Miriam’s Cup – Kiddush Cup

It is said in Exodus 15:20 that “Miriam the prophetess … took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her in dance with timbrels” across the Red Sea, singing Shirat Hayam (Song of the Sea). Those sounds of joy are heard as the timbrels ring when the cup is being used.

In addition, Miriam was known as a prophetess because she was able to locate underground water wells as the Jewish people traveled through desert. Hence, the cup is designed to pass through the timbrel like a well that goes into the ground.