Birchonim come in a very wide variety of styles, and types, all of which are based on the nusach and minhag of the community. Birchonim are generally printed in Hebrew only, Hebrew plus vernacular translation, or Hebrew plus vernacular translation and Hebrew transliteration for participation by those unfamiliar Hebrew.
Common Birchon
A common birchon may contain the Birkat Hamazon
prayer, as well as the kiddush for Ereb Shabbath
(Sabbath Eve - Friday night), Sabbath morning,
various prayers after foods and drinks, and
Sabbath table songs.
Sefer HaKidush
Sefer HaKidush is a special birchon, which is
often hard cover and may be leather bound, and
especially decorated. This birchon contains all
of the kiddush prayers for the eves and mornings
of Shabbath, and the hagim or yomim tobim, the
Jewish holidays, and is most used by the head of
the household (usually the father) or a rabbi.
It is frequently given as a wedding gift to the
groom.
Sheba Berahoth /
Sheva Brachot
A sefer Sheba Berahoth is a birchon which is
especially printed for the occasionn of a
wedding and/or the week after a wedding. This
birchon contains the seven blessings recited by
family and friends of the bride and groom under
the huppah at a Jewish wedding, and after birkat
hamazon at the end of special meals in the week
following the wedding. The sefer Sheva Brachot
may contain special commentary on the meaning of
the blessings.
Shiron or Zemirot
A shiron is a birchon with an emphasis on songs.
A shiron may typically have extra selections of
Sabbath table songs, as well as songs for the
Holidays and weddings. A special section,
perhaps at the end of the shiron may contain a
table of contents introducing extra songs, such
as is found in widely popular benchers in the
Orthodox[5]
and Conservative[6]
movements.
Simchon
A simchon is a shiron which features the prayers
and songs particular of a simcha or happy event
such as a Bar or Bath Miswa (Bar/Bat Mitzvah),
wedding or Berith Mila.
The Card Variety
Some birchonim are made to be portable, or are
made primarily for use in cafeterias and
restaurants. These birchonim are printed on
laminated cards that either fold in half, in
thirds, or do not fold at all.
Novelties
Birchonim are often printed for special occasions, such as a Bar Miswa or wedding. These birchonim are often personalized copies of a favorite birchon used by the celebrants, and they are quite often taken home by attendees as souvenirs or donated to the venue where the occasion takes place such as a restaurant, hotel, or synagogue. A common practice in North America is to create a specially designed Jewish monogram which is composed of an artistic rendition of the celebrant's names in Hebrew in the shape of something recognizable such as a flame, the trick being to try to make out the actual letters. Some times the names are written in micography.
In North America, special "bencher pens" have a pull tab which reveals a scrolled paper containing the text of the Birkat Hamazon prayer.