Birkat Chaverim Blog

I made a small change to how the Bnei Akiva benchers are listed on the website. Up until now the store had an additional option in the order options to order a “Custom Order.” Our intention there was that if someone did not want to use some of the existing designated designs or provide their own artwork, they could choose a custom designed logo option for a fee. This logo could be used for invitations and the bencher.

Some customers thought that if they upload their own design then they needed to pay a custom logo fee. I have since, added a description of the custom logo option, as well as changed how the custom logo option is referred to in the line item.

In addition, recently someone ordered a bencher with an existing border design but asked whether it would be possible to add another design from our design options above the text. You can find the new combined design in the cover design section in the Birkat Chaverim shop.

Recently we had an order where a customer wanted to use a simple blue cover with simcha information in white. While this sounds like a very simple thing, it actually is rather complicated. Have you ever noticed that looking at the same website on your computer does not look the same on another person’s computer? Each device has its own way of interpreting and representing color. Without a special profile another device can’t interpret theHere are three possible blues someone may have chosen.
Best choice if you want a specific color blue is to provide the pantone color information. This makes it easier for the printer to match the color to the one you want. Asking for a proof will help you determine that its the color you want. If you don’t mind that the color won’t be the exact one you chose, then you neednt bother with the proofing process. If you do care, however, then you’ll want to make sure the printer can closely approximate what you had in mind.

Feel free to contact me during your order for help with this.

We are getting excited because tomorrow we are going to be participating in the Camp Moshava reunion(s) at Neot Kedumim. This is going to be an opportunity to see old friends, madrichim, co-staff, some of whom I have not seen in ten years or more. It will also be an opportunity to promote the bencher project and to ask people who care about Bnei Akiva to promote the project too.

I am including links in this post to some materials that will be useful to people interested in promoting the Bnei Akiva bencher project.
First off- the facebook page. We set up a facebook page because today facebook is one way of reaching out to people.We even set up additional tabs with static fbml. I’m looking for ways to make it more fun like quizes, so after you join the group, please make some suggestions.

Web ads Here are a few web ads that can be downloaded and used on your own blog or site. I am happy to provide help with that if you need. These ads are 125×125, 180×150 and 125×240. Just right click and save in order to save them to your computer.

Flyers: To save these right click and save to your computer.

Spread the Word (A4 pdf)
Make Bnei Akiva part of your simcha (pdf)
Birkon Brochure (pdf)
Flyer with details (pdf)

I have a flyer specifically geared towards shlichim and mazkirim which I would be happy to send by email.

Additionally here’s our frequently asked questions section and a direct link to the Birkonim. We also provide an assortment of covers that can be used with the birkonim. These can be found in the birkon cover section on this site.

When we started the Bnei Akiva bencher project, we knew that it would be useful to Bnei Akiva as a fundraiser. Originally it was intended as a fundraiser for Bnei Akiva New York/New Jersey. For the second printing, we offered it to other regions as a fund raiser too. I think some members did not understand what to do with the project or how it would help.

However, in the last year or so, because of the economy, local Bnei Akiva regions are suffering due to cuts in funding. A recent article in Haaretz entitled “Zionist youth say they face financial ruin” points to the fact that the Jewish Agency has cut funding and therefore each of the 17 movements receive 80,000 NIS (about $21,000 as of posting) a year. This is for world-wide activities. Bnei Akiva has about 20 regions in North America which all require financing and need to do so locally.

What’s great about the bencher project is that it is an easy way for people to help their local regions without a direct donation. A bencher is something that people use anyway, so why shouldn’t Bnei Akiva be able to fund projects with it? It is also a project which doesn’t require alot of upfront work for local regions like bake sales, selling flowers or other items do. Its just a matter of letting people know that the project exists so that people who would be interested in using this bencher know that its available for use.

So spread the word! Let people know about the project! Ask us about the project and ask your local Bnei Akiva representatives too.

If you prefer to learn about it online please see:

Bnei Akiva Birkonim

Birkonim Frequently Asked Questions

Congratulations to George Daniel Frankel and Levi Orentliker who are the winners of our contest. George Daniel Frankel will receive the simcha logo design and Levi Orentliker will receive $18 off an order on the Birkat Chaverim website. Please be in touch to follow up about your prizes.

These winners were chosen at random. Originally, I thought it would be fun to use social media to have the numbers chosen. I asked on facebook for friends to select random numbers. Friends, however, responded that I should just use random.org so in the end, I did. It might have been cooler to have people choose the numbers at random, but the end result is the same!

Congratulations!

Still on through the 29th, enter to win a simcha logo or $18 off an order on this site.  For more information about the contest see the contest post. Logo designs and other design samples can be seen on the shop site.

We recently received a question regarding the language of the Bnei Akiva bencher so I am going to take the opportunity to talk about that in a post. The bencher is Hebrew with an almost complete English translation.

The seven blessings recited at a wedding have a broader explanation of sheva brachot as well as an explanation about what is said in the various blessings. For the page of harachaman’s recited at a brit milah, brit milah is contextualized. All the songs for Shabbat evening and morning are translated. However, the songs for the third meal, the extra song section (83 songs,) as well as the two songs in the havdalah section, are not translated.

The Bnei Akiva birkon or bencher also has commentary in English about the Grace after Meals, including about the Harachaman’s for Tzahal and Israel, and shabbat zemirot, as well as section introductions.

The title sounds a bit weird, since everyone knows you are supposed to fast on Yom Kippur, but there are people who do not fast on Yom Kippur such as people who are seriously ill or children under the age of Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

I remember going to shul as a young child, there was often a buffet set out for the children (sandwiches and the like.)  I particularly remember being told by an adult (I don’t remember which adult) that when we were ready to say Birkat Hamazon, we should add Yom HaKippurim in the Yaaleh VYavo addition to the Grace after Meals prayer.

I was thinking about this today, as I gave my toddler lunch and actually discussed this with her. She does not yet know all of Birkat Hamazon up to the inserted section, but she does understand adding prayers for the holidays so it was an appropriate discussion. I also remembered that we actually have this addition in the Bnei Akiva birkon, so I’ve included it as an illustration to this post.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have started a new category on the store website for sample bencher covers. I’ve noticed that people are not really sure what they can do with the color cover option, so the main reason is to give people ideas regarding what they can do. I will be including options for foil and black ink options too. The covers in this section may be used with a purchase of the Bnei Akiva birkon.  Upon request, and with certain requirements, they could also be used in other contexts such as invitations and cards.

I have for years had a file of sample logo designs, so I will be adding those as cover samples as I get to it. I am also planning on adding some of my other designs (as I get to it) for web and print media. For the moment there are only a very few cover designs, but you can always ask me about other options available.

In honour of the new year Birkat Chaverim will be giving away a custom simcha logo (value $150) as well as a runners up prize of  $18 off any purchase over $50 from the Birkat Chaverim site.

To Enter:

• Comment on any blog entry on our blog
• Become a fan of the Birkat Chaverim facebook page

Additional Entries can be made by:

• Leaving an additional comment on the blog
• Uploading an image or video of the Bnei Akiva birkon in use to our Facebook page
• Adding a link to our blog or birkatchaverim.com on your website

Entries accepted through October 29th.

Terms & Conditions apply. Contact us for more information.