Really? We have a bracha, a blessing, about using a toilet?! Well, yes, we have a bracha of appreciation for the workings of our bodies. This bracha, “asher yatzar,” is recited in the early part of every morning service. It serves there as an acknowledgement of our relative physical fragility, and as a blanket thank-you for the workings of our bodies.

To me, the power of this bracha is in the tradition of reciting it throughout the day, as soon as we exit a lavatory. The text is self-explanatory:

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, sovereign of time and space, Who crafted our bodies with care, creating within us many vessels and openings. We stand in Your Presence, well aware that if even a single vessel ruptures or an opening closes up, we could not survive and be here before You. Blessed are You, Adonai, Who heals all flesh and Who works in wondrous ways.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱ׳לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּחָכְמָה וּבָרָא בוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים. גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ שֶׁאִם יִפָּתֵחַ אֶחָד מֵהֶם אוֹ יִסָּתֵם אֶחָד מֵהֶם אִי אֶפְשַׁר לְהִתְקַיֵּם וְלַעֲמוֹד לְפָנֶיךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ רוֹפֵא כָל בָּשָׂר וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשֹוֹת
Baruch atta adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam asher yatzar et ha’adam b’chochma uvara vo nekavim nekavim chalulim chalulim. Galui v’yadua lifnei chisei chvodecha she’im yipateiach echad meihem or yisatem echad meihem ee efshar l’hitkayeim v’la’amod l’fanecha. Baruch atta adonai rofei chol bassar umafli laasot.

It is miraculous when the many things that have to go right for us to “go” do go right. However, many of us, I’m sure, have experienced in one way or another how it feels when things don’t go as right as they should.

Some years back, I had an intense encounter with constipation. The experience made me appreciate the sometimes very fine line between good health and serious discomfort. “Asher yatzar” took on a personal dimension, and I began reciting it when I leave a restroom. It’s one of the longer blessings in our repertoire, and I mean every word, every time.

Click here to download a portable version of this bracha. Print it out at actual size (100%), trim to the outline box, fold in half and it will fit in your wallet. Recite as needed.