Obj. ID: 35819 Kiddush cup made of Shmirot, Ukraine, circa 1880
5 image(s)
sub-set tree:
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.
Among some Hassidic courts, it was a practice for the Rabbi to give a blessed silver coin to his Hassidim as an amulet. Such protection might be given for all manner of life events, from healing from an illness to success in travel and the amulet was carried on the body of the recipient. This custom was particularly popular among the Ryzhiner Hassidim and these coins were called "Shmirot".
After the specific event for which they had originally be given, such a coin or coins were used in the making of other objects, which maintained the special aura of the Rabbi. Such a coin would be melted in other silver with the amuletic valued being spread evenly to all the silver. Then a ritual object would be fashioned by a silversmith and the special nature of the item would be inscribed on it, indicating in one of several ways that this object had been made from "Shmirot".
This object is a Kiddish cup fashioned from such silver. and it has been inscribed as "From Coins for Protection" as well as the name of the owner. Such cups were used for blessings so that each use renewed the power of protection granted by the Rabbi. This cup is nicely engraved with a rampant lion on each side next to the inscription and with scrolling vegetation.
This is a small version of such a cup, usually in a larger size for the Erev Shabbat and holiday blessings over the wine. The contents of this small cup are insufficient for making Kiddush on Erev Shabbat. Such smaller cups were used for making a blessing on a drink of "Schnaps" after Shabbat morning prayers. There are two more cups from the hand of the same silversmith with other owners' names.
Inscription: From Coins for Protection, Mendel ben Chaya Libeh