Siddur Torah Ohr, Chabad
A comprehensive Jewish prayer book application that has grown to serve over 35,000 monthly active users worldwide.
The Challenge
Traditional prayer books are static, but Jewish prayers vary significantly based on:
- Time of day
- Date in the Hebrew calendar
- Geographic location
- Jewish holidays and special occasions
Users often struggled to find the correct prayers for their specific situation.
The Solution
I built an intelligent prayer app that automatically displays the relevant prayers based on:
🗓️ Smart Calendar Integration
- Hebrew calendar calculations
- Holiday detection and special prayers
- Time-based prayer selection (morning, afternoon, evening)
📍 Location-Aware Features
- GPS-based prayer time calculations
- Regional custom variations
- Travel mode for different time zones
🎯 User Experience
- Clean, readable interface optimized for prayer
- Offline functionality for use anywhere
- Customizable text sizes and themes
Technical Implementation
Built with:
- iOS Native Development - Swift for optimal performance
- Core Location - Precise location services for prayer times
- Jewish Calendar APIs - Accurate Hebrew date calculations
- Local Storage - Offline-first architecture
Impact
- 35,000+ Monthly Active Users
- 4.8-star rating on the App Store
- Global reach across multiple countries
- Daily usage during prayer times
Key Learnings
Building and scaling this app taught me valuable lessons about:
- User-Centered Design - The interface needed to be calm and distraction-free
- Cultural Sensitivity - Working closely with religious authorities for accuracy
- Performance Optimization - Ensuring fast startup times for daily use
- Global Accessibility - Supporting multiple languages and regions
Future Enhancements
Currently exploring:
- Apple Watch companion app
- Advanced personalization features
- Community features for congregations
