Asher Yatsar (The Bathroom Prayer)

On exiting the bathroom, after washing hands:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, a-sher  kid-sha-nu  b'mitz-vo-tav v'tzi-va-nu al  n'ti-lat  ya-da-yim.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us through His commandments and commanded us concerning the elevation of the hands.

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai, Elo-hei-nu,  me-lech  l'o-lam, A-sher  ya-tsar et  ha-a-dam  b'choch-mah, u-va-ra  vo n'ka-vim  n'ka-vim, cha-lu-lim  cha-lu-lim, ga-lu  v'ya-du-a lif-nei  chi-sei  ch'vo-de-cha she-im  yi-pa-tei-ach  e-chad  mei-hem o  yi-sa-teim  e-chad  mei-hem, i  ef-shar  l'hit-ka-yeim v'la-a-mod  l'fa-ne-cha [a-fi-lu  sha-ah  e-chat]. Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai, ro-fei  chawl  ba-sar u-maf-li  la-a-sot.

Blessed are You, HaShem, Our God, Sovereign of Space-Time, Who formed Adam with wisdom (1) and created within him many openings and many cavities. (2) It is obvious and known before Your Throne of Glory (3) that if one of them were to be ruptured or one one of them were to be blocked it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You [for even one hour]. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who heals all flesh and acts wondrously. (4)

(1) This has two meanings: God demonstrated wisdom when he created human beings; God gave human beings wisdom.

(2) Openings lead in or out of the body, cavities house the organs.

(3) We assert that God on High is indeed concerned with earthly matters.

(4) by organizing the delicate balance of the physical organs (Beit Yosef); by fusing body and soul to make a person (Rama).

For significant occasions:

On hearing very very bad news (or seeing a destroyed synagogue):

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, Da-yan  Ha-e-met.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, the true Judge.

On hearing ususually good news that benefits you and others:

Ba-ruch   a-tah   A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu   Me-lech   Ha-o-lam, ha-tov   v'ha-mei-tiv.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, the Good and the Doer of good.

On hearing very good news from which only you derive benefit (and on eating a seasonal fruit for the first time, purchasing a new garment of significant value, or performing a seasonal mitzvah):

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, she-he-chi-a-nu  v'ki-y'ma-nu  v'hi-gi-a-nu la-z'man  ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

For witnessing phenomena:

On seeing an exceptionally beautiful person, tree, or field:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, she-ka-cha  lo  ba-o-la-mo.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has this in His universe.

On seeing exceptionally strange-looking people or animals:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, m'sha-neh  ha-b'ri-yot.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes the creatures different.

On seeing an outstanding secular scholar:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, she-na-tan  mei-chach-ma-to l'va-sar  va-dam.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has given of His knowledge to flesh and blood.

On seeing an outstanding Torah scholar:

Ba-ruch   a-tah   A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu   Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, she-cha-lak  mei-chach-ma-to li-rei-av.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has apportioned from His knowledge to those who revere Him.

On seeing a rainbow:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, zo-cheir  ha-b'rit, v'ne-e-man  biv-ri-to, v'ka-yam  b'ma-a-ma-ro.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who remembers the Covenant, is trustworthy in His covenant, and fulfills His word.

On experiencing an earthquake or seeing lightning, a comet, exceptionally tall mountains, or wide rivers:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, o-seh  ma-a-sei  v'rei-shit.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes the work of Creation.

On hearing thunder:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, she-ko-cho  ug-vu-rah  ma-lei o-lam.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, whose strength and whose power fill the universe.

On witnessing an assembly of 600,000 or more Jews:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, cha-cham ha-ra-zim.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, Knower of secrets.

ngaw

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