Hassidic sect of followers) approached the noted Israeli artist Catriel Sugarman with the wormy remnants of the chair that had decayed over the decades, and requested that he restore it. While many of the fragments were too putrefied for assemblage, Catriel reconstructed many of the elements with consummate artistry.

After the chair's reconstruction, Belle Rosenbaum asked Catriel to create a mezuzah for her collection from the discarded fragments.  The Breslov Chassidim, zealously guarding every splinter, fervently rejected the request initially, but eventually agreed to allow Catriel to design this mezuzah. The worm tracks are clearly visible on the delicate case.

(The exquisitely restored throne chair is currently ensconced under glass and 24-hour watch at one of the Breslover centers in Meah Shearim in Jerusalem)