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.    All transliterations are Copyright © 1998 by Jordan Lee Wagner. placeholder Blessings Before Performing Mitzvot: Before completing the installation of a mezzuzah: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, a-sher ki-d'sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav, v'tsi-va-nu lik-bo-a m'zu-zah. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to affix a mezzuzah. (If some architectural consideration, or the room's function, places the requirement for a mezzuzah in doubt, affix the mezzuzah but do not recite the blessing. For more information, see the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, chapter 51.) Before completing the installation of a railing around one's own roof or other hazard: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, a-sher ki-d'sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav, v'tsi-va-nu la-a-sot ma-a-keh. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to make a "parapet".   Before separating challah: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, a-sher ki-d'sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav, v'tsi-va-nu l'haf-rish cha-lah min ha-i-sah. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to separate challah from the dough.   (The special bread that we enjoy on the Sabbath is called challah rather than lechem to remind us to perform this mitzvah when baking. If the quantity of dough makes the requirement to separate challah doubtful, separate but do not recite the blessing. For more information, see the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, chapter 35.)   Before immersing a utensil (or utensils) in a mikvah: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, a-sher ki-d'sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav, v'tsi-va-nu al t'vi-lat kei-li(m). Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy through His commandments, and commanded us concerning the immersion of vessel(s).   (If uncertainty concerning composition of materials or prior ownership make the requirement to immerse doubtful, immerse the vessels but do not recite the blessing. For more information, see the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, chapter 37.)  Before separating the various tithes from Israeli produce: The fruits, vegetables, and grains grown within the biblically designated boundaries of The Land of Israel must have a portion set aside as tithes (divinely-mandated taxes in kind) before they can be eaten. : Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, a-sher ki-d'sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav, v'tsi-va-nu l'haf-rish t'ru-mot u-ma-s'rot. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to separate terumot and tithes.   Separate a bit more than one percent of the produce, and then recite the following four declarations in English (or whatever language you understand): -  Whatever [I've set aside that] is in excess of one percent of everything here, is hereby declared to be terumah (i.e., the priestly tithe) and is [hereby declared to be] the northernmost portion [of what has been set aside].   -   The one percent [of everything here] that is the remaining amount set aside here, along with nine equal amounts that are the uppermost portion of the [rest of the] produce, are declared to be the first tithe (i.e., the levitical tithe).   -   The one percent that I have [already set aside and have just] made [part of] the first tithe, is hereby declared to be the terumah portion of the first tithe. -   Nine more equal amounts that are the lowermost part of [the rest of] the produce are declared to be the second tithe --- but if this produce must have the tithe of the poor separated from it, let [these nine percent] be the tithe of the poor.   (If it is likely that the location of the source of produce was within Eretz Yisraeil, but doubtful whether or not tithes were already taken, the tithes should be separated but without reciting the blessing above.  The four English declarations above should still be made.) Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, a-sher ki-d'sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav, v'tsi-va-nu lif-dot ma-a-seir shei-ni. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to redeem the second tithe.   (If it is doubtful whether or not the second tithe was already redeemed, the tithe should be redeemed but do not recite the blessing. The English declaration below should still be recited.)   -   The second tithe --- both it and its extra fifth --- is hereby redeemed by one perutah out of the coin that I have set aside for the redemption of the second tithe. (The bit of food that was originally set aside is not eaten nor thrown away, but left somewhere to decompose naturally. If this is inconvenient it may be buried.) 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 go to the Table of Contents.     placeholder placeholder Suggestions & Corrections Box    The Synagogue Survival Kit Learn about the Ramban (Nahmanides) Learn about the Malbim and his Commentaries on the Torah         Copyright © 1997, 1998 by Jordan Lee Wagner. revision date: 7/30/2000 The Transliterated Siddur is intended to help Jews who are learning to recite the traditional prayers.  Permission is granted to individuals to print or download pages for private study and for insertion into the corresponding pages of their Hebrew-English Siddur.  If you find this work helpful, a tax-deductible donation to my synagogue "in appreciation for The Transliterated Siddur" is welcome.  The easiest way is to click the button below: Please do not redistribute or modify my transliterations, nor remove my copyright notices, nor incorporate the transliterations into another work.  This is to comply with the Torah prohibition of hasagath gvul [Deuteronomy 27:17] as it is understood and applied by the sages of our shared tradition, as well as to comply with the Jewish principle of dina d'malchut dina. For permission to do these things, see my Special Offer for Non-Profit Organizations. Without permission, the use of the transliterations could be like praying in stolen t'fillin.  Thank you for respecting my copyright.