Silver Purim Cup
On this silver Purim cup from Augsburg, Germany, a quotation from the Talmud (b. Megillah 7b) inscribed around the rim advises its bearer to drink in celebration of Purim until unable to distinguish between Mordechai and Haman, the respective protagonist and antagonist of the Purim story. This edict is illustrated on the cup by a figure raising his glass (on the reverse, not shown). A second figure (seen here) represents the performance of comic Purim plays, Purimspieln.
Credits
Purim Cup. Gift of Richard Scheuer / The Jewish Museum, New York.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.
You may also like
Gur aryeh (The Lion’s Whelp): On Rashi’s Commentary on the Pentateuch
“R. Isaac said, etc.” In Genesis Rabbah it says: “Even though there is not a single superfluous narrative in the Torah—not even ‘the sister of Lotan was Timna’”—for it says in Sanhedrin Chapter ḥelek…
Ḥazon le-mo‘ed (Vision for an Appointed Time): On Daniel
The king assigned them portions of food and wine, each day on its day, from the king’s food and wine. They were to raise [the boys] three years; afterwards some of them would stand before the king…
Ma‘ase ha-shem (Deeds of the Lord)
The first lesson addresses the question which every enlightened reader will raise concerning creation: It is told in our Torah that it indeed took place in seven days…
Torat Moshe (The Law of Moses)
My heart overflows inside me [see Psalms 45:2]; my heart, my heart moans [see Jeremiah 4:19], racing back and forth [see Ezekiel 1:14]; I am astounded by a voice, a voice that calls to me, saying to…
Shoshanat ha-‘amakim (Lily of the Valleys): On the Song of Songs
I maintain that this megilah [scroll] is nothing other than a disputation of the people of the diaspora, those exiled in the bitter and impetuous [see Habakkuk 1:6] captivity of this host [see Obadiah…
Tsene rene (Go Forth and Look)
King Solomon (may he rest in peace) said: The righteous man walketh in his integrity [Proverbs 20:7]. Now this means that a man should follow God’s…
Engage with this Source
Related Guide
Early Modern Rabbis and Intellectuals on the Move
1500–1750
Carrying books and knowledge, itinerant rabbis and scholars traveled between communities, facilitating cultural exchange.
Related Guide
Education and Scholarship
1500–1750
The early modern period featured educational reforms, anti-Christian polemics, and growing Jewish university participation.
You may also like
Gur aryeh (The Lion’s Whelp): On Rashi’s Commentary on the Pentateuch
“R. Isaac said, etc.” In Genesis Rabbah it says: “Even though there is not a single superfluous narrative in the Torah—not even ‘the sister of Lotan was Timna’”—for it says in Sanhedrin Chapter ḥelek…
Ḥazon le-mo‘ed (Vision for an Appointed Time): On Daniel
The king assigned them portions of food and wine, each day on its day, from the king’s food and wine. They were to raise [the boys] three years; afterwards some of them would stand before the king…
Ma‘ase ha-shem (Deeds of the Lord)
The first lesson addresses the question which every enlightened reader will raise concerning creation: It is told in our Torah that it indeed took place in seven days…
Torat Moshe (The Law of Moses)
My heart overflows inside me [see Psalms 45:2]; my heart, my heart moans [see Jeremiah 4:19], racing back and forth [see Ezekiel 1:14]; I am astounded by a voice, a voice that calls to me, saying to…
Shoshanat ha-‘amakim (Lily of the Valleys): On the Song of Songs
I maintain that this megilah [scroll] is nothing other than a disputation of the people of the diaspora, those exiled in the bitter and impetuous [see Habakkuk 1:6] captivity of this host [see Obadiah…
Tsene rene (Go Forth and Look)
King Solomon (may he rest in peace) said: The righteous man walketh in his integrity [Proverbs 20:7]. Now this means that a man should follow God’s…