Wonder/Asher Yatzar
Today for me is a new day on earth.
I live it in awe,
And wonder how everything works
Should the grass cease to grow,
Should the sun cease to glow,
Should my heart cease to beat…
I thank you again and again,
That my body’s complete.
I can think, I can breathe,
I can hope , I can sneeze,
I can laugh, I can cry, I can pray…
For the wonder each day,
For the strength come what may,
For the power to say:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam,
Asher yatzar et ha’adam b’chochmah,
u’varah bo nekavim nekavim, chalulim chalulim, galui v’yadu’a lifnei kisei k’vodecha,
she’im yipate’ach echad mei’hem,
oh yisatem echad mei’hem,
ee efshar l’hitkayeim v’la’amod lefanecha.
Baruch atah Adonai, rofe kol basar u’mafli la’asot.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֶלוֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הַעוֹלָם
אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּחׇכְמָה
וּבָרָא בּוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים
חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים
גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא כְּבוֹדֶךָ
שֶׁאִם יִפָּתֵחַ אֶחָד מֵהֶם
אוֹ יִסָּתֵם אֶחָד מֵהֶם
אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִתְקַיֵם וְלַעֲמוֹד
לְפָנֶיךָ
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה
רוֹפֵא כָּל בָּשָׂר וּמַפְלִיא לַעַשׂוֹת
Translation
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, who formed human beings with wisdom and created within them many openings and many hollow spaces. It is obvious and known before Your Seat of Honor that if even one of them would be opened, or if even one of them would be sealed, it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You.
Blessed are You, Adonai, who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.
Melody by Josh Warshawsky
Wonder/Asher Yatzar
A song about the smallest miracles that happen every single day.
Asher Yatzar is the prayer that Jews say after we go to the bathroom. Why do we say a prayer after we go to the bathroom? The Hebrew words in this prayer are all about the small miracles in our lives. Miracles that we might not even notice, but that happen every single day. So many things in our bodies have to work properly in order for us to live each day, so many parts have to open and close at the right times. The brachah that we say at the end of this prayer is, “Rofe kol basar u’mafli la’asot,” “Healer of flesh and Doer of miracles/wonders.” Our rabbis explain that the miracle in our bodies is that each one of us is like a container with holes in it. Normally a container with holes in it wouldn’t be able to hold something within it, yet even though our bodies have so many holes in them, we have a holy spirit (our soul) inside of us that is contained and nurtured our entire lives.
and
Executive Producers: Marc and Susan Sacks
With generous additional funding provided by Sacred Sounds Unbound: Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and Temple Beth Am Los Angeles
Produced and mixed by Jeremy Lawrence
Engineered by Patrick Kehrier and Tyler Karmen
Additional Audio Editing by Josh Kay and Patrick Rimterakul
Mastered by Mike White
Vocal arrangements and production by Ayo Awosika
Musical direction by Brock Pollock
Recorded in March 2020 at the beginning of the covid19 pandemic
Featuring the Chaverai Nevarech Band:
Josh Warshawsky (Guitar, Lead Vocals)
Brock Pollock (Music Producer, Bass)
Ayo Awosika (Vocal Producer, Vocals)
Coleen Dieker (Vocals and Violin)
Duvid Swirsky (Lead Guitar, Bouzouki, Banjo, Vocals)
Chava Mirel (Vocals)
Deborah Sacks Mintz (Vocals)
Jackson Vance Mercer (Vocals)
Lior Shragg (Percussion)
Copyright 2022 Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
Chaverai Nevarech Music
For resources, sheet music, videos, and more, visit www.joshwarshawsky.com
