Jewish iPhone Community » Kabbalah

40,000 seforim in 1 iPhone

Jewish iPhone — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:56:04 +0000

Hebrewbooks.org was founded in order to preserve old American Hebrew books that are out of print and/or circulation. Many American Rabbis wrote seforim (Hebrew books) in the early part of the 20th century. They have long since passed away and in many instances so has their holy work.

Currently Hebrewbooks.org’s mission has expanded to include all Torah Seforim ever printed. At Hebrewbooks.org you will be able to view and print the entire Sefer online.

If you were to ask any Rabbi who authored a sefer, what his one wish would be, his answer would surely be, “I want people to learn my sefer, even after my passing“. Indeed, many Rabbis writing in their introductions: “I wrote this sefer and hope it will be studied even after my death, in order that my lips may move in my grave.” When you quote these seforim, please be sure to mention the Rabbi’s name. In this way the author’s ”lips will move in his grave“. In this manner you will bring life to the memory of the author. Our Rabbis of blessed memory teach us that “He who quotes a saying in the name of its author, hastens the redemption of the world“. They cite the Book of Esther in support of this: “Queen Esther reported the plot to kill king Achashverosh in the name of Mordechai“.

HebrewBooks.org is a not-for-profit organization. Their goal is to bring to life the many Seforim that were written and unfortunately forgotten, and to make all Torah Publications free and ubiquitous.

A new application for viewing HebrewBooks.org … on the iPhone and iPad is now available for free as version 1.0 (a work in progress). Download, read or print over 40,000 rare and out of print Seforim from Hebrewbooks.org.

Users reviews

“Wow. Hebrewbooks has done it again! Those guys never let up. Just downloaded the free app. It’s different than their site, but I was able to download and read the seforim on my iPhone, it even works on my IPad. They say this is just a start and they plan on tweaking and adding more features. I can’t wait.”

“I can have a whole seforim bookcase in my pocket! Yasher Koach, and tizku l’mitzvos. P.S. I just figured out how to search in Hebrew. Just go the general settings by the keyboard language setting, and turn the Hebrew to ‘on’.”

Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Category: Books
Released: June 22, 2010
Publisher: The Society for the Preservation of Hebrew Books
Price: Free (get app)

Sefer ha-Khuzari

Jewish iPhone — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:57:04 +0000

Judah Hallevi’s Kitab al Khazari translated by Hartwig Hirschfeld – this work was originally written in Arabic.

(Kitab al-Ḥujjah wal-Dalil fi Nuṣr al-Din al-Dhalil, كتاب الحجة و الدليل في نصرة الدين الذليل (known in the Hebrew translation of Judah ibn Tibbon by the title Sefer ha-Kuzari)

A classic of Medieval Jewish philosophy, set in a legendary (but historical) central Asian kingdom.

Framed as a dialog between the king of the Khazars, a Central Asian kingdom, and a Rabbi, the Khazari is an exposition of late medieval Jewish philosophy. Legend has it that the king of the Khazars held a symposium to decide whether his people should convert to Judaism, Christianity or Islam. This book is an account of the Jewish side of this debate.

Rabbi Judah Ha-Levi, the author, was born about 1080 C.E. in Muslim-controlled area of southern Spain. This was a bright spot in the history of Jewish-Muslim relations, when Jewish communities prospered under a tolerant Islamic state, and scholarship flourished.

He studied the Talmud and Kabbalah, wrote secular poetry, and was fluent both in Hebrew and Arabic. Midlife he had an awakening which led him to write on more spiritual themes, and the resulting body of work is considered some of the best post-Biblical Jewish poetry (read more here).

Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Category: Books
Released: March 30, 2010
Publisher: Indianic, LLC
Price: Free (get app)

GimatriCalc

Jewish iPhone — Mon, 03 May 2010 00:01:27 +0000

“Gimatria” is a numeric method for Hebrew words.

This method was used for centuries by the Kabala, that claims that the “underlying truth” of the universe reviles itself by numeric relations of the “gimatric” value of words.

It is also claimed that by appropriately designing/changing the name of an object, one can influence the destiny of that object.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Category: Utilities
Released: December 05, 2009
Publisher: Alon Walter
Price: $0.99 (buy app)

GimatriCalc Pro

Jewish iPhone — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:44:27 +0000

“Gimatria” is a numeric method for Hebrew words. This is the professional version of the Gimatric Calculator. It includes the following features:

- 5 of the most common Gimatric methods used in the Kabala
- A single digit numeric equivalent for each method (summing the digits of the result again and again until remaining with a single digit)
- History table for simple comparisons and reference.

“Gimatria” was used for centuries by the Kabala, that claims that the “underlying truth” of the universe reviles itself by numeric relations of the “gimatric” value of words. It is also claimed that by appropriately designing/changing the name of an object, one can influence the destiny of that object.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Category: Utilities
Released: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Alon Walter
Price: $0.99 (buy app)

Jewish Magic

Jewish iPhone — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:26:45 +0000

“Angels & Demons, Jewish Magic Through The Ages” – new exibition in Bible Lands Museum and… iPhone app.

Magic permeates daily Jewish lives to such a degree that life without magic is close to impossible.

An interesting fact is that most individuals are unaware that many items in their daily life and many daily actions and beliefs are magical in nature. Examples of this are endless: knocking on wood, tfu tfu tfu, Evil Eye (בלי עין הרע), not naming a child before birth, the amuletic power of the mezuzah, red ribbon bracelet, khamsas, jinxes…

These and many more practices have ancient sources. Some have lost their meaning even though they are still used, for example, the magical formula ABRACADABRA, has its roots in the 3^rd century CE, and is continuously used even today.

Belief that the world was filled with supernatural beings and forces such as angels, demons, spirits and the evil eye was common in the ancient world and, indeed, many people today hold to that conviction. These forces were attributed with many powers and were thought to be responsible for many of the good, but especially the bad things occurring to people on a daily basis. It was generally believed that such forces can be coerced into acting on behalf of the applicant. Depending on whether the goal of this coercion was for evil or good, we can distinguish between witchcraft (black magic) and magic (protective magic, or white magic).

Biblical laws strictly forbid the Jewish people from having anything to do with witchcraft (black magic): “You shall not allow a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:17); “There must not be found among you anyone that… uses divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer” (Deuteronomy 18:10-11).

However, (white) magic i.e. defense against the dark arts, the forces of evil and the damage they cause was not forbidden in Judaism. This is clear both from biblical and rabbinical writings and from many of the preserved amulets, covering various functions, some of which were written by rabbis. The exhibition is designed to show this separation.

Jewish Magic app it’s an interactive exhibition guide combines archaeology, folklore and superstition in an all encompassing display of amulets, khamsas, jewelry, manuscripts, books of spells and other mystifying objects.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Category: Education
Released: April 29, 2010
Publisher: Qbiki Networks © Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem
Price: Free (get app)

Judaism

Jewish iPhone — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:34:16 +0000

Sacred Texts of Judaism is an anthology of Judaism’s most prominent religious works. This exciting collection brings together 35 texts of central importance to the Judaic religious tradition. Browse topics via the table of contents – or shake your iPhone/iPad/iPod to receive random wisdom from deep within the texts themselves.

All texts have been optimized for viewing on the iPhone/iPad/iPod. This app works offline and does not require an Internet connection.

Sacred Texts of Judaism includes the following works:

The Babylonian Talmud
The Talmud
The Talmud: Selections
Sayings of the Jewish Fathers (Pirkei Avot)
Hebraic Literature
Tractate Sanhedrin, Mishnah and Tosefta
Tractate Berakoth
Legends of the Jews
The Kabbalah Unveiled
Sepher Yezirah
The Kabbalah – Sepher Yetzirah
The Zohar: Bereshith to Lekh Lekha
Jewish Mysticism
The Kabbalah, or the Religious Philosophy of the Hebrews
Tales and Maxims from the Midrash
The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Vol. IV: Medieval Hebrew
Midrash Tanhuma
The Union Haggadah
Haggada For Pesach According To Chabad-Lubavitch Custom
The Works of Flavius Josephus
The Kitab al Khazari
The Guide for the Perplexed
Selected Religious Poems of Solomon
The Fountain of Life
Original Hebrew of a Portion of Ecclesiasticus
Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion
A Rabbi’s Impressions of the Oberammergau Passion Play
Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends
The Great March
Reform Judaism – 1885 Pittsburgh Conference
Articles of Faith from the Jewish Encyclopedia
The Columbus Platform: The Guiding Principles of Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism – A Centenary Perspective
Maimonides: Ani Maamin – I believe…
Solomon Schechter – Studies in Judaism
The Thirteen Wants by Mordecai M. Kaplan

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Category: Books
Released: April 21, 2010
Publisher: Concentric Sky
Price: $1.99 (buy app)

Judaism Study Guide

Jewish iPhone — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:58:18 +0000

Have a big test you need to study for? Or, maybe you just want to learn more about Judaism. Either way, Judaism Study Guide has all the info you’ll need!

This app stores all relevant pages about Judaism from Wikipedia on your device so you can view them whenever you like with no need for Internet access. If you need to learn anything about Judaism, you’ll always have it with you!

Every article is indexed so you can find the exact topic you need to learn about. You can also search the index to find a specific topic with the built in search feature.

When viewing an article you can use the green colored in article links to quickly move to pages explaining terms and events. You can browse around and really develop an understanding of a topic!

There’s even a bookmark feature so you can save specific articles for later review. When viewing an article you simply bookmark it with the + sign so you can easily come back to it later! Swiping left over a bookmark in the bookmark tab will delete it once you’re done using it.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Category: Education
Released: March 19, 2010
Publisher: Arctic Gerbil
Price: $1.99 (buy app)

Tikkun Haklali

Jewish iPhone — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 02:54:02 +0000

Tikkun Haklali, or in Hebrew תיקון הכללי is “The General Remedy”, a set of ten Psalms whose recital serves as teshuvah (repentance) for all sins. The Tikkun Haklali is a unique innovation of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and its recital is a regular practice of Breslover Hasidim to this day.

App created by: Omer Winrauke, Nathan Niamehr

Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Category: Education
Released: March 18, 2010
Publisher: Yossef Winrauke
Price: $1.99 (buy app)

Sefirat HaOmer

Jewish iPhone — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:14:19 +0000

Count the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer / ספירת העומר) with the aid of this iPhone app. The application will show you the correct day to say, including the brachot before and after the specific day. The counting of the Omer is conducted by Jewish people between the holidays of Pesach/Passover and Shavuot.

The prayer should be said after nightfall, typically about thirty minutes after sundown or following the Maariv prayer.

This application won’t send you reminders, but if you keep it on the front page of your iPhone, it should remind you to say it every day.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Category: Reference
Released: March 27, 2009
Publisher: Ronnie Schwartz
Price: Free (get app)

Omer Counter

Jewish iPhone — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:28:04 +0000

The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot are known as the Omer. The days of the Omer are traditionally counted. This app is a tool to help count the Omer by keeping track of the count. Instructions for counting the omer are at NeoHasid.org.

This app is a collaborative work between David Cooper and Rabbi David Seidenberg.

1. The Omer

Every night during the omer we say a blessing for doing a mitzvah and then say the count which leads us from Passover to Shavuot, from the barley harvest to the wheat harvest and, ultimately, to the first offering on Shavuot itself of wheat from the new harvest, in the form of 12 loaves. Long ago, when the omer was counted, wheat from each week would be brought into the Temple and waved as an offering and a prayer that the harvest would come in successfully.

Each day between the beginning of Passover and Shavuot gets counted, forty-nine days in all, seven weeks of seven days. That makes the omer period a miniature version of the Shmitta and Yovel (Jubilee) cycle of seven cycles of seven years. Just as that cycle is one of resetting society’s clock to align ourselves with freedom and with the needs of the land, this cycle too is a chance to align ourselves with the rhythms of spring and the spiritual freedom represented by the Torah.

The omer count starts the evening of each day.

2. Application Details

The Sefirot:

Because there are seven lower Sefirot in Kabbalah associated with days of the week (and probably because of the homonym “sefirah”, which also means counting), there is also a custom to say which Sefirah is connected with that day and that week (e.g. for Lag B’omer, the fifth day of the fifth week is Hod sheb’Hod). In order to visualize this, the Sefirot are drawn on each screen with a dot in the center of the Sefirah for the day, and a blue ring around the Sefirah for the week. This can be viewed in English or Transliterated Hebrew.

There are four screens.

1. The Info Screen:

This screen contains a description of the other screens and features of the omer counter.

2. The Main Screen:

The app opens to this screen. The first line is the number of days of the omer for the night. The second line is the number of days until shavuot. The third line has todays date, and the day and week corresponding to the sefirot for the night. The last line shows the relationship between the sefirot in either English or transliterated Hebrew.

3. The Blessing Screen:

The Blessing screen can be accessed from the Main screen. It displays the blessing in either English or a transliteration of the Hebrew. The blessing is traditionally said in the evening right before counting the omer.

4. The Count Screen:

The Count screen can be accessed from the Blessing screen. It displays the text for counting the omer in either English or a transliteration of the Hebrew. This is traditionally read in the evening immediately after saying the blessing.

Note: The ending of the Hebrew is shown as ‘ba-omer’ which is the Ashkenazi tradition, while ‘la-omer’ is the Sefardi and Chasidic tradition.

Buttons:

The upper button cycles through three views:

Bless – go to the Blessing Screen

Count – go to the Count Screen

Done – go to the Main Screen

The lower buttons are the following:

More – turns on the other buttons.

Less – turns off the other buttons.

Info – go to this screen.

Hebrew – changes the text to transliterated Hebrew

English – changes the text to English

Day – toggles the Day Dialog

Screen Info has 2 additional buttons:

(Main/Bless/Count) – go to the screen of that name.

Top – go to the top of this Screen

Day Dialog:

This allows you to either view tonight, which is the default, or last night in case you didn’t count last night. (The last night screen is for the counting during the daytime, and, traditionally, the blessing is not said.)

Button Donate: goes to a mobile page for making a donation for this app. Donations will go towards maintenance of this app and we will give a portion to Tzedakah.

Customs

There is a custom not to shave or cut our hair during this time. One possible explanation is that the growth of our hair is a prayer with our bodies for the growth of the wheat.

The ending of the Hebrew count is shown as ‘ba-omer’ which is the Ashkenazi tradition, while ‘la-omer’ is the Sefardi and Chasidic tradition.

Rabbi David Seidenberg

The paid and the free version of this app are the same. Buying the paid app is much appreciated!

Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Category: Reference
Released: May 10, 2009
Publisher: David Cooper © 2009 David G. Cooper and Rabbi David M. Seidenberg
Price: $4.99 (buy app)
Price: Free (get app)

iTikun Klali

Jewish iPhone — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:59:22 +0000

The Tikkun HaKlali for iPhone – (Hebrew: תיקון הכללי ‎, lit., “The General [or Comprehensive] Rectification”)

Rabbi Nachman gave the name “General Remedy” – in Hebrew, Tikkun HaKlali – to a selection of Ten Psalms that he recommended for recital as a general spiritual remedy bringing inner purity and joy as well as many other benefits, and in particular as the remedy for a chance emission of seed.

The Ten Psalms are: Psalms 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137 and 150.

With the convenience of the mobility & quality of the iPhone, every one can now enter to “The General Remedy” prayer, whenever needed. It is there for you, well writen & qualified.

תיקון הכללי
סוד ה’ ליראיו ובריתו להודיעה , זה שמו נאה לו
“תיקון כללי”
אחד מגילויו הגדולים של רבי נחמן מברסלב היה ה”תיקון הכללי” הלא הם עשרה מזמורי תהילים שכשהם נאמרים בסדר הזה , כוחם גדול לתיקון הנפש.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Category: Books
Released: March 24, 2010
Publisher: Omer Sade
Price: $0.99 (buy app)

TIKOUN HAKLALI

Jewish iPhone — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:42:33 +0000

The Tikkun HaKlali for iPhone – (Hebrew: תיקון הכללי ‎, lit., “The General [or Comprehensive] Rectification”)

The Ten Psalms are: Psalms 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137 and 150. The Ten Psalms correspond to the Ten Kinds of Song. These ten melodies are the true remedy.

60% of this price is given to a French Jewish organization. Merci.

TIKOUN HAKLALI – Les 10 Psaumes de Rabbi Nahman de Breslev. 60% du prix est reversé à une association religieuse.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Category: Education
Released: February 16, 2010
Publisher: Laurent Moisson
Price: $0.99 (buy app)