Asher Yatzar

The next blessing is the one we recite after going to the bathroom, known as Asher Yatzar. The basic kavanah is, “I honor the body that was designed to protect itself.” This is based on a halacha quoted in the Tur Shulchan Aruch, the son of Rabbeinu Asher, the Rosh. The Tur wonders that if we go to the bathroom and we have a bowel movement, then perhaps  it's not sufficient to just say the blessing of Asher Yatzar because if I had to clean myself, I also have to wash my hands, so perhaps I should also recite a blessing al netilat yadaim. Of course we don’t do this, but there is an appreciation of living, that to do anything in which we pay attention to protecting our bodies is, number one a mitzvah, and number two a way of honoring the body given to us by God, a way of honoring a body designed to protect itself from disease and from poisons. The act itself is a way of honoring our Creator, and this we could do with enhanced awareness.

Once we started learning about the COVID virus and the dangers of touching our face, of touching surfaces that have been touched by strangers, and the need to sterilize, all celebration of Asher Yatzar is in the way of honoring, even in dark times, the gifts that we continue to possess, despite whatever is going on. 

By: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, neiro yair