Our smartphones can be portals to strengthen and support Jewish life-both online, and in the real world. They are portable libraries of sacred texts, hotspots for Jewish education, and virtual bridges to help us discover and tap into Jewish gatherings.
Some of the most powerful Jewish apps and websites are designed to help us plan for Jewish celebrations-from Shabbat and holidays to family milestones; to bring Jewish wisdom into the fabric of our everyday life; to connect us to others for communal gatherings, and to bring Jewish language and culture into our everyday lives. Here are a few favorites:
Tap into Jewish time
The Hebcal app allows users to find the Hebrew equivalent to English dates-and vice versa. Looking to figure out the timing of a
yartzheit
(anniversary of a loved one's death)? Wondering what Torah reading will be closest to your child's 13th birthday? Hebcal has all the answers. The app can also calculate when Shabbat starts and ends in your location, and provide timing and dates for holidays. Users can create a personal calendar and subscribe to email reminders for dates with personal significance. Those curious to delve more deeply into Jewish time can do so with MyZmanim, which provides precise times for prayers and candle lighting, down to the tenth of a second, in every location.
Delve into Jewish wisdom
Sefaria-sefaria.org-is a free library of Jewish texts, in Hebrew and in translation, dedicated to bringing Torah into the digital age. Learners can study a b-mitzvah Torah portion, find Jewish wisdom on any topic that piques their curiosity, or delve into the interconnections between generations of Jewish works. The site also offers weekly emails on the Torah portion and different topics throughout the library.
For more educational material delivered to your inbox, check out the MyJewishLearning website (myjewishlearning.com), which has articles on a vast array of Jewish topics, provides online classes, and offers over a dozen free email newsletters on everything from planning a Jewish wedding to Jewish views on the afterlife.
Connect to Jewish community
OneTable (
onetable.org
) has a website that empowers people to host their own Shabbat dinner or to connect with a host-and they cover Passover seders as well. The goal is to allow everyone to have an experience that is "accessible, inclusive, and meaningful," and the site contains all the resources you need to build or tap into that experience. OneTable's digital platform matches hosts and guests and helps hosts manage logistics for these subsidized meals. For those looking for another way to find community,
Shabbat.com
(also available as an app) is a social networking site that matches guests and hosts for Shabbat meals.
Discover the Jewish angle
Not every app that supports Jewish life is designed with the Jewish community in mind. Duolingo, which bills itself as "the world's best way to learn a language" gamifies the study of language. Practice your Hebrew at your own pace while you pack for your next trip to Israel, or try some Yiddish study and see if you can keep up with a daily schedule. Duolingo has social features that let you connect-or compete-with others, so you can study a new language with friends and practice when you see each other.
For some Jewish entertainment on the go, check out Spotify for podcasts or songs with Jewish content. Try a search for "Shabbat playlist" or "Rosh Hashanah songs for kids" and put it on in the background while you get ready for the holiday.
The words of the Shema, perhaps the most familiar part of the prayer service, remind us that we are meant to connect to our heritage "when you sit in your home, and when you go on your way." Digital technology makes it possible for us to nurture our Jewish life and engage with Jewish wisdom no matter where we are.
Sara Wolkenfeld is the Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria. She lives in Washington, D.C., where she also serves as scholar-in-residence at Ohev Sholom Congregation.
