Two ex-Teaneck brothers have identified what might be Judaism's most overlooked pain point - how to gracefully transport your hat, tefillin, and tallis all at once.
Inspiration struck Rabbi Ari Solomon one morning after davening at the Kotel, while juggling his phone, hat box, tefillin bag, and tallis bag. A conversation with his brother Natan crystallized the obvious: the daily logistical dance of the black hat community needed a solution.
The result is the "Bochur Bag" - a cleverly designed backpack with a hard-shell hat compartment and dedicated space for religious essentials. At $85, it aims to solve a problem familiar to anyone who's watched yeshiva students precariously balancing their rgear across Jerusalem or Borough Park.
Rabbi Solomon brings serious product design skills to the venture, having created footwear for professional athletes. The brothers' company, Aish Tamid Hats (named after the Aish Tamid (perpetual fire) from the Korbanos), is already expanding their line with a larger travel version and upcoming briefcase and carry-on models.
It's a quintessentially Jewish story - taking an everyday hassle of observant life and engineering a practical solution. While major manufacturers overlooked this niche market, it took two brothers fresh off aliyah to realize that sometimes the most meaningful innovations come from lived experience rather than market research.
For now, their main challenge may be keeping up with demand, as the yeshiva world discovers there's finally a better way to schlep their stuff. Orders ship from Teaneck, where presumably more than a few residents recognize the problem these hometown entrepreneurs set out to solve.
The Solomons have also launched what might be called the first "WhatsApp-based yeshiva influencer program." Their Ambassador initiative offers a 10% discount to participants who can then share their referral codes through the countless WhatsApp groups that form the digital backbone of yeshiva communication.
It's a distinctly Jewish twist on social marketing - recognizing that in the close-knit world of yeshivas, word travels fast through class chats and dorm groups. Rather than relying on social media trends, the program taps into the organic networks where their target customers already gather to discuss shiurim schedules and arrange Shabbos meals.
The strategy reflects an intimate understanding of their market: in the yeshiva world, personal recommendations carry more weight than polished advertising. By offering both ambassadors and their friends a discount, they've created what marketing professionals would call a "viral loop" - but what in yeshiva terms might simply be called good old-fashioned Jewish networking.
To learn more about Aish Tamid Hats or to purchase one of their products visit: https://aishtamidhats.com/
For more information email info@aishtamidhats.com or send a WhatsApp message to +1 (848) 469-9344
Jewish Link contributed to this article.
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