metro » Minyan Aids Apps can help locate minyans, even rustle up 10 participants. Shari S. Cohen | Contributing Writer F An example of the Minyan Now app or observant Jews who minyanim worldwide with times travel, finding a local shul and contacts. “You type in the zip for Shacharit or Minchah code for minyanim for five or 10 services can be a challenge, often miles of where you are on a busi- with some time pressure. ness trip and it’s 75 to 80 percent “It is much better to pray with a accurate,” Heber says. minyan,” says Zev Cohen, an Oak “There are new minyans all the Park resident and Yeshiva gradu- time, and GoDaven is much easi- ate, who travels often for his real er than using a written directory estate company. Finding a min- Ronnie or a Federation website,” he adds. Schwartz yan became a lot easier when Another app, Minyan Now, he discovered the Minyan enables users to create an imme- Maven smartphone applica- diate minyan through software tion last year. “When it came developed by brothers Ronnie out, it was revolutionary,” and Barry Schwartz of New he says. Jersey, who own Rusty Brick, a Locations and times are web application development updated regularly, and firm. “It’s designed for ad hoc users can find a nearby minyanim,” Ronnie Schwartz minyan by typing in explains. He used it to create a Rabbi Aaron their location and the minyan while vacationing in the Starr time, Cohen explains. Animal Kingdom in Florida over He has used it in New winter break, bringing together York, Baltimore and Detroit more than enough participants for a min- and finds it extremely helpful. yan. Rabbi Yosi Heber of Oak The Minyan Now app tracks the user’s Park, president of Oxford location when logged in and will report Hill Partners, a marketing the number of other users within a 10-mile firm, uses GoDaven.com. area so that they can communicate. “When This website provides a 10 people commit, everyone gets a notice. database of Orthodox The notification feature can be turned off,” DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD. It Doesn't Have To Cost A fortune… Only Look Like It! Complete kitchen and design and installations including granite, wood and other materials. Lois Haron Allied Member ASID 248.851.6989 18 July 28 • 2016 * To find a minyan: GoDaven.com, Minyan Now (www. rustybrick.com) or Google Play, and Minyan Maven at Google Play. Are you a carrier of the Tay-Sachs disease gene? Are you a carrier of the Tay-Sachs disease gene? Tay-Sachs disease is a rare inherited disease of the central nervous system passed from parents to child. Both parents must be carriers of a mutation in the HEXA gene to pass the disease on to their children. If you know that you are a carrier of this abnormal HEXA gene, we invite you to participate in our research project. Your participation will contribute to the knowledge gained from this research project. Knowledge gained will be used to help others through the development of new and improved carrier screening tests for people like you. We are looking for 50 people known to carry the abnormal Tay-Sachs gene. We ask participants in the project to donate about 1 tablespoon of blood for test development. Only a single visit is required. You qualify to volunteer if you are: bathroom remodeling as well as furniture he says. Schwartz used it successfully on the top floor of a mall and says that it is also popular at sporting events. According to Schwartz, 14,000 individu- als have signed up for it and almost 4,000 minyanim have been created. “We want to leverage technology to make life easier. It’s dedicated to our moth- er,” he says. Rusty Brick also offers a “smart siddur” app, which he says adapts for the appropriate prayers based on the day and time it is used. (There is a charge for this.) Congregation Shaarey Zedek, a Conservative congregation in Southfield, is usually able to bring together a minyan without difficulty, especially because both men and women are counted. However, Rabbi Aaron Starr says the congregation is considering the creation of an app for individuals to confirm their presence for a minyan to ensure 10 participants in advance. “Our thought is how can we do it better? We live stream services and initially were afraid that this might diminish attendance but actually more people come in than before,” he says. ‡0DOHRU)HPDOHDWOHDVW\HDUVRIDJHRUROGHU ‡$FDUULHURIWKH7D\6DFKVGLVHDVHJHQH You will receive $100.00 compensation for your time for the study visit. To enroll in this research study, please contact: Sabrina Heidenga 734-794-5662 sabrina.heidenga@progenity.com 2111190