The Seder Oneg Shabbos Bentsher

$7.50

In stock

This is the book that started it all.

We offer the option of customized covers for weddings and other celebrations. Please contact hello@printocraftpress.com for more information.

The first bentsher was printed in 1514, exactly half a millennium ago.

Real-world transliteration

Rather than a standardized, “one-size-fits-all” approach to transliteration, songs have been rendered in a way that respects the fact that the same person might use more than one Hebrew pronunciation, depending on the original of the song itself. The result? A transliteration scheme that is much more helpful for those who do not read Hebrew.

An Enjoyable New Translation

Our translation was designed to be both gender neutral and enjoyable for both those who can and those who can’t understand Hebrew. As a result, we’ve also integrated the translation into our designs in a way that encourages even fluent Hebrew readers to examine it, rather than unconsciously skip over it.

Bigger pages, better reading experience

What’s the point of a well-designed page if you don’t have time to soak it in? Most bentshers have small pages, so there isn’t very much on any given page; often you need to turn a page just to finish a single paragraph. At 6″x9″, our edition provides ample space for leisurely reading and ample time to appreciate the subtleties of the design.

CC Licensed

Most elements of the bentsher have been licensed under Creative Commons licenses, allowing them to be reused in other contexts more easily.

Fully illustrated, with more than 120 woodcuts, engravings, and illustrations, from the Middle Ages through the early 20th century

There is a long tradition of bentshers “borrowing” graphics from other books—both Jewish and otherwise.
We’ve continued that tradition (legally, of course).

Historical Typefaces

An historically-conscious work is not complete without a careful choice of type. All of the faces that we’ve employed have distinguished pedigrees that go back several centuries.

Friendly to traditional Jews…

The liturgical text is the standard Ashkenaz Orthodox one. Where we’ve added language, it’s been clearly marked.

…egalitarian Jews…

In addition to some deliberately chosen images and our carefully crafted translation, we’ve included a number of common egalitarian insertions.

…and queer Jews.

While adhering to the standard liturgical text, Seder Oneg Shabbos also contains variants more relevant for celebrations between a groom and a groom, or a bride and a bride.

Doesn’t skimp on content

In addition to the full Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals) text, includes:

  • Shalom Aleichem, Eshet Chayyil, and the Blessing for Children
  • Kiddush for nighttime and daytime, Shabbat and festivals, as well as the Havdalah service
  • A complete selection of songs for Friday nights, Shabbat day, Shabbat afternoons, and Shabbat’s Conclusion
  • A compilation of shorter songs
  • Sheva Berachot and other insertions for every wedding, bat mitzvah, bar mitzvah, and bris

1–3 copies

$ 7
50
per copy
  • + shipping
  • + sales tax (PA only)

4-7 copies

$ 6
50
per copy
  • + shipping
  • + sales tax (PA only)
  • customization available

8-20 copies

$ 5
50
per copy
  • + shipping
  • + sales tax (PA only)
  • customization available
  • for larger orders, contact us

Very affordable, whether you buy one or more than one

We could charge a premium for all this, but we decided not to, because we want as many people to have this as possible.

That’s why a single bentsher costs only $7.50 (plus shipping), you only need to buy 4 or more for our heavy discounts to kick in.

We won’t be upset if you just buy one, though.

read more about our customization options

In stock