Every morning, a set of 15 blessings are recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing.

Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai Eh’lo’hay’nu Melech ha’o’lam sheh’ah’sanee kir’tzo’no.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has made me according to His will.

This is a blessing said only by women. Women, according to traditional Judaism, are not obligated in as many mitzvot as men are because they are too often involved in life events that would prevent them from fulfilling the obligations at specified times. Imagine a mother with a nursing baby trying to get to synagogue in the morning. This blessing helps women understand that while they may not have the responsibilities of ritual life that men do, their roles are of equal importance!

–Translation reproduced with permission from The Koren Sacks Siddur,
© Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.