In Judaism, the ritual handwashing commonly performed before eating bread at a bar mitzvah meal is called netilat yadayim.
The practice involves pouring water over the hands, traditionally using a cup, before eating bread. The person then recites a blessing whose opening words refer to the commandment concerning the lifting or washing of the hands. The custom is particularly associated with meals containing bread, including celebratory meals after a bar or bat mitzvah.
The washing is a ritual act, not simply ordinary cleaning. Its detailed performance can differ among Jewish communities, including the number of pours and the hand sequence. Some families may observe it at the festive meal, while others may not emphasize it in the same way.
Netilat yadayim should not be confused with washing before entering a mikveh or with Birkat Hamazon, the blessing after a meal. The term’s literal wording refers to the hands.