US Jewish Ritual Wine Cup - "Kiddush" Cup

This is a Dutch Jewish wine goblet which, when used during the Sabbath is called a Kiddush Cup. On Friday evenings it is filled with wine, often from Israel, at the beginning of the Sabbath meal. Jews celebrate the Sabbath from sundown on Friday evening to sundown on Saturday evening. "Kiddush", Hebrew for sanctification, is a prayer recited over a cup of wine in the home and the synagogue to consecrate the Sabbath.

The word 'Kiddush,' which means sanctification in Hebrew, refers to the ceremony held at the beginning of many Jewish festivals during which a blessing is recited over wine and loaves of challah before the Shabbat or holiday meal begins. After Kiddush has been made, everyone present shares the wine. Kiddush Cups may be used again at the Havdalah ceremony at the end of the Sabbath.

Traditionally Kiddush cups are made of gold or silver, and decorated with images of fruit, often grapes to represent the wine. Kiddush cups often have people's names or biblical passages inscribed on them.

Judaism is a religion in which people believe that there is one god (monotheism), the same god the Christians and Muslims worship, who created the universe and has a personal relationship with humans. The religion was founded in Israel about 4,000 years ago by Abraham, who entered into a covenant with God to follow the laws of God. Moses received the Jewish holy book from God. Scholars disagree about whether there is an afterlife. Jews are waiting for the Messiah who may bring about an afterlife.

Source:
Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition) Rothkoff, Aaron. "Kiddush." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Vol. 12. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 138-139. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 15 Apr. 2013 and 23 Mar. 2013 Document URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2587511107&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w