We live in a digital world where people rely on technology for many aspects of everyday life. For some that includes Torah study. TorahApp, a recently launched all-in-one Torah tool, provides an opportunity for Torah learning that isn’t confined to a specific environment. You can listen to shiurim or read sefarim during the commute to work, taking a walk or just relaxing at home, and with so many options to choose from, TorahApp is well suited for the casual Torah learner or the more advanced and rigorous Torah scholar.
Behind this innovative creation is Josh Herzberg, a software engineer who dabbles in Torah tech and understands the importance of optimizing time. TorahApp, along with its unique features, makes Torah study convenient for people on the go who might otherwise struggle to incorporate learning into their daily routines. Complete with a smart siddur, commentaries, thousands of sefarim and over 500,000 shiurim, many from YUTorah and OUTorah, Herzberg has created a valuable one-stop-shop to find everything Torah.
Herzberg explained that Sefaria offers users an extensive library of open texts, translations and links, and other apps offer an abundance of recorded shiurim. With TorahApp, he put it all together, creating a simple way to open a sefer and find all related shiurim that you can binge listen to. The app comes with daily learning calendars and a tikkun mode for practicing leining. It also offers users the ability to open multiple tabs, which for many is a feature that improves the learning experience. Additionally, TorahApp was developed with rabbinic guidance, specifically targeting its content to an Orthodox audience.
For those with limited internet access, the app also has offline features, allowing users to continue their learning. This capability is especially convenient for travel in the subway, airplane, or in one’s beit midrash, ensuring Torah study remains uninterrupted.
TorahApp has garnered excellent feedback from users who say the accessibility has transformed their Torah study. One user said, “I love how easy it makes the ability to learn Torah literally right at your fingertips. I can learn a chapter and get lectures about it at the same time. Of course, I can get to the primary sources and the commentaries and try to understand in Hebrew or be able to see the English translation.”
Another user pointed out the convenience of listening to a Daf Yomi shiur and simply opening the commentaries the magid shiur is referencing that seamlessly appear alongside the text. These nuances, he said, really distinguish TorahApp from other online platforms he has used in the past.
Since Herzberg originally built TorahApp for his personal use, he didn’t need any funding to create it and recommends people send donations to the original content creators (OU, YU, Sefaria, etc.) it’s built upon. The only contribution he wants is sharing the app with friends and family, facilitating Torah learning.
Herzberg is confident the app will enhance people’s connection to Torah study. “We are the first generation to record all of Torah to audio/video, and I’m hoping TorahApp enables people to easily leverage that in a systematic manner.” With regular updates and new features being added, users can always expect the latest advancements in Torah study technology. Best of all, TorahApp is free to download for Apple, Android and the web, making it accessible to a wide audience.”
For more information visit www.thetorahapp.org or on Instagram @TorahApp. For questions or comments email Herzberg at [email protected] or visit thetorahapp.org;
apps.apple.com/us/app/torahapp/id6470222031; or play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thetorahapp.thetorahapp.
Andrea Nissel is a staff writer at The Jewish Link.
