Wine cup and saucer

In Jewish tradition, the seventh day of the week, or shabbat, is a day of rest, scriptural study, and community building. As is the case with all Jewish celebrations and special events, the Sabbath is marked as a sacred time through saying a blessing over a cup of wine. The Sabbath comes to a close in a similar manner during what is known as the Havdalah (הבדלה), which means “separation.” This celebration is marked by four blessings, the last of which is referenced on the inscription of this saucer: Who separates between המבדיל בין The sacred [and] קדש the profane לחול This phrase is an excerpt from the final blessing of the Havdalah service, which states: “Blessed are you, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who separates between the sacred and the secular, between light and dark, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six workdays. Blessed are You, Lord, who distinguishes holiness from the everyday.”