BiographyWe are a team of people including programmers, marketing and Rabbis who want to make it easier to be Jewish and fully observant. Today, there are too many people leaving the fold because they find observant Judaism too cumbersome and outdated and it doesn't need to be.
In fact, there are lots of things that we, observant Jews keep today that are not based on anything other than some stringencies according to a very small number of opinions. Our goal is to change that and empower people with the knowledge that they can be good, fully observant Jews and still keep up with the times.
Controversy and machlochet are as Jewish as challah and gefilte fish. Rashi, Tosfos, Rambam pioneered the way and we can only imagine what their opinion would be of the Shabbos App. But we do know for sure that they would not be quick to pass an opinion in either direction, pro or against, without carefully weighing the information and taking into account that it is 2014.
Perhaps one thought to reflect upon before passing judgement would be the possibility of this app bringing more Jews into the fold. How many semi observant Jews would be more observant if not for their phone being used on Shabbos? How many Jews have elderly parents or teenagers and the stress and worry of their well being takes away from their neshama yesaira? How many Jews feel that orthodoxy is old fashioned and antiquated and crave their religion to grow with the times?
So much of orthodoxy creates separation and division among the different sects, and the different genders and the different generations. Now is our chance to bring everyone together and to be open to new opportunities and endless potential.
It is our hope and prayer that the Shabbos App will enhance the Shabbos for everyone.