Wick cup for the mortuary ablution (taharah) of the Hevra Kaddisha

This vessel was used by the Hevra Kaddisha, the funerary confraternity, to pour purifying water over the body of the deceased during the taharah, the ritual washing that precedes burial. The taharah, the washing and purification of the body performed with respect and in the silence of prayers, is an act of pure charity that prepares the dead for interment according to Jewish law. In Central Europe, these tin or copper utensils formed part of the funerary confraternity's equipment assigned to this rite. An object of the liturgy of death, it illustrates the communal organization of care for the deceased and the dignity accorded to the body.