Birkot hashachar
Birkot hashachar or Birkot haShachar are a series of blessings recited at the beginning of Shacharit, the Jewish morning prayer liturgy. The blessings represent thanks to God for the new day.
The order of the blessings is not defined by Halakha and may vary by siddur but is generally based on the order of activities customary upon arising.
The blessings
Al netilat yadayim
This blessing represents the cleanliness of one's hands following ritual defilement. It is recited before Shacharit.Asher Yatzar
This is a blessing regarding the workings of one's body. It is also recited after urination or defecation after washing one's hands and exiting the restroom.Elohai Neshama
This paragraph represents thanks to God for the return of one's soul after sleeping. When one sleeps, the soul departs the body. This state is referred to as a "semi-death" in tractate Berakhot 57b:13–14. Upon awakening, the body is reunited with the soul.Blessings of Torah study
Birkot hashachar also includes blessings pertaining to Torah study. It is forbidden to begin the day's Torah studies before reciting blessings. One of the blessings is identical to the blessing recited by a person called for an aliyah.Since one is required to fulfill a mitzvah immediately after reciting a blessing on that mitzvah without interruption, some verses from the oral and written Torah are recited immediately following this blessing. In the Eastern Ashkenazic rite, verses including Numbers 6:24–26, Mishnah Peah 1:1, and tractate Shabbat 127a are recited. In the Western Ashkenazic rite, the korbanot section is recited immediately.