A 4th-century rabbi once declared that it was right and good that a person should say this blessing after using the restroom (or whatever the restroom was called in the 4th century): “Blessed is He who has formed man in wisdom and created in him many orifices and many cavities. It is obvious and known before Your throne of glory that if one of them were to be ruptured or one of them blocked, it would be impossible for a man to survive and stand before You. Blessed are You that heals all flesh and does wonders.”

Indeed, blessed are we who have many orifices and cavities. Our bodies are truly a wonder and we’ve all thought about them, explored them, and tried our best to see how they work. This certainly includes the parts of our bodies we keep most hidden by clothing. Our two children are beginning to think about all this as their bodies mature and change and so, if they’re like any other child, they’re both mortified and wildly curious.

Millions of parents have traveled this road with their children before us and we are now taking our turn in talking with our kids about their bodies and doing our best to give them some semblance of an instruction manual. Of course, there are days I realize that I’m still trying to figure out these parts myself. Which is why I’m glad for a 4th-century rabbi who saw the need to expressing blessing for these cavities and orifices.