Q&A: The Asher Yatzar Prayer
The Asher Yatzar Prayer
Question
Relieving oneself is done in such an unaesthetic way. It looks disgusting, smells unpleasant, requires cleaning oneself very thoroughly afterward, and carries a major risk of infections, illness, and stomach problems if we don’t wash our hands well afterward with soap and water.
If that is the case, why do we allow ourselves to thank that Creator of the world for having created us in such an imperfect way? With the possibility of infections and illness? Why do we need to recite Asher Yatzar after relieving ourselves if relieving oneself is not a process we should be thanking for?
Answer
We thank Him for making it possible for us to function. That indeed requires us to do a few things. Do you have complaints? Direct them to the angel Gabriel, manager of the complaints hotline, open 24 hours a day.
Discussion on Answer
I didn’t understand. Are you unhappy that there is a way to remove waste from the body? Or would you prefer a machine with no waste? A change in the laws of nature? On that, see the column about evil in the world.
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Of course there is no ability to complain,
but at least not to give thanks.
To give thanks for such a thing is basically like saying to a doctor, “Thank you for doing reconstructive nose surgery on me, and in return you tore out my ear; now I can smell but I can’t hear! I thank you every morning when I try to hear and can’t.”
At least let’s give thanks for the good things… for the ability to smell and not for the inability to hear… for the ability to function and not for the inability to excrete feces in a clean way.