>> Jews in the digital age

Michelle & Lawrence Levy and Family

Congratulate the Goodmans

Finally On iPhone:
A Jewish Calendar App

B

ack in the late 1990s, I became
2012 and Hirsch shared the exciting
a bit of a personal digital assis- news that he was ready to release a beta
tant (PDA) snob. I was enam-
test of Luach for iOS. He told me about
ored by the handheld gadgets that, all
the significant new features he planned
of a sudden, were able to
to add, and I took the oppor-
do so much more than the
tunity to express some of
simple electronic organizers
new features I would love to
of previous years.
see. I had an Apple iTouch
The early and mid-1990s
back in my hotel room so I
saw the growth of these
was able to install the beta
PDAs with the Sharp Wizard
version while still in Israel
line that allowed the user
and begin my work as a beta
to maintain a calendar and
tester for the new Luach app.
phone contact database
Finally, after years of
along with some games, a
hard work, Hirsch's com-
Rabbi Jason
memo pad for notes and a
pleted work on Luach and
Mil ler
calculator. When the 3COM's
Penticon Technologies is
Palm Pilot came out, the
back. He released the Luach
PDA became a smaller, more
version for Apple iOS late
powerful device. And I liked to get the
last month (just in time for the release
latest one on the market.
of the new iPhone6) and gave me the
I went through each generation of
opportunity to talk with him about the
Palm device and then experimented
big news.
with the Handspring Visor. No matter
which device I was using, I had the
Q: Tell me about how Penticon began.
Luach app installed. Luach, created by
Hirsch: I bought one of the early
Penticon Technologies, was the most
Palm Pilot devices and knew that it
robust Jewish calendar for PDAs on the
would be a success. I started to hear
market.
on the Internet that some people were
With a Hebrew font interface, it
figuring out how third parties could
made the PDA with Luach an essential
develop software for the Palm, and I
technology for everyone from rabbis
jumped on the bandwagon. I developed
and Jewish educators to Jewish funeral
Hebrew for the Palm, and then Luach.
directors and rank-and-file obser-
Since I was living in Israel, I under-
vant Jews. One of the most difficult
stood that many Israelis wouldn't use
aspects for so many when transitioning a Palm without it having Hebrew. The
from a Palm or Handspring PDA or
Hebrew and Luach applications were
smartphone to one of a newer iPhone,
big hits in Israel and among Jewish
Blackberry or Android device in the
Palm users outside of Israel.
last decade was sacrificing the Penticon
Luach.
Q: When did you come up with the
-
As an early
idea of creating a Luach app for the
adopter and
Palm?
supporter of Penticon
Hirsch: I always had an interest in
and its Luach app 20
the Jewish calendar. When I started to
years ago, I became
learn how to develop applications for
friendly with the
the Palm, I decided to do something
developer, Howie
that could be useful. I created a small
Hirsch. Based in
application where I could enter a date,
Israel,
Hirsch
would
and it would give me the Jewish date,
Howie Hirsch
let me serve as a
and vice versa. As I learned more about
beta tester for future released versions
developing for the Palm and learned
of Luach and I would, in turn, give
more about the inner workings of the
my advice — both from a technical
Jewish calendar, I realized that this
perspective as well as from my vantage
would be an application that would
point as a rabbi.
be useful for me, and for many other
After making the switch to an
people. This was in early 1998.
Android device several years ago I
began to pressure Hirsch to develop a
Q: Why do Jewish people need a
mobile utility app like Luach?
compatible version for both Apple's iOS
as well as the Android platform.
Hirsch: It's so convenient to have the
At first he wasn't sure he was up to
information that Luach provides avail-
the task. But then, we met over break-
fast at my Jerusalem hotel in December
Calendar App on page 18

on this well-deserved honor.
Your dedication and commitment
to FIDF and Israel's brave soldiers is inspiring.

FRIENDS OF THE MF

FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES I MICHIGAN CHAPTER

invites you to the

18T" ANNUAL

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

DINNER HONOREES

ENID & GARY GOODMAN TERI & MARK GOODMAN

HONORARY CO-CHAIR

Amy Goodman & Nathan Leader

Regan & Jeff Goodman

Brandon Goodman

Roger Goodman

DINNER CO-CHAIRS

Nicole & Justin Becker Susie & Larry Becker

Lauren & Marvin Daitch

Gloria & Bruce Colton

Francine & Paul Hack

Michelle& Lawrence Levy Bonny & Dr. Errol Sherman Stephanie & Cory Trivax

HOST CO-CHAIRS
Shari & Alon Kaufman Lisa & Gary Shiffman

CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

Irwin Groner Hall
27375 Bell Road, Southfield, Michigan

For more information
248.926.4110 michigan@fidf.org www.fidf.org

THEIR JOB IS TO LOOK AFTER ISRAEL.
OURS IS TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

JN

October 9 • 2014

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