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Inappropriate. There's no evidence that such an app exists. To say "the app was created" presupposes that it was, which has yet to be established.
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The '''Shabbos App''' is a proposed [[Android app]] claimed by its creators, YidTec, Inc. to enable [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Jew]]s, and all Jewish Sabbath-observers, to use a [[smartphone]] on the Jewish [[Shabbat|Sabbath]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/international/new-shabbos-app-creates-uproar-among-orthodox-circles|title=New Shabbos App Creates Uproar Among Orthodox Circles |work=[[The Jewish Week]]|date=October 2, 2014|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name=toi /><ref name=shalom>{{cite web|url=http://www.shalomlife.com/business/26132/finally-now-you-can-text-on-saturdays-thanks-to-new-shabbos-app/|title=Finally, Now You Can Text on Saturdays Thanks to New 'Shabbos App'|date=October 2, 2014|work=Shalom Life|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2014/10/02/will-the-shabbos-app-change-jewish-life-raise-rabbinic-ire-or-both/|title=Will the Shabbos App Change Jewish Life, Raise Rabbinic Ire, or Both?|date=October 2, 2014 |publisher=Jewish Business News|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name=shalom />
The '''Shabbos App''' is a proposed [[Android app]] claimed by its creators, YidTec, Inc. to enable [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Jew]]s, and all Jewish Sabbath-observers, to use a [[smartphone]] on the Jewish [[Shabbat|Sabbath]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/international/new-shabbos-app-creates-uproar-among-orthodox-circles|title=New Shabbos App Creates Uproar Among Orthodox Circles |work=[[The Jewish Week]]|date=October 2, 2014|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name=toi /><ref name=shalom>{{cite web|url=http://www.shalomlife.com/business/26132/finally-now-you-can-text-on-saturdays-thanks-to-new-shabbos-app/|title=Finally, Now You Can Text on Saturdays Thanks to New 'Shabbos App'|date=October 2, 2014|work=Shalom Life|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2014/10/02/will-the-shabbos-app-change-jewish-life-raise-rabbinic-ire-or-both/|title=Will the Shabbos App Change Jewish Life, Raise Rabbinic Ire, or Both?|date=October 2, 2014 |publisher=Jewish Business News|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name=shalom />

==Development==
The app was created by YidTec, Inc. Its team of developers include Yitz Appel, Yehuda Levi, Yossi Goldstein, and other programmers.<ref name=roils/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/technology/47105-141013-observe-the-shabbat-with-your-iphone|title=Observe the Shabbat with your iPhone|work=[[i24news]]|date=October 13, 2014|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/article/view/id/20489|title=Kurzmeldungen: Auf die Schnelle |publisher=[[:de:Jüdische Allgemeine|Jüdische Allgemeine]]|date=October 15, 2014|accessdate=October 15, 2014}}</ref>


== Controversy ==
== Controversy ==


The app is highly controversial<ref name=toi>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/app-lets-jewish-kids-text-on-sabbath-and-stay-in-the-fold/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|title=App lets Jewish kids text on Sabbath – and stay in the fold|date=October 2, 2014|work=The Times of Israel|accessdate=October 3, 2014}}</ref><ref name=sacred>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.618622|title=Sacred texts: App aims to solve SMS-during-Sabbath problem|date=October 1, 2014|work=[[Haaretz]]|accessdate=October 3, 2014}}</ref> in Orthodox Jewish circles. Orthodox Judaism does not permit the use of a smartphone on the Sabbath. Jewish law prohibits activating or deactivating electrical devices on Shabbat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/722406|title="Electricity and Shabbat", Rabbi Josh Flug 2008|publisher=|accessdate=October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.zomet.org.il/Eng/?CategoryID=199&ArticleID=58 "Electricity on Shabbat", The Tzomet Institute]</ref><ref>[http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/english/journal/broyde_1.htm "The Use of Electricity on Shabbat and Yom Tov", Rabbi Michael Broyde & Rabbi Howard Jachter, Journal of Halacha & Contemporary Society, No. XXI - Spring 91 - Pesach 5751]</ref><ref>[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1159378/jewish/Electricity-on-Shabbat.htm "Electricity on Shabbat", Rabbi Aryeh Citron, chabad.org]</ref>
The app is highly controversial<ref name=toi>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/app-lets-jewish-kids-text-on-sabbath-and-stay-in-the-fold/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|title=App lets Jewish kids text on Sabbath – and stay in the fold|date=October 2, 2014|work=The Times of Israel|accessdate=October 3, 2014}}</ref><ref name=sacred>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.618622|title=Sacred texts: App aims to solve SMS-during-Sabbath problem|date=October 1, 2014|work=[[Haaretz]]|accessdate=October 3, 2014}}</ref> in Orthodox Jewish circles. Orthodox Judaism does not permit the use of a smartphone on the Sabbath. Jewish law prohibits activating or deactivating electrical devices on Shabbat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/722406|title="Electricity and Shabbat", Rabbi Josh Flug 2008|publisher=|accessdate=October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.zomet.org.il/Eng/?CategoryID=199&ArticleID=58 "Electricity on Shabbat", The Tzomet Institute]</ref><ref>[http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/english/journal/broyde_1.htm "The Use of Electricity on Shabbat and Yom Tov", Rabbi Michael Broyde & Rabbi Howard Jachter, Journal of Halacha & Contemporary Society, No. XXI - Spring 91 - Pesach 5751]</ref><ref>[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1159378/jewish/Electricity-on-Shabbat.htm "Electricity on Shabbat", Rabbi Aryeh Citron, chabad.org]</ref>
[[File:Shabbos App with updated wordpad.png|thumb|260x516px||Shabbos App with updated wordpad]]
[[File:Special Shabbos App Keypad.png|thumb|244x495px||Special Shabbos App keypad]]


According to its creators, the Shabbos App resolves many of the problems related to using a smartphone on the Sabbath.<ref name=shalom /> However, no rabbinic authority has supported these claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vosizneias.com/180370/2014/09/30/new-york-shabbos-texting-app-stirs-controversy/|date=September 30, 2014|title= New York Shabbos Texting App Stirs Controversy|publisher=vosizneias.com|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref> The [[Orthodox Union]] ran two opinion pieces against the app, on October 7, 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ou.org/life/inspiration/throwing-esrogim-shabbos-app/|title=Throwing Our Esrogim at the Shabbos App|work=[[OU Life]]|accessdate=October 14, 2014}}</ref> as well as another piece by Rabbi Ari Kahn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ou.org/torah/parsha/rabbi-ari-kahn-on-parsha/shabbat-app/|title=The Shabbat App|work=OU Torah|accessdate=October 20, 2014}}</ref> Another commentator focused on the benefit of just disconnecting for a few hours, rather than using the app.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://5tjt.com/the-shabbos-app-a-psychological-threat/|title=The Shabbos App – A Psychological Threat|work=[[5 Towns Jewish Times]]|accessdate=October 14, 2014}}</ref>
According to its creators, the Shabbos App resolves many of the problems related to using a smartphone on the Sabbath.<ref name=shalom /> However, no rabbinic authority has supported these claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vosizneias.com/180370/2014/09/30/new-york-shabbos-texting-app-stirs-controversy/|date=September 30, 2014|title= New York Shabbos Texting App Stirs Controversy|publisher=vosizneias.com|accessdate=October 12, 2014}}</ref> The [[Orthodox Union]] ran two opinion pieces against the app, on October 7, 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ou.org/life/inspiration/throwing-esrogim-shabbos-app/|title=Throwing Our Esrogim at the Shabbos App|work=[[OU Life]]|accessdate=October 14, 2014}}</ref> as well as another piece by Rabbi Ari Kahn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ou.org/torah/parsha/rabbi-ari-kahn-on-parsha/shabbat-app/|title=The Shabbat App|work=OU Torah|accessdate=October 20, 2014}}</ref> Another commentator focused on the benefit of just disconnecting for a few hours, rather than using the app.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://5tjt.com/the-shabbos-app-a-psychological-threat/|title=The Shabbos App – A Psychological Threat|work=[[5 Towns Jewish Times]]|accessdate=October 14, 2014}}</ref>

Revision as of 20:27, 21 October 2014

Developer(s)YidTec, Inc. The team includes Yitz Appel as President and staff of programmers including Yehuda Levi and Yossi Goldstein[1]
Websitewww.shabbosapp.com

The Shabbos App is a proposed Android app claimed by its creators, YidTec, Inc. to enable Orthodox Jews, and all Jewish Sabbath-observers, to use a smartphone on the Jewish Sabbath.[2][3][4][5][4]

Controversy

The app is highly controversial[3][6] in Orthodox Jewish circles. Orthodox Judaism does not permit the use of a smartphone on the Sabbath. Jewish law prohibits activating or deactivating electrical devices on Shabbat.[7][8][9][10]

File:Special Shabbos App Keypad.png
Special Shabbos App keypad

According to its creators, the Shabbos App resolves many of the problems related to using a smartphone on the Sabbath.[4] However, no rabbinic authority has supported these claims.[11] The Orthodox Union ran two opinion pieces against the app, on October 7, 2014,[12] as well as another piece by Rabbi Ari Kahn.[13] Another commentator focused on the benefit of just disconnecting for a few hours, rather than using the app.[14]

Possible hoax

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, an expert in Jewish law with a background in technology,[15] has claimed that the app is a hoax, intended to "mock attempts by serious, committed Jews to face the new challenges presented by modern technology".[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Shabbos App for Sabbath Texting Roils Rabbis". Popular Mechanics. October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  2. ^ "New Shabbos App Creates Uproar Among Orthodox Circles". The Jewish Week. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "App lets Jewish kids text on Sabbath – and stay in the fold". The Times of Israel. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Finally, Now You Can Text on Saturdays Thanks to New 'Shabbos App'". Shalom Life. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  5. ^ "Will the Shabbos App Change Jewish Life, Raise Rabbinic Ire, or Both?". Jewish Business News. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  6. ^ "Sacred texts: App aims to solve SMS-during-Sabbath problem". Haaretz. October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  7. ^ ""Electricity and Shabbat", Rabbi Josh Flug 2008". Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  8. ^ "Electricity on Shabbat", The Tzomet Institute
  9. ^ "The Use of Electricity on Shabbat and Yom Tov", Rabbi Michael Broyde & Rabbi Howard Jachter, Journal of Halacha & Contemporary Society, No. XXI - Spring 91 - Pesach 5751
  10. ^ "Electricity on Shabbat", Rabbi Aryeh Citron, chabad.org
  11. ^ "New York Shabbos Texting App Stirs Controversy". vosizneias.com. September 30, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  12. ^ "Throwing Our Esrogim at the Shabbos App". OU Life. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  13. ^ "The Shabbat App". OU Torah. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  14. ^ "The Shabbos App – A Psychological Threat". 5 Towns Jewish Times. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  15. ^ "About the Author". Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  16. ^ Yaakov Menken (October 6, 2014). "The "Shabbos App" is a Farce". Retrieved October 19, 2014.
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