The Beginner's Guide: The Blessing of 'Asher Yatzar' | How Do We Thank Hashem for the Human Body?

When functioning normally, our body operates remarkably well without the need for surgery, external intervention, or pain. The body digests food, absorbs necessary nutrients, and eliminates waste. Following are some astounding facts about the digestive system:

A. A stomach that doesn't digest itself. Stomach acids are extremely acidic, enabling the digestion of the food and tough meats we eat. However, the stomach lining is not harmed by these acids, thanks to mucous cells that coat and protect it.

B. A stomach that knows how to choose. Our stomach possesses selective absorption ability, absorbing the beneficial substances in our food while discarding harmful ones as waste.

C. Turning food into absorbable material. The digestive system breaks down the essential nutrients we consume using enzymes into substances our bodies can absorb. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugars, proteins into amino acids and peptides, and fats into monoglycerides.

D. Food knows where to go. The swallowing reflex, controlled by the swallowing center in the brain stem, ensures that the food we consume enters the esophagus and not the windpipe. This complex reflex involves about 50 muscles and five nerves.

E. Here, human will prevails. Although the entire digestion process occurs automatically by our bodies, Hashem, in His mercy, left the final stage under our control. Waste is expelled only after a conscious command is sent from the brain. This attests to how wisely our bodies were designed by a supreme creator.

After relieving oneself, upon leaving the bathroom and washing hands, a special blessing is recited to praise and thank Hashem for the intricately and supremely sophisticated creation — the human body. This blessing called 'Asher Yatzar' is our thanks to Hashem for the organs and systems working in perfect synchronicity and harmony, for the amazing sophistication existing in the human body, for the wonders of bodily function, and for the fact that if any organ with open passages (nose, mouth, waste evacuation organs) were to be blocked, or if any organ with cavities (heart, intestines, etc.) were to be opened, we would not be able to exist for long.

Maimonides and the Kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Ben Yehuda Makir write (Maimonides, Laws of Knowledge, Chapter 4; Rabbi Moshe Ben Yehuda Makir, Order of the Day) that Hashem created the human body in a corrected form, so that if a person conducts their life to preserve the body as Maimonides advises, they will never need a doctor (except for specific cases noted by Maimonides). For this, we should thank Hashem, who created us such that if we maintain ourselves, we will enjoy strong health at all times.

This Week's Challenge

Some who are beginning their religious journey may initially feel hesitant to recite blessings in the presence of others. Therefore, start by reciting them at home until you become accustomed to doing so at all times. Did you use the bathroom? Wash your hands and recite the 'Asher Yatzar' blessing. It's recommended to post the blessing text on your refrigerator or any other convenient spot (but not inside the bathroom or shower).

The Blessing Text

Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the Universe, Who fashioned man with wisdom and created within him many openings and cavities. It is revealed and known before Your glorious throne that if one of them should be improperly opened or closed, it would be impossible to survive even for a short time. Blessed are You, Hashem, Healer of all flesh Who does wondrous acts.

Read also:

Wonders of the Digestive System: An Interesting Interview with Prof. Shmuel Adler, Gastroenterology Expert

Rabbi Zamir Cohen – How Can We Maintain Our Health? The Second and Third Rules: Regulation and Cleanliness

The 'Asher Yatzar' Blessing – A Segulah for Health

The Six Wonders: 10 Facts About the 'Asher Yatzar' Blessing

What is the Meaning of the Words of the 'Asher Yatzar' Blessing?

Laws Regarding 'Asher Yatzar' after Relieving Oneself – from Yalkut Yosef