Jewish Art Today

One of the Jewish people’s most renowned customs is the Kiddush.

The word “Kiddush” in Hebrew means “sanctification” and it signifies the act of sanctifying the Shabbat (or one of the holidays), appreciating its distinction compared to the rest of the week in a special ceremony, rooted way back in the past, which precedes the festive and plentiful meal that welcomes the Shabbat.

Whether Orthodox, Reform, Secular or outside of any religious definition, keeping only some of the Jewish traditions, Jewish people from the wide spectrum of Jewish identities celebrate the Shabbat every Shabbat eve (what others would call Friday night) by saying the Kiddush blessing over the wine. This blessing is meant to observe one of the requirements asked in the ten commandments: to remember the Shabbat (“Shamor”) and acknowledge its uniqueness.

The Kiddush cup – a one purpose only cup

For the love and respect for the Shabbat’s holiness, Jewish families use a special cup for the wine which is drank after the Kiddush. This cup is designated for the purpose of the Kiddush alone and is used only in Shabbat, holidays or Bar Mitsvas. Since Jewish artists couldn’t flourish in figurative art due to religious restrictions, they found other ways to navigate their creative energies, one of which is designing spectacular, breathtaking kiddush cups from various materials, including different engravings related to Jerusalem, the Shabbat, biblical verses etc.

If you are looking for a meaningful gift or you still don’t own a Kiddush cup of your own, or if you would like to renew your bond with the Shabbat using a new hand-made Kiddush cup, you should take a stroll in the Kiddush cups section and pick the one which is right for you.

Here’s an example for one of the finest pieces. This Kiddush cup is handmade in Israel, available at Israel Catalog:

Hadad Sterling Silver Kiddush Goblet – Basket Weave Band

Basket weave patterned band encircles this elegant Kiddush Goblet and its foot. For those interested in a matching set, the matching sterling silver saucer is also available for purchase.

The cup holds the Shiur [halachic amount] of wine required for Kiddush and the Four cups of the Passover Seder.

As only Jewish artists created this item, there is no need immerse it in a Mikvah.

The Kiddush prayer

Once you have prepared everything- you wore your best clothes, made a heavenly meal, placed the Hallot under a splendid white cloth and bought yourself a marvelous Kiddush cup, you will have to say the prayer over the wine.

Here’s the Shabbat eve Kiddush prayer in Hebrew, which you are welcome to save and print for yourselves:

For those of you who still don’t master Hebrew, here’s the English translation:

[Evening became morning]: The sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all that filled them were complete. And on the seventh day God completed the labor He had performed, and He refrained on the seventh day from all the labor which He had performed. And God blessed the seventh day and He sanctified it, for He then refrained from all his labor – from the act of creation that God had performed. Permit me, distinguished ones, rabbis, guests and colleagues: Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (Amen) Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and hoped for us, and with love and intent invested us with His sacred Sabbath, as a memorial to the deed of Creation. It is the first amongst the holy festivals, commemorating the exodus from Egypt. For You chose us, and sanctified us, out of all nations, and with love and intent You invested us with Your Holy Sabbath. Blessed are You, Sanctifier of the Sabbath. (Amen)

Shabat Shalom!