When one opens his eyes in the morning, he should immediately thank the Creator for returning his soul to him for another day of life and activity. He should then wash his hands with water.

The first words a Jew says when he wakes up in the morning is the Modeh ani formula:

“I thank You [modeh ani], living and eternal King, for restoring my soul to me with compassion; great is Your faithfulness.”

After reciting Modeh ani, one should purify his hands. One reason for this practice is that one’s hands may touch unclean parts of the body during sleep. In addition, while one sleeps at night, a spirit of impurity rests upon him, and one purifies himself from it by washing his hands. Consequently, before washing hands in the morning one should avoid touching his eyes, mouth, nose, or ears. Washing one’s hands is also reminiscent of the handwashing of the priests at the start of every day of service in the Temple. One washes his hands by pouring water from a cup three times on each hand, alternately.

Further reading: This rite differs somewhat from the washing of hands that is performed before eating bread; see p. 525.

The washing is performed as follows: One fills the cup, transfers it to the left hand and pours enough water onto the right hand to rinse the entire hand, up to the wrist. Next, one transfers the cup to the right hand and pours water in the same manner on the left hand. This sequence is repeated two more times, so that in total, he washes each hand three times.

After washing his hands, one recites the blessing:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us through His commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands.”

This is the first blessing one recites every morning.

It is proper to avoid walking four cubits (about 2 m) before washing one’s hands in the morning. For this reason, some people prepare a small bowl in the evening with a cup full of water and leave it beside their beds so that they can wash their hands next to the bed in the morning. One who did not place water near his bed in this manner should go to the nearest sink and wash his hands.

After relieving oneself, one again washes his hands and recites the Asher yatzar blessing:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who formed [asher yatzar] man in wisdom, and created in him many orifices and cavities. It is revealed and known before the throne of Your glory,”

Ashkenazim conclude:

“that if one of them were to be ruptured or one of them were to be blocked, it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You (for even one moment). Blessed are You, Lord, Healer of all flesh, who does wondrous deeds.”

Sephardim conclude:

“that if one of them were to be blocked or if one of them were to be ruptured, it would be impossible to survive for even one moment. Blessed are You, Lord, Healer of all flesh, who does wondrous deeds.”

Further reading: The concluding phrase “Who does wondrous deeds” refers to the wondrous connection between body and soul; see A Concise Guide to Mahshava, p. 223.

This blessing can be found in a standard prayer book, immediately after the blessing over the washing of hands. In the blessing of Asher yatzar, we thank the Creator for the wondrous body He gave us. This blessing is recited not only in the morning, but also throughout the day, each time one leaves the bathroom after attending to his bodily functions.

After Asher yatzar (in the morning), one recites the passage beginning “My God, the soul you placed within me is pure,” [Elokai neshama] as it appears in prayer books. This is a blessing of thanksgiving for the pure soul that God has given us, and it is the third of the “Morning Blessings.”