After Kiddush and before eating on Shabbat, everyone attending the meal gets up to wash their hands before breaking bread on Challah followed by a short blessing. According to Jewish law, one must use a vessel to wash their hands with, which is where a washing cup comes into use. This washing cup helps purify the person before they make motzi (break bread) and eat bread.

The ritual is to pour water three times over each hand, which also purifies the person and a blessing is said. After saying the blessing, according to some customs, the person is not allowed to speak and should keep their hands away from coming in contact with something that is not considered pure. This also happens during the week by religious Jews before they eat bread.