כי נפיק אומר ברוך אשר יצר את האדם בחכמה...
Upon exiting, one says:
Blessed…Who formed man in wisdom,
and created in him many orifices and cavities.
It is revealed and known before the throne of Your glory
that were one of them to be ruptured or blocked, it would be impossible to survive and stand before You.The Gemara asks: With what should one conclude this blessing? Rav said: One should conclude: Blessed…Healer of the sick. Shmuel said: Abba, Rav, has rendered everyone sick. Rather, one should say: Healer of all flesh. Rav Sheshet said: One should conclude: Who performs wondrous deeds. Rav Pappa said: Therefore, let us say them both: Healer of all flesh, Who performs wondrous deeds.
(א) כְּשֶׁיֵּצֵא מִבֵּית הַכִּסֵא, יְבָרֵךְ אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּחָכְמָה, שֶׁבְּרִיאַת הָאָדָם הִיא בְּחָכְמָה נִפְלָאָה. וְיֵשׁ מְפָרְשִׁים עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהַגּוּף דּוֹמֶה לְנוֹד מָלֵא רוּחַ וְהוּא מָלֵא נְקָבִים כְּדִלְקַמָּן בְּסָמוּךְ ...וּבָרָא בוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים, פֵּרוּשׁ נְקָבִים רַבִּים, כְּגוֹן: פֶּה וְחֹטֶם וּפִי טַבַּעַת הַגָּה: וְעוֹד יֵשׁ לְפָרֵשׁ שֶׁמַּפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת בַּמֶּה שֶּׁשּׁוֹמֵר רוּחַ הָאָדָם בְּקִרְבּוֹ וְקוֹשֵׁר דָּבָר רוּחָנִי בְּדָבָר גַּשְׁמִי וְהַכָּל הוּא עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהוּא רוֹפֵא כָּל בָּשָׂר כִּי אָז הָאָדָם בְּקַו הַבְּרִיאוּת וְנִשְׁמָתוֹ מִשְׁתַּמֶּרֶת בְּקִרְבּוֹ (דִּבְרֵי עַצְמוֹ).
(1) When one leaves the washroom he will recite the benediction of "who creates man with wisdom", as the creation of man was done with great wisdom. there are those who interpret this to mean, that the body is similar to a sack full of air, and is full of holes, as it (the opening of the sack) is close to the bottom. Others understand "with wisdom", that G-d arranged the food of Adam Harishon [before he was created] and afterwards he was created. "and create in him holes, holes hollow places, hollow places", meaning: many holes, for example mouth nose and anus, and also creates in him limbs with many hollow places, like the heart, belly and intestines. "If one of them to shut up", meaning: that in the places there are holes there is one hole, Which is the mouth, that when [one is inside his mother] he is closed off [dependent on mother for all needs does not need to use organs] and [if] when he goes into the air of the world it [his organs] remain clogged, it would not be possible to remain alive even for one moment. And in regard to the limbs with hollow places if one of them are open- it would not not be possible to remain alive for even one moment. Furthermore there is another interpretation, that man is able to not relieve himself (immediately) and not die, and since, and because past that limit- it is impossible to remain alive for even a moment. Since in general the limbs [made reference to in the benediction] are the anus and penis, and in regard to hollow places- if they were opened even for a moment it would be impossible to live- [making reference to the belly and intestines, it is good to praise on making fit what is needed in man. And another [interpretation] is possible that after he eats, waste comes out in a large amount [that he cant handle] he will die, implied [in the phrase] " if one of them are opened", also that phrase refers to that all his needs are done [using this system G-d created to sustain life i.e the human body]. [The phrase] "The healer of the sickness of all flesh" refers to the holes that G-d created in him to take out the waste of his food, because if it spoils while inside his stomach he will die, and taking [the waste] out of him is the remedy. "And does miraculous things" [is in the text] because man is compared to a sack full of air, and if man makes a hole in the sack as small as the tip of a needle, air will escape, and the fact that man has many holes in him and his spirit is still kept inside him, this is a miracle. And furthermore, some explain it as referring to [how the body] selects the good parts of food and pushes out the waste. Gloss: And Furthermore, there are those that explain that "does miraculous things" to refer to that [G-d] keeps the spirit of man in his innards and binds something spiritual to something physical, and all this is on account of that He is the healer of all flesh because then man stays on the line of health, and his soul is kept in his innards (Divrei Atzmo).
(2) Some have the custom to wait to make the blessing "on the washing of hands" until his coming to the synagogue, and he organizes it with the rest of the blessings. The descendants of the Sephardim did not hold this way. In any instance, he should not make the blessing twice; and so to he that recites it in the home should not do so at synagogue, and he that recites it in the synagogue should not say at home (all of this in Siman 2). And he who learns before he enters the synagogue, or prays before, makes the blessing at home and should not recite it in the synagogue. Even in this case, there is to organize it with the other blessings in the synagogue and to not make in their homes (Maharil, Laws of Prayer).
(3) The blessing of my "my G-d, my soul" does not open with "blessed", because it is a blessing of thanks, and a blessings of thanks do not open with "blessed", like what we find with the blessing of the rain.
(4) There are those who have a custom, that after one has said the Morning Blessing and the others answered "Amen", one of those who answered ["Amen"] says "Amen" and says the blessing, and they answer him with "Amen", and in this order all that initially answered "Amen" follow [everyone says the same blessing, one after another]. And one shouldn't protest this, and say that since they have already said "Amen" they fulfilled their obligation, as the one making the blessing does not intend to fulfill the obligation for others; and even if he had that intention, they do not intend to have his blessing fulfill their obligation.
Do we appreciate it?
The Chafetz Chaim and other Great Sages write that the reciting of Asher Yatzar with the proper Kavanah (sincerity) and from the written text, has the power to help one have a healthy body all of their life.
Rebbi Natan Mibreslov
When you have Kavannah in this Bracha you draw blessing and health upon yourself. Almost all of a persons health is dependant on this Bracha!
Storytime!
There are many people who were saved from a severe illness by saying this Bracha from the written text with the proper kavanah. This is an easy way to keep down all those doctor fees!!
A sad and worried Jew once came to visit the Chazon Ish (Rav Yeshiva Karelitz) in Bnei Brak. When the man entered, the Chazon Ish was saying the Asher Yatzar Bracha. He pronounced each word slowly and clearly.
The man couldn't contain himself any longer and blurted out, "My child has polio and the doctors say there's no hope."
The Chazon Ish emphasized the last words of the bracha, "Who heals all flesh and acts wonderously."
The Chazon Ish then turned to the man and said, "So, you hear that Hashem does wonders."
This is all the Chazon Ish said to the man.
The child had a completely recovery.
Rav Asher Weiss compares this Segulah to the Segulah the Chinuch writes of Benching from a Siddur. Increased Awareness leads to Increased Blessing.
׳מבשרי אחזה אלו-ק׳ (איוב יט: כו). אדם צריך להודות לקב״ה כל הזמן וגם להתפלל אליו כל הזמן. כתב בספר סדר היום שהמברך אשר יצר בכוונה מילה במילה ״לא יחלה כל ימיו ולא יצטרך לרופא״. אם אדם יכיר על ידי הברכה שכל הטוב והחסד שבבריאות הוא מחסדיו העצומים של הבורא, הרי יפתח מעצמו בריכה עצומה של שפע שמהותה בריאות הגוף והנפש.
בחכמה: בשכל שבו יכיר תכונת בריאתן והחסד שנעשעה לו.
If a person would think well about everything which is happening to his body from the moment the food enters into the body until he goes to the bathroom, he would have to send a telegraph to his house to let everyone know that he is ok!
The entirety of the human body is nothing short of astounding. Looking at every individual organ system shows an unbelievable functional design down to the smallest and most intricate details. There are more than 3 BILLION DNA base pairs in the human genome in each nucleated cell of the human body, and sometimes the smallest change in just one of those nucleotides can lead to horrifying effects. Later in life, if a single cell loses its ability to stop replicating, that cell may develop into a life-threatening cancer.
In reference to the opening verse of Asher Yatzar, I have found great insight in Rashi’s explanation. Rashi cites a Midrash that states the “wisdom” (from the first verse of the blessing) and “wonder” (from the last verse) of human creation refer to the body’s ability to maintain its contents despite all of its openings and pores. In biology, we call this ability of an organism to keep the outside out and its inside in while still interacting with its surrounding environment “homeostasis.” Rashi’s remark on the human body marvels at the will and effort that the human body expresses when it eliminates waste while retaining its necessities in its never ending quest for maintenance of homeostasis.
Let us look at the function of the kidney in the light of Rashi’s explanation of “wisdom” and “wonder.” The kidney is a remarkable organ that functions as the body’s filter for the blood, removing not only excess water, but also excess salts as well as the toxins the body produces in the process of breaking down our foods. Kidneys are so active, in fact, that despite weighing only about 1 pound each, they receive about one quarter of the body’s blood flow – that is to say that every time the heart beats to pump blood, a quarter of that blood will go to the kidneys. The filter is only the very first part of the kidney’s job, however. An individual with normal kidney function may be able to pass more than 100 milliliters of water from the blood through the filter each minute. If there were no fluid reclamation process, then with 60 minutes in each hour and 24 hours in a day, a human would have to drink nearly 40 gallons (144 liters) of water each day to replace the fluid filtered and then lost through the kidney. Not only water is filtered, but a large component of our blood is sodium, at about 3.2 grams in each liter of blood. A person filtering 144 liters of blood daily would need to eat more than 1 pound (464 grams) of sodium each day to replace what the kidneys filter out. This is, obviously, not what we do, and in fact drinking even half of that much water or taking in half that much sodium in a single day is enough for an individual to poison himself. So, to prevent overwhelming dehydration or salt loss, the kidney has a remarkable system of tubes, one after each filter, that reabsorbs the vast majority of our filtered water and electrolytes while allowing excesses of each as well as our water-soluble toxins to leave our bodies.
Sfat Emet
Chachmah in Milluah is 613, to teach us Hashem created us with 365 sinews and 248 organs to corresponds with the 248 Mitzvot and 365 body parts!
In the words of Chazal and the Kabbalistic works (Nefesh Hachaim 1:3) it's explained that all of the existence of the spritual worlds is dependant on man's actions in this world. The Parable is: Our world is like the computer letters which control the entire rocket system. Every action has huge effects!
(כו) וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אִם־שָׁמ֨וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַ֜ע לְק֣וֹל ׀ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֗יךָ וְהַיָּשָׁ֤ר בְּעֵינָיו֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְהַֽאֲזַנְתָּ֙ לְמִצְוֺתָ֔יו וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֖ כָּל־חֻקָּ֑יו כָּֽל־הַמַּֽחֲלָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֤מְתִּי בְמִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹא־אָשִׂ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י ה' רֹפְאֶֽךָ׃ (ס)
(26) He said, “If you will heed the LORD your God diligently, doing what is upright in His sight, giving ear to His commandments and keeping all His laws, then I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I the LORD am your healer.”
In the world we live in a person must study many years in medical school, before he can know what things are good for our body and what is dangerous. Yet Hashem built into our nature, that our body knows how to protect itself and rid itself of damaging powers
The Tur: Siman 6:
A Hint to the matter: חלולים חלולים is the Gematria of 248 corresponding to the limbs of the body.
Nekavim are openings like nostrils, lips, etc. (Sweat glands)
Challulim are closed units
הגרא: הקב׳ה משגיח על כל עולמו- גם על החלק השפל ביותר.
Maggid Tzeddek:
Only a person who is as soft-hearted as basar is close to Refuah!
The Wondrous Thing is that on the one hand man is a being similar in wisdom to an angel, but on the other hand he is similar to an animal. 2 opposites in 1 creature!
(יט) וַיִּקַּ֨ח מָנ֜וֹחַ אֶת־גְּדִ֤י הָעִזִּים֙ וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עַל־הַצּ֖וּר לַֽה' וּמַפְלִ֣א לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת וּמָנ֥וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ רֹאִֽים׃ (כ) וַיְהִי֩ בַעֲל֨וֹת הַלַּ֜הַב מֵעַ֤ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יְמָה וַיַּ֥עַל מַלְאַךְ־ה' בְּלַ֣הַב הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּמָנ֤וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ֙ רֹאִ֔ים וַיִּפְּל֥וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם אָֽרְצָה׃
He nearly died from his injury and required emergency intubation and ventilatory support. He was initially totally quadriplegic but for weak flexion of his right biceps.
A long and difficult period of stabilization and rehabilitation followed. There were promising signs of neurological recovery over the first few months that came suddenly and unexpectedly: movement of a finger here, flexion of a toe there, return of sensation here, adduction of a muscle group there. With incredible courage, hard work, and an excellent physical therapist, Josh improved day by day. In time, and after what seemed like a miracle, he was able to walk slowly with a leg brace and a cane.
But Josh continued to require intermittent catheterization. I know only too well the problems and perils this young man would face for the rest of his life because of a neurogenic bladder. The urologists were very pessimistic about his chances for not requiring catheterization. They had not seen this occur after a spinal cord injury of this severity.
Then the impossible happened. I was there the day Josh no longer required a urinary catheter. I thought of Abayei's asher yatzar prayer. Pointing out that I could not imagine a more meaningful scenario for its recitation, I suggested to Josh, who was also a yeshiva graduate, that he say the prayer. He agreed. As he recited the ancient bracha, tears welled in my eyes.
Josh is my son.
I have often wondered if other people also yearn for some way to express gratitude for their good health. Physicians especially, who are exposed daily to the ravages that illness can wreak, must sometimes feel the need to express thanks for being well and thus well-being. Perhaps a generic, nondenominational Asher Yatzar could be composed for those who want to verbalize their gratitude for being blessed with good health.
Some Amazing Things About the Human Body!
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There is anywhere between 60,000-100,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body. If they were taken out and laid end-to-end, they would be long enough to travel around the world more than three times.
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When listening to music, your heartbeat will sync with the rhythm.
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The small intestine is roughly 23 feet long.
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There are about ten thousand taste buds on the human tongue and in general girls have more taste buds than boys!
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In camera terms, the human eye is about 576 megapixels.
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You carry, on average, about four pounds of bacteria around in your body.
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Human bone is as strong as granite in supporting weight. A block of bone the size of a matchbox can support 9 tons – that is four times as much as concrete can support.
9: Each kidney contains 1 million individual filters. They filter an average of around 1.3 liters (2.2 pints) of blood per minute, and expel up to 1.4 liters (2.5 pints) a day of urine.
10: The focusing muscles of the eyes move around 100,000 times a day. To give your leg muscles the same workout, you would need to walk 80km (50 miles) every day.
Bladder
The bladder, located in the pelvis between the pelvic bones, is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that expands as it fills with urine. Although a person does not control kidney function, a person does control when the bladder empties. Bladder emptying is known as urination. The bladder stores urine until the person finds an appropriate time and place to urinate. A normal bladder acts like a reservoir and can hold 1.5 to 2 cups of urine. How often a person needs to urinate depends on how quickly the kidneys produce the urine that fills the bladder. The muscles of the bladder wall remain relaxed while the bladder fills with urine. As the bladder fills to capacity, signals sent to the brain tell a person to find a toilet soon. During urination, the bladder empties through the urethra, located at the bottom of the bladder.
How long does it take for your body to make two cups of urine?
TEN hours! It takes approximately nine to ten hours for your body to make that much urine.
'It would have been worth travelling 5 years to hear the Sanzer Rebbe say an Asher Yatzar'
Asher Yatzar Song
Best Fun Fact
Most Underrated Part of the Body
Goals of the Shiur:
A: Deepen Our Understand of the meaning behind the Asher Yatzar
B: Give ourselves Chizuk to say Asher Yatzar w more Kavannah
C: Brainstorm of ways to make sure we say Asher Yatzar:
1: Storytime: Anthony's favorite Bracha:
Because it can give us so much joy if we really appreciated our body!
Airport Story:
2: Gemara and Shulchan Aruch: Every time we make a Bracha:
The Segulah
3: Shulchan Aruch goes through meaning of the Bracha: General Thanks and Hidden Specific Thanks:
4: Bechochmah: Our purpose is to recognize Hashem.
C: Chochmah is genius body that knows how to protect itself and maintain homeostasis... C: Man is a microcosm.
D: Challulim: Every Body Part connected to a spiritual part.
E: Before his throne: All from Hashem
F: If even for a second closed:
G:Rofeh: Takes care before problems
H: Peleh: Soul and body Tied together...
The Wonder of the Body.
End With a Story of Josh etc.
