The text · Nusach Ashkenaz
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher yatzar et ha'adam bechochma, uvara vo nekavim nekavim, chalulim chalulim.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who formed the human being with wisdom and created in him many openings and many hollow spaces.
Galui veyadu'a lifnei chisei chevodecha, she'im yipate'ach echad mehem, o yisatem echad mehem, i efshar lehitkayem vela'amod lefanecha afilu sha'a echat.
It is plain and known before Your throne of glory that if one of them were to open, or one of them were to close, it would be impossible to survive and stand before You even for one hour.
Baruch Ata Adonai, rofe chol basar umafli la'asot.
Blessed are You, Lord, who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.
When to say it
- Every time after using the bathroom, after washing your hands, and outside the bathroom.
- In the morning blessings, after washing hands on waking, right after the blessing “al netilat yadayim”.
If you forgot, opinions differ on how long afterwards you may still say it. Ask your rabbi.
What it means
The blessing praises the body's design: the openings that must open and close at the right moment. It ends “rofe chol basar”, who heals all flesh, because the body's working order is itself a daily healing. The Rema (Orach Chaim 6:1) explains “umafli la'asot”, and acts wondrously, as God keeping the soul bound to the body.
How the nusachim differ
- Edot HaMizrach says “if one of them were to close, or one of them were to open” in that order, and leaves out “and stand before You”.
- HaGra leaves out “even for one hour”.
Sources
Berachot 60b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 6:1 and 7:1.
Questions
Do I say Asher Yatzar every time?
Yes, each time you relieve yourself, after washing your hands.
Do I say a blessing on washing my hands too?
No. The blessing “al netilat yadayim” is said only in the morning and before bread; after the bathroom you say only Asher Yatzar.
Is there an English version?
Yes, the translation above. Blessings may be said in any language you understand.
Asher Yatzar, ready on your home screen
SuperSiddur keeps the everyday blessings one tap away, in Ashkenaz, Sfard, Edot HaMizrach, HaGra and Nusach Ari, with the text that fits today.