Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/708282
18 July 28 • 2016 metro » Minyan Aids Apps can help locate minyans, even rustle up 10 participants. F or observant Jews who travel, finding a local shul for Shacharit or Minchah services can be a challenge, often with some time pressure. "It is much better to pray with a minyan," says Zev Cohen, an Oak Park resident and Yeshiva gradu- ate, who travels often for his real estate company. Finding a min- yan became a lot easier when he discovered the Minyan Maven smartphone applica- tion last year. "When it came out, it was revolutionary," he says. Locations and times are updated regularly, and users can find a nearby minyan by typing in their location and the time, Cohen explains. He has used it in New York, Baltimore and Detroit and finds it extremely helpful. Rabbi Yosi Heber of Oak Park, president of Oxford Hill Partners, a marketing firm, uses GoDaven.com. This website provides a database of Orthodox minyanim worldwide with times and contacts. "You type in the zip code for minyanim for five or 10 miles of where you are on a busi- ness trip and it's 75 to 80 percent accurate," Heber says. "There are new minyans all the time, and GoDaven is much easi- er than using a written directory or a Federation website," he adds. Another app, Minyan Now, enables users to create an imme- diate minyan through software developed by brothers Ronnie and Barry Schwartz of New Jersey, who own Rusty Brick, a web application development firm. "It's designed for ad hoc minyanim," Ronnie Schwartz explains. He used it to create a minyan while vacationing in the Animal Kingdom in Florida over winter break, bringing together more than enough participants for a min- yan. The Minyan Now app tracks the user's location when logged in and will report the number of other users within a 10-mile area so that they can communicate. "When 10 people commit, everyone gets a notice. The notification feature can be turned off," 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. * To find a minyan: GoDaven.com, Minyan Now (www. rustybrick.com) or Google Play, and Minyan Maven at Google Play. Rabbi Aaron Starr Shari S. Cohen | Contributing Writer Ronnie Schwartz Lois Haron Allied Member ASID 248.851.6989 Complete kitchen and bathroom remodeling as well as furniture design and installations including granite, wood and other materials. DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD. It Doesn't Have To Cost A fortune… Only Look Like It! 2111190 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: 0DOHRU)HPDOHDWOHDVW\HDUVRIDJHRUROGHU $FDUULHURIWKH7D\6DFKVGLVHDVHJHQH You will receive $100.00 compensation for your time for the study visit. Are you a carrier of the Tay-Sachs disease gene? To enroll in this research study, please contact: Sabrina Heidenga 734-794-5662 sabrina.heidenga@progenity.com An example of the Minyan Now app