Project Terms and Conditions

Version 1.0, updated 11.11.2026

1. General terms and definitions

These terms apply to all work that Machon Totzaot performs for a client, whether it was ordered through a price quote, a signed agreement, a written message, or a conversation confirmed in writing. Ordering work or paying a deposit constitutes acceptance of these terms.

1.1“The Institute” means Machon Totzaot, 3 Ilfa St., Beit Shemesh, Israel. “The Client” means the person or body who ordered the work. “The Project” means the work described in the price quote.

1.2These terms are published on the Institute’s website and are referred to in every price quote and every contract. If a price quote or a signed contract includes a different clause, the specific clause prevails. Anything not expressly changed remains as set out here.

1.3The Institute may update these terms from time to time. A project that has already been ordered continues under the version in force on the day of the order.

2. Price quote and order

2.1The Institute’s price quote is written on one page and usually offers the Client three options to choose from. Each option sets out what it includes, its price, and the estimated schedule.

2.2A quote is valid for 30 days from the day it was sent, unless it states otherwise. After that period the Institute may update the price and the schedule.

2.3Prices are stated in Israeli shekels. Clients outside Israel may receive a quote in US dollars. VAT will be added as required by law, unless the quote states that the price includes it.

2.4An order is confirmed when the Client has approved the quote in writing (email, message, or signature) and has paid the deposit. Approval in writing includes a text message or email sent to the Institute’s number or address.

2.5The price is based on the scope of work presented to the Institute before the quote. If the material turns out to be larger, more difficult, or different from what was provided (for example more pages, handwriting that is hard to read, or low-quality images), the Institute will inform the Client before continuing and will offer an updated price. Work on the additional part will not begin without the Client’s approval.

3. Scope of services and rounds of corrections

3.1The Institute provides scanning and text recognition, manuscript transcription, editing and proofreading, typesetting and printing, cover design, and guidance through to print. Each project includes only the services listed in the price quote. A service that was not listed, or material added after approval, will be priced separately and will begin only with the Client’s approval.

3.2At each stage delivered to the Client for review (draft, proofs, layout, cover), two rounds of corrections are included, unless the quote states otherwise. The Client gathers all corrections for each round and sends them together, in writing.

3.3Corrections beyond the two rounds, a change of direction after a stage has been approved, or a request to change something already approved, will be treated as additional work. The Institute will state the cost before carrying it out.

3.4Correction guarantee: an error by the Institute relative to the source material provided by the Client, such as a mistyped letter, a skipped page, or a cut-off line, will be corrected free of charge, provided the Client reports it in writing within 60 days of delivery. An error that originates in the source material itself, in the Client’s request, or in wording the Client approved is not an error of the Institute.

3.5In scanning and text recognition work, the accuracy and turnaround promised in the quote are measured on clear, legible material. Damaged or faded material, handwriting, or material requiring special transcription may require additional time and work, and the Institute will inform the Client in advance.

4. Schedules and cooperation

4.1The schedule in the quote begins on the day the deposit and all the material needed for the work, in proper condition, have been received. The turnaround time is a professional estimate made in good faith and is not a fixed deadline, unless it is expressly stated to be binding.

4.2The Institute will ensure that work progresses continuously. At every stage that requires a response from the Client (approving a draft, answering a question, completing material), the Client undertakes to respond within seven working days.

4.3A delay by the Client in providing material, approvals, payment, or answers extends the schedule accordingly. If the work has been held up by the Client for more than 45 days, the Institute may stop the project, charge for the work done until then, and resume it according to the team’s availability and schedule at that time.

4.4A delay caused by circumstances beyond the Institute’s control, such as illness, holidays, the security situation, failures of external systems, or a delay at the printer, is not a breach of agreement. The Institute will inform the Client of any expected delay as soon as possible.

4.5One contact person on behalf of the Client will provide comments and approvals. Instructions from that contact person bind the Client toward the Institute.

5. Client’s responsibility for material and rights

5.1The Client declares that the material provided to the Institute belongs to the Client, or that the Client has permission to use and print it, and that working on it does not infringe copyright or any other right of any person. Responsibility for this rests solely with the Client.

5.2The Client is responsible for the content of the book: the accuracy of its contents, the approbations and introductions, the approvals of rabbis and authors, and everything written in the book. The Institute performs the technical and professional work that was ordered and is not responsible for content decisions, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

5.3The Client is responsible for ensuring that the source material provided is complete and in order. Material delivered in parts, out of order, or with missing sections may cause additional work. Such work will be charged separately after informing the Client.

5.4Books and manuscripts delivered physically to the Institute are kept with care and returned after scanning in coordination with the Client. The Institute is not responsible for damage to material that was damaged or fragile before it was delivered, and recommends keeping a copy of any irreplaceable material. The Client will inform the Institute of any such material before work begins.

5.5If a claim is raised that the book infringes anyone’s rights, the Client will handle it at the Client’s own expense and will compensate the Institute for any damage caused to it as a result.

6. Payment, deposit and milestones

6.1When placing the order, the Client pays a deposit of 25% of the price. Work begins after the deposit is received.

6.2The balance is paid according to milestones set out in the quote, for example at the end of scanning, at the end of editing, upon approval of the layout, and before sending to print. Each stage is considered complete when the Institute reports its completion and delivers or presents the result to the Client.

6.3Payment may be made in cash, by bank transfer, or through the Morning payment and invoicing system. A lawful invoice or receipt is issued for every payment.

6.4Clients outside Israel may pay in US dollars, by international bank transfer, or through the payment system. Transfer fees and the fees of the sending bank are borne by the Client, so that the amount reaching the Institute is exactly the agreed amount. The exchange rate is the one set in the quote, or the Bank of Israel representative rate on the day of payment if none was set.

6.5In the event of late payment, the Institute may stop the work until payment is made.

6.6The final work files and the printed books are delivered to the Client only after full payment has been received. Until then the Institute may hold the work files and the product and not deliver them. Copyright in the content of the book remains with its owners.

7. Printing

7.1In projects that include printing, the Institute allows the Client to carry out the printing stage through the Institute, and is responsible for transferring the files to the printer, supervising the printing, and bringing the books back. The Institute works with printers it knows and manages the relationship with them on the Client’s behalf.

7.2Without derogating from the printer’s responsibility for print quality, the Institute will handle the clarification of any claim on the matter and will make a reasonable effort to resolve it together with the printer.

7.3The Client is aware that printing is never perfectly exact. Between the printed book and what is seen on screen or in a test print there may be differences in shade, due to the difference between screen and ink, between one printed sheet and another, and between batches of paper and ink during the print run. A slight deviation in shade, trim size, or layout accuracy is not a defect. An unusual deviation will be clarified in accordance with clause 7.2.

7.4A test print (one copy) is charged separately if the Client requests it. Approval to print is given by the Client in writing after seeing the final proof, and responsibility for the approved content rests with the Client. A content error that remained in the approved proof is not the Institute’s responsibility.

7.5The final print quantity is not exact. The printer may deliver up to a few percent above or below the quantity ordered, and the Client will pay only for the quantity actually delivered, at the agreed unit price.

8. Rights in files, confidentiality and file retention

8.1Rights in the content of the book remain with the Client or with the original rights holders. The Institute’s work does not transfer them to the Institute.

8.2After full payment, the Client may use the final work files received for any purpose of the book. The design templates, fonts, tools, and software the Institute uses, as well as the Institute’s professional know-how, remain the property of the Institute.

8.3The Institute may display on its website, in price quotes, and in marketing materials only the external appearance of the book, such as the cover mockup and the graphic design. A Client who does not want this will say so in writing before work begins, and the Institute will not display the Client’s name or the book’s details. The Institute will never publish the content of the material itself.

8.4The Institute and its staff keep the material provided to them fully confidential and do not pass it on to anyone not involved in the work. The Client undertakes to keep the Institute’s prices and working methods confidential and not to pass them on to a competitor.

8.5The Institute keeps the project’s work files for up to 6 months after its completion, and may delete them afterwards. During this period the Client may request a copy of the files. Retention beyond that, or restoring old files, is subject to a reasonable additional fee. The Client is responsible for keeping a copy of all files received.

8.6The Institute may use scanning and text recognition tools and its own software in the work, and this does not transfer any rights in them to the Client.

9. Cancellation and refunds, limitation of liability and dispute resolution

9.1The Client may cancel the order at any time by written notice. If the cancellation is made before work has begun, the deposit will be refunded less any expenses already incurred by the Institute. If work has already begun, the Client will pay for the work done up to the date of cancellation and for commitments already made to third parties, such as a printer or paper that was ordered, and the deposit will be offset against that amount.

9.2The Institute may stop the work if the Client has not met the payment terms, or if it turns out that the material infringes the rights of others. In that case the Client will pay for the work done up to that point.

9.3If the Institute is unable to carry out the project as offered, the Client will receive a full refund of the payment for the part that was not carried out.

9.4The Institute’s liability for any damage caused to the Client in connection with the project is limited to the amount actually paid for that project. The Institute is not liable for indirect damage, loss of profit, or damage caused by the content of the book. Responsibility for the source material remains as set out in section 5.

9.5Any dispute between the parties will be resolved before a beit din (rabbinical court), according to din Torah and compromise. The parties will agree on a beit din in Beit Shemesh or the surrounding area; if they cannot agree, each party will choose one dayan and the two dayanim will choose a third. Before turning to a beit din, the parties will try to resolve the matter in direct conversation. Clients outside Israel may take part in the hearing by video call. Recourse to a civil court will be made only to enforce a ruling of a beit din, or if a beit din has declined to hear the matter, and in that case the competent courts in Beit Shemesh will have exclusive jurisdiction.

9.6Israeli law applies to the engagement, including when the Client is located outside Israel.

9.7If any clause in these terms is found to be invalid, the remaining clauses will continue to apply.

Institute details and version