Daily Blessings

Judaism prescribes fixed benedictions for specific occasions that can occur anywhere and anytime.  

• Some express praise and gratitude.  
• Others focus kavanah (meditative intent) in preparation for performing a mitzvah (fulfilling a divine commandment).  
• Others are associated with eating specific foods.
• And one is petitionary (Tefilas haDerech) and is associated with travelling.   

Transliterations are Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 by Jordan Lee Wagner.

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Daily Blessings:
Waking Up and Preparing for the Morning Prayers

Modeh Ani:

On becoming conscious, say:

Mo-deh  a-ni  l'fa-ne-cha
me-lech  chai  v'ka-yam
she-he-che-zar-ta  bi  nish-ma-ti
b'chem-la  ra-bah  e-mu-na-te-cha.

I give thanks before You,
living and eternal King,
who has returned my soul into me
in compassion; great is Your faithfulness.

---

After washing the hands, say:

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

Praised are You, HaShem,
Our God, King of the Universe,
who has hallowed us via His commandments,
and commanded us concerning the elevation of hands.  

Asher Yatsar:

After going to the bathroom, and then washing hands as above, say:

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).

---

Before donning the small tallis, while inspecting the fringes, men say:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai,
E-lo-hei-nu,  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam,
a-sher  ki-d'sha-nu  b'mits-vo-tav,
v'tsi-va-nu,  al  mits-vat  tsi-tsit.

Praised are You, HaShem,
Our God, King of the Universe,
who has hallowed us via His commandments,
and commanded us concerning the commandment of fringes.  

Before donning the large tallis, while inspecting the fringes, recite the first two verses of Psalm 104:

Ba-r'chi  naf-shi  et  A-do-nai,
A-do-nai  E-lo-hai  ga-dal-ta  m'od,
hod  v'ha-dar  la-vash-ta.
O-te  or  ka-sal-mah,
no-teh  sha-ma-yim  kai-ri-ah.

When ready to don it, men say:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai,
E-lo-hei-nu,  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam,
a-sher  ki-d'sha-nu  b'mits-vo-tav,
v'tsi-va-nu,  l'-hit-a-teif   ba-tsi-tsit.

Praised are You, HaShem,
Our God, King of the Universe,
who has hallowed us via His commandments,
and commanded us to enwrap in fringes.  

While the head and body are enwrapped, recite verses 8 through 11 of Psalm 36:

Ma  ya-kar  chas-d'cha  E-lo-him,
uv-nei   a-dam  b'tseil  k'na-fe-cha  ye-che-sa-yun.
Yir-v'yun  mi-de-shen  bei-te-cha,
v'na-chal  a-da-ne-cha  tash-keim.
Ki  i-m'cha  m'kor  cha-yim,
b'o-r'cha  nir-eh  or.
M'shoch  chas-d'cha  l'yo-d'e-cha,
v'tsid-ka-t'cha  l'yish-rei  leiv.

---

Before tightening the arm t'fillin, men say:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai,
E-lo-hei-nu,  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam,
a-sher  ki-d'sha-nu  b'mits-vo-tav,
v'tsi-va-nu,  l'-ha-ni-ach  t'fi-lin.

Praised are You, HaShem,
Our God, King of the Universe,
who has hallowed us via His commandments,
and commanded us to don t'fillin.  

Before donning the head t'fillin, men say:

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai,
E-lo-hei-nu,  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam,
a-sher  ki-d'sha-nu  b'mits-vo-tav,
v'tsi-va-nu,  al  mits-vat  t'fi-lin.

Praised are You, HaShem,
Our God, King of the Universe,
who has hallowed us via His commandments,
and commanded us concerning the commandment of t'fillin.  

Judaism prescribes fixed benedictions for specific occasions that can occur anywhere and anytime.   Some express praise and gratitude. Others focus kavanah (meditative intent) in preparation for performing a mitzvah (fulfilling a divine commandment). Others are associated with eating specific foods. And one is petitionary (Tefilas haDerech) and is associated with travelling.  

You can  also return to the beginning of this section, or go to the Table of Contents.    

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      Copyright © 1998, 2000 by Jordan Lee Wagner.

revision date: 7/30/2000

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