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 Part I.  Blessings of Praise and Gratitude Asher Yatzar On exiting the bathroom, after washing hands: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, a-sher kid-sha-nu b'mitz-vo-tav v'tzi-va-nu al n'ti-lat ya-da-yim. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us through His commandments and commanded us concerning the elevation of the hands.   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).   For significant occasions: On hearing very very bad news (or seeing a destroyed synagogue): Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, Da-yan Ha-e-met. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, the true Judge.   On hearing ususually good news that benefits you and others: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, ha-tov v'ha-mei-tiv. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, the Good and the Doer of good.   On hearing very good news from which only you derive benefit (and on eating a seasonal fruit for the first time, purchasing a new garment of significant value, or performing a seasonal mitzvah): Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, she-he-chi-a-nu v'ki-y'ma-nu v'hi-gi-a-nu la-z'man ha-zeh. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.   For witnessing phenomena: On seeing an exceptionally beautiful person, tree, or field: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, she-ka-cha lo ba-o-la-mo. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has this in His universe.   On seeing exceptionally strange-looking people or animals: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, m'sha-neh ha-b'ri-yot. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes the creatures different.   On seeing an outstanding secular scholar: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, she-na-tan mei-chach-ma-to l'va-sar va-dam.. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has given of His knowledge to flesh and blood.   On seeing an outstanding Torah scholar: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, she-cha-lak mei-chach-ma-to li-rei-av. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who has apportioned of His knowledge to those who revere Him.   On seeing a rainbow: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, zo-cheir ha-b'rit, v'ne-e-man biv-ri-to, v'ka-yam b'ma-a-ma-ro. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who remembers the Covenant, is trustworthy in His covenant, and fulfills His word.   On experiencing an earthquake or seeing lightning, a comet, exceptionally tall mountains, or wide rivers: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, o-seh ma-a-sei v'rei-shit. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who makes the work of Creation.   On hearing thunder: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, she-ko-cho ug-vu-rah ma-lei o-lam. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, whose strength and whose power fill the universe.   On witnessing an assembly of 600,000 or more Jews: WLJ Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-o-lam, cha-cham ha-ra-zim. Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, Knower of secrets.   ngaw 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.     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, 2000, 2001, 2005 by Jordan Lee Wagner. revision date: 5/15/2001 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. 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