Obj. ID: 35779
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Kiddush cup, USA, 1864

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

The sanctification of the Shabbat and Holidays is connected with a blessing recited over wine or grape juice. While the wine can be drunk from any vessel, often special cups are created for the purpose. In most cases, regular cups are simply decorated or inscribed with names or blessings, rendering them exclusively for the Kiddush.

American Judaica from the middle of the 19th century is very scarce. At that time there were only some 200,000 Jews in America and many had brought with them their ritual objects. This is an unusual example of early American Judaica. This is a presentation cup to a member of an early congregation in Nashville, Tenessee and less than five years later merged with another congregation in the same city. The English engraving is particularly elegantly accomplished.

Inscription: Presented to M. Schwartz as a token of the Congregation K.K.M.D. [Magen David] Nashville Tennesee, October 5th, 1864 (in Hebrew and English) Ze Nadav le-Reb Michael bar Moshe Shcwartz Gabai Demata Beit ha-Kenesset Me Kahal Kadosh Magen David be-Yom Dalet de' Rosh Chodesh Tishrei, (5)5?25