Blessing From Pope Outshines Jeweler’s Gems April 4, 2005 – Posted in: Press

By JIM RITTER
Published: April 4, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times

One of the first things customers notice when they enter House of Kahn Estate Jewelers at 60 E. Walton is a photo of the late pope.

Under the picture, in scriptural typeface, is written:
“His holiness John Paul II paternally imparts a special Apostolic Blessing to Edward and Adele Kahn as a pledge of continued divine protection.”

Many customers assume the Kahns are Catholics. In fact, they’re Jewish. Edward Kahn is a Holocaust survivor who founded the business after arriving penniless in the United States after World War II.

The Vatican conferred the blessing after the Kahns donated a valuable 16th century Russian icon to the church. The icon depicts the Virgin and Child, and is encrusted with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and pearls.

The Kahns “have a special bond to the pope,” said the couple’s daughter, Tobina, who now runs the Chicago store. “He really reached out to the Jewish people.”

John Paul visited Israel and normalized relations between that nation and the Vatican. He expressed remorse for Christian persecution of Jews, and said anti-Semitism was fostered by erroneous interpretations of the New Testament.
Gave icon to poor church

“This pope was very good to the Jews,” Edward Kahn said.
The Kahns bought the icon from a London dealer in 1963. But it was so beautiful they couldn’t resell it. The Kahns later moved to Palm Beach, Fla., where they opened a second store. There, they became friends with the Rev. John Mericantante, pastor of an impoverished parish near Pahokee, Fla.

In 2000, the Kahns decided to donate the icon to Mericantante, who displays it prominently in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In gratitude, Mericantante and his bishop appealed to the Vatican to give the Kahns an apostolic blessing.

Mericantante said the Vatican typically confers such blessings to mark special occasions.

Although the pope has died, his blessing “will hang on our wall forever,” Tobina Kahn said. “This is so dear to our hearts.”
Tobina Kahn, who runs House of Kahn Estate Jewelers, says her family has a “special bond” with John Paul II.