Posted to Jewish News on
NY Post

Tech-savvy Orthodox Jews can now reach out for the handset of God.

Two entrepreneurs who attended Yeshiva University have written software that turns the BlackBerry from a device to check e-mail and stocks into a pray phone.

Faith Goes Wireless

NY Post

Tech-savvy Orthodox Jews can now reach out for the handset of God.

Two entrepreneurs who attended Yeshiva University have written software that turns the BlackBerry from a device to check e-mail and stocks into a pray phone.

Dubbed “the JewBerry,” the $30 program replaces the traditional prayer book by providing all the Hebrew blessings observant Jews are required to say three times a day.

“Throughout the day, Jews gather in office-building stairwells and conference rooms to pray, and while sometimes you might not remember your prayer book, no one goes anywhere without their BlackBerry,” said co-creator Jonathan Bennett, 33, of Cedarhurst, LI.

Currently, JewBerry – which is not affiliated in any way with BlackBerry maker RIM – is a static program that does not take advantage of the device’s wireless capabilities.

But Bennett and Jerusalem-based partner Jonathan Kestenbaum hope their product will eventually become the Facebook of Moses followers.

Using GPS technology, for instance, the phone will one day enable Jews to create minyans – the minimum-10-member groups necessary for prayer.

“Say you’re in a place like Shea Stadium. You could post that you are looking for a minyan, pick a location, and other people signed up will be able to respond and meet up at the Carvel stand,” Bennett said.

Nearly 10,000 Jews from across the world have already purchased the software, and Bennett’s company, Promised Land Holdings, has been besieged with requests for new features, including mobile versions of the Talmud.

Yeshiva University President Richard Joel was among the device’s early users. “I love it, because now I can not only look how the market is doing, but I can also say my evening prayers,” he said. “A lot of breakthroughs are done trying to advance science or make a buck, but at the heart of what Yeshiva [University] is about is the notion that it’s not our technology that informs civilization; it is our values.”

The JewBerry has already caused some confusion during worship, but people who appear to be checking e-mail may in fact be immersed in prayer, Bennett said.

But he does not believe the technology will ever completely replace the prayer book itself.

“Personally, I still like the experience of holding a prayer book when I have one available, but I like that if I ever need [the JewBerry], it’s there,” he said. “Our goal is not to make the book obsolete but to take something as physically mundane as the BlackBerry and make it more spiritual.”

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13 Comments

  • tools for torah fan!

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  • virtual sforim

    all this was made free last year and can be downloaded. (no need to pay $30, and p.s. it was out b4 they made it)
    it was made by dovid zirkind

    jewishcontent.org/pda

    things that can be downloaded are:
    chumash / rashi
    tanya
    tehilim
    shulchan aruch
    rambam and much more..

    they are available for all types of phones not just blackberry’s

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  • mp

    Jewishcontent.org had this a long time ago.
    The GPS minyin finding is already available on the iphone

  • curious george

    wouldent it take away from ur kavanah? like theres really something special about holding a actual siddur..but i guess its better then nothing.

  • iPhone

    Why is no one writing these kind of apps for the iPhone?
    This is where the real money is.
    Out of the 6.9 million iPhones sold in the last 3 months, you can bet that a nice percentage are Jewish owners.
    They even sold more phones than blackberry in the last 3 months!
    Posted from my iPhone

  • Chayim B. Alevsky

    Thank y’all for your sweet comments.

    Actually – for the record:

    When the NY Post called me to interview about the “prayers on the blackberry” I thought they were referring to Dovid Zirkind’s applications on JewishContent.org – which I’ve been using for years on my own PDA – first on the Palm and more recently on my PocketPC – thank you Dovid!

    When I got to the interview – the reporter told me it was about another “new” program. I told her it’s been around for a long time – and she was surprised…

    The interview was for a few minutes and I mentioned Chabad.org many times…. but they did not include it…
    I also asked them – and they said they would – title me as “Chabad Rabbi etc.” but they instead wrote Tools for Torah – which is nice – but not what I ask for…
    – Moshiach Now!
    – CBA