Jewish tradition prescribes a blessing to be recited upon going to the restroom. Known as Asher Yatzar (“who formed”), it is a blessing of thanksgiving for the workings of the human body, without which it would be impossible to live and stand before God.
The text of the blessing — in Hebrew, English and transliteration — is as follows:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ 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 אַפִלּוּ שָׁעָה אֶחָת. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, רוֹפֵא כָל בָּשָׂר וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת:”
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, King of the universe, who formed man with wisdom and created within him many openings and many hollow spaces. It is obvious and known before Your Seat of Honor that if even one of them would be opened, or if even one of them would be sealed, it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You even for one hour. Blessed are You, Adonai, who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.
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Baruch a-tah ah-doe-nai, elohaynu melech ha-olam, ah-share yah-tzar et ha-ah-dam bih-choch-mah, u-varah bo nih-kah-veem nih-kah-veem, chah-loo-leem chah-loo-leem, gah-loy vih-yah-doo-ah lif-nay kee-say kih-voe-deh-chah, she-eem yih-pah-tay-ach eh-chod may-hem, oh yee-sah-tare eh-chod may-hem, ee ef-shahr lih-hit-kah-yem vih-lah-ah-mode lih-fah-neh-chah ah-fee-loo shah-ahh ehh-chot. Baruch a-tah ah-doe-nail, row-fay kole bah-sahr ooh-moff-lee lah-ah-sote.
