See everything Ner Tamid does, from the Jewish community to prayer, the Tanakh and safety.
Ner Tamid (נֵר תָּמִיד, said NAIR tah-MEED) means "eternal light." In the Torah, the Israelites were told to bring pure olive oil so a lamp could burn always in the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:20, Leviticus 24:2). Today a ner tamid hangs above the ark in nearly every synagogue, a light that never goes out.
Ner Tamid the app keeps that light close in your day. It greets you with shalom, reminds you to pray, shows today's zmanim and Shabbat times, opens the whole Tanakh in Hebrew and English, walks you through the Jewish calendar, and helps with everything else in life: money, family, health, work, your home, your car, and any question you have. It is for every Jew, from every stream, and for anyone exploring.
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Choose the times you want to stop and pray each day, for Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv or any time you like. Ner Tamid reminds you with chimes, a gentle chime, or a quiet notification. Change a time whenever you like, or turn a reminder off.
Jewish tradition has three daily prayer services: Shacharit in the morning, Mincha in the afternoon, and Maariv in the evening (see Psalms 55:18 and Daniel 6:11). Each one has a window of time set by sunrise and sunset, and the Zmanim card shows today's halachic times for your city. You choose the reminder times that fit your day.
Times are calculated from sunrise and sunset for your city (GRA method; candle lighting 18 minutes before sunset). Many communities use different customs — follow your rabbi or local synagogue's calendar.
When you pray the Amidah, face toward Jerusalem and the place of the Holy Temple.
The arrow shows the shortest direction from your city to Jerusalem. Many communities in North America simply face east; in Israel, people face Jerusalem, and in Jerusalem, the Temple Mount. If you can't tell the direction, pray with your heart turned toward Jerusalem (Talmud, Berakhot 30a). Hold your phone flat, away from metal.
A short prayer for a safe journey, said when you set out on a trip.
May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, to lead us in peace and guide our steps in peace, to bring us to our destination in life, joy and peace, and to bring us home in peace. Save us from every enemy, ambush and harm along the way. Bless the work of our hands, and let us find grace, kindness and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. Hear our prayer, for You are a God who hears prayer and supplication.
This is a plain-English summary. Most siddurim print the full Hebrew text; read it there, or ask your rabbi about your community's custom.
Write down what you're praying for. Mark a prayer as answered, and look back on the good in your life. Your journal stays only on this device and is never sent anywhere.
(Psalms 145:18)
The Shema is the heart of Jewish prayer. It is said every morning and every evening, and at bedtime. It begins: "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad" — "Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One."
After the first line, many say quietly: "Baruch shem kevod malchuto le'olam va'ed" — "Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever." Many people cover their eyes for the first line, to focus. The full Shema in the siddur has three paragraphs: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41.
The Amidah ("standing prayer") is the central prayer of every service: Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv. It is also called the Shemoneh Esrei ("eighteen"), because it first had 18 blessings; today the weekday Amidah has 19.
It is said standing, feet together, facing Jerusalem, and quietly enough that only you hear your own words, like Hannah's prayer (I Samuel 1:13). It opens with the verse "Adonai, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise" (Psalms 51:17). In a minyan, the leader then repeats it aloud. You may add your own words to any blessing.
The Book of Psalms, Tehillim, has 150 songs for every feeling, from joy to grief to hope. Jews have said Tehillim for thousands of years: for someone who is sick, in hard times, or simply each day. Many communities divide the whole book so it is finished every week or every month.
Modeh ani lefanecha, melech chai vekayam, shehechezarta bi nishmati b'chemlah, rabbah emunatecha.
I give thanks before You, living and eternal King, for You have returned my soul to me with compassion; great is Your faithfulness.
Said right after waking up, even before getting out of bed. It does not contain God's name, so it may be said before washing hands.
Before sleep, many Jews say the Shema once more in bed. It often begins with a short prayer forgiving anyone who hurt us that day, then the first paragraph of the Shema, and the blessing Hamapil, asking God for peaceful sleep. Many siddurim add Psalm 91 and verses such as Psalms 4:9 and Psalms 31:6. Children often learn it as their first prayer.
Before eating bread (Hamotzi): Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Other foods have their own short blessings (for fruit, vegetables, wine, and other foods). After a meal with bread, Jews say Birkat HaMazon, the grace after meals, based on Deuteronomy 8:10: "you shall eat and be satisfied, and bless." A shorter blessing is said after other foods.
Maimonides (the Rambam, 1138–1204) listed 13 core beliefs in his commentary on the Mishnah. They are sung in the song Yigdal and appear in many siddurim as "Ani Ma'amin" ("I believe"). Here they are summarized in plain English.
These principles are widely respected, but Jews and streams of Judaism have understood some of them in different ways over the centuries. Judaism also puts great weight on doing: mitzvot, kindness and study.
Baruch Hashem
Use the counter to keep track of psalms you have said (there are 150), to count the days of the Omer (49 days from the second night of Passover to Shavuot), to aim for 100 blessings a day, or to pray for a list of people one by one. Use whatever helps you pray.
Type your city or town once. Ner Tamid uses it to find synagogues and local classes near you.
Visiting a synagogue for the first time? Most welcome guests warmly. Check service times on their website, and many ask visitors to contact them first for security. Dress modestly. Men may be offered a kippah (head covering) at the door. In many shuls, phones stay off on Shabbat. Don't worry about knowing what to do: just say you're new, and someone will help you find the page.
Get a reminder before services. Choose Saturday morning, or Friday evening for Kabbalat Shabbat. If you don't use your phone on Shabbat, set it to go off before Shabbat begins.
Many synagogues stream their services and classes. Search by synagogue or city, or see what's live right now.
Watching online helps when you're sick, traveling or caring for someone. Orthodox synagogues do not stream on Shabbat or holidays, but many Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist congregations do. Praying with a community in person is a treasured part of Jewish life when you can.
Many synagogues post services and classes online. Pick a date to find recordings from that week.
All Jews share the Torah, the covenant with God, and one people's story. Communities differ in how they practice and understand Jewish law (halacha), and Ner Tamid respects them all.
Communities see some things differently, such as Shabbat practice, kashrut, and the roles of women and men in services. If you're unsure, visit a few synagogues and talk with the rabbi.
Check in each day. Small, steady steps add up.
📖 read · 🙏 prayed. Tap a day to change it.
Missed a day? That's okay. God's kindness is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23). Just start again today.
The English is the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917 (JPS 1917), shown with the Hebrew Masoretic text. Both are in the public domain. Tap any verse to listen, copy, share or ask about it. Translations into other languages are made by AI and are not the sacred text itself.
Start with the passages Jews have treasured for generations. Each one is shown in the JPS 1917 English translation.
A little every day takes you through the whole Tanakh. Pick a plan, read today's chapters, and mark the day as read. Your progress is saved.
Why know them? In Hebrew, a name tells you who someone is. The Tanakh calls God by many names and titles, each showing something about Him: the One who provides (Genesis 22:14), who heals (Exodus 15:26), who is peace (Judges 6:24), and "I Will Be What I Will Be" (Exodus 3:14). (Proverbs 18:10)
Hebrew names are shown in English letters. "LORD" in capitals stands for God's four-letter name, which Jews by tradition do not pronounce. In prayer it is read "Adonai", and in everyday speech many say "Hashem" ("the Name"). Many people also write "G-d" out of respect.
· 5 new questions every day: 2 easy, 2 medium and 1 hard. Every question comes from the Tanakh, and you see the verse reference after you answer.
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Prize: The top 3 members each month win 1 free month of Ner Tamid Premium.
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Points reset on the 1st of every month (UTC).
Sponsor: Next Best Move LLC, 6000 Stewart Pkwy #5852, Douglasville, GA 30154. Contact: khatib@nextbestmovellc.com.
Free to enter. No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win. Paying for Ner Tamid, or for anything else, does not improve your chances of winning.
Who can enter: signed-in Ner Tamid members aged 18 or older whose accounts are in good standing. Banned or suspended accounts are excluded.
Contest period: each calendar month, from 00:00 UTC on the 1st to 23:59 UTC on the last day of the month. Points reset at the start of each month.
How points are earned: 10 points for each correct daily quiz answer, plus a 10-point bonus for a perfect 5 out of 5 (one quiz attempt per day); 2 points for each Community post, up to 5 posts a day; and 15 points for going live, once a day, for lives of 5 minutes or more.
Winners: the 3 members with the most points at the end of the month. Ties are broken by the higher quiz points.
Prize: each winner receives 1 free month of Ner Tamid Premium. The prize has no cash value and cannot be transferred or exchanged. Prizes are awarded within 14 days after the month ends, and winners are notified in the app or by email.
Fair play: Next Best Move LLC may disqualify anyone who cheats, uses more than one account, or breaks the community rules or these rules.
Void where prohibited.
Apple Inc. and Google LLC are not sponsors of this contest and are not involved with it in any way.
"Tanakh" is a Hebrew acronym for its three parts: the Torah (the Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im (the Prophets) and Ketuvim (the Writings). Jews count it as 24 books; English editions split some of them, giving 39. Together they tell the story of God and the Jewish people, and teach how to live. The Oral Torah, gathered in the Mishnah and Talmud, explains and applies it.
New to the Tanakh? Start with Genesis, then the Psalms, or follow the weekly Torah portion with Jews around the world. Even one chapter a day, read slowly, can change how you see your life.
Ask Ner Tamid is part of Ner Tamid Premium. Try it free for 7 days, then $9.99 a month. Cancel anytime.
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Posts, communities, messages, calls and Shidduch are part of Ner Tamid Premium. Try it free for 7 days. Cancel anytime.
Sign in to post, join communities, message people and use Shidduch. The Ner Tamid community is for adults 18 and older.
Join groups for your city, your synagogue, your Torah study and more. Women's groups and men's groups are open only to women or men.
You can message people after they accept your request to connect. Every message, photo and file is checked against the community rules before it is delivered.
Meet Jewish singles who are serious about marriage. Photos stay private until you both accept the connection, and you can include a parent, family member, rabbi or shadchan (matchmaker) in your conversations if you wish.
Meet Jewish singles around the world who want to build a Jewish home, in a way that protects your privacy and your dignity.
Automatic protection: every photo and message is checked before the other person sees it. Anything that breaks these rules is blocked and never delivered. Accounts that post serious violations, or keep breaking the rules, are blocked from the app. One tap reports anyone, and our team reviews every report.
Not sure what to say? Write what you want to say, or the message you received, and Ner Tamid suggests respectful wording. In the phone app, suggestions appear as you type.
Enter your email. We'll send you a 6-digit code. No password needed.
Help the right person find you. Only singles in Shidduch see this.
Songs, niggunim and recordings you upload are saved here so you can share them again any time. Ner Tamid listens to every song and checks the words against the community rules before it is saved. Up to 10 MB each.
Songs, niggunim and recordings you upload are saved here so you can share them again any time. Ner Tamid listens to every song and checks the words against the community rules before it is saved. Up to 10 MB each.
Watch step-by-step videos. Each button opens YouTube results for that topic, so you can pick a teacher you like.
JudaismCheck what you learn from any video with sources you trust, and talk it over with your rabbi. For car work, follow the safety steps in your owner's manual.
The Jewish calendar follows the moon, with a leap month added seven times in every 19 years, so holidays move around on the regular calendar from year to year. Every Jewish day begins at sundown, so a holiday starts the evening before the date shown.
| Year | Passover (first day) | Rosh Hashanah (first day) |
|---|
Dates follow the calendar used outside Israel (the diaspora). In Israel, some holidays are kept for one day instead of two, so a few dates and Torah portions differ. Your own synagogue may follow its own customs.
Rosh Hashanah: the Jewish New Year, in early fall. We hear the shofar, eat apples with honey, and ask God for a good and sweet year.
Yom Kippur: the Day of Atonement, ten days later. A day of fasting, prayer and teshuvah (returning to God and making things right).
Sukkot: a joyful week of eating in a sukkah, a hut with a roof of branches, remembering the journey through the desert. It ends with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, when we finish and start the Torah again.
Hanukkah: eight nights of lights in winter, remembering the Maccabees and the rededication of the Temple.
Tu BiShvat: the new year for trees, often marked by eating fruit and planting trees.
Purim: a happy day remembering the story of Esther. We hear the Megillah, send food gifts to friends, and give to the poor.
Passover (Pesach): in spring, eight days (seven in Israel) remembering the Exodus from Egypt. We hold a Seder and eat matzah instead of bread.
Counting the Omer: starting on the second night of Passover, we count 49 days, one each night, up to Shavuot (Leviticus 23:15–16). Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day, is a day of celebration.
Shavuot: seven weeks after Passover, celebrating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
Tisha B'Av: in summer, a fast day of mourning for the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem.
Count the Omer each night after dark, with the blessing. If you forget for a whole day, many communities say to keep counting on the following nights without the blessing. Customs differ between communities, so ask your rabbi. Every Jew is welcome here, whatever your stream.
Judaism is the faith and way of life of the Jewish people. It rests on a covenant between God and the people of Israel, given at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:6). A person is Jewish by birth or by conversion. Orthodox and Conservative Judaism count Jewish descent through the mother; Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism also accept a child of either Jewish parent who is raised Jewish.
Jews in different streams explain and practice many of these things in their own ways, for example how binding Jewish law (halacha) is today. Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith sum up what many Jews hold, and the Shema is said every morning and evening.
Wherever you are coming from, you are welcome. Maybe you grew up with little Jewish life, maybe you want to come back, or maybe you are thinking about converting. Judaism has always made room for people who choose it, like Ruth, who said to Naomi, (Ruth 1:16).
Modeh ani lefanecha, melech chai v'kayam, shehechezarta bi nishmati b'chemlah, rabbah emunatecha.
I thank You, living and eternal King, for You have kindly given my soul back to me. Great is Your faithfulness.
Many Jews say this the moment they wake up, before anything else. A simple start is enough. God listens to the heart, in Hebrew or in your own words.
When life is heavy, the Tanakh gives words for what you feel, and hope to hold on to. Open the one that fits today. Read it slowly, say it as a prayer, and know you are not alone.
Jewish law teaches that guarding your life and health comes before almost everything else (pikuach nefesh). If you're struggling with your mind or body, please also talk to a doctor or counselor. If you're thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988 in the US (or your local emergency number) right now.
Judaism sees marriage as a holy covenant, called kiddushin (holiness), and a home filled with peace, called shalom bayit. The Torah says, (Genesis 2:24). Here is a simple path many couples follow.
If there is abuse or danger in a relationship, your safety comes first. Reach out to someone you trust, a rabbi, or local help; in the US call 911 in an emergency, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Psalms and traditional songs that Jews have sung for generations, like Adon Olam, Yigdal and Shalom Aleichem. The Psalms are shown in the JPS 1917 translation, and all of these are free for everyone to use.
Modern Jewish songs are protected by copyright, so Ner Tamid doesn't show their words. You can always find them with your synagogue or a licensed music app.
Reminders pop up while Ner Tamid is open. For prayer times, use Prayer → Reminders, which can ring even when Ner Tamid is closed in the Ner Tamid app.
Tzedakah means righteousness: giving is not only kindness but doing what is right. Many Jews follow the custom of ma'aser, giving a tenth (10%) of their income. Use this to plan your giving to your synagogue, to Jewish causes and to people in need.
Giving is personal. Many people figure ma'aser on income after taxes, and customs differ on what counts. If you are in debt or struggling, caring for your own family comes first. For questions of Jewish law (halacha) and practice, ask your rabbi.
Shabbat is a day of rest and joy every week, from Friday before sunset until Saturday night after dark. The Torah says, (Exodus 20:8), and also (Deuteronomy 5:12).
Holidays: major holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the first and last days of Sukkot and Passover, and Shavuot) are kept much like Shabbat, though cooking from an existing flame is allowed on most of them. Hanukkah and Purim are joyful days when work is allowed. See the Jewish calendar for dates.
For questions of Jewish law (halacha) and practice, ask your rabbi.
Kashrut is the set of Jewish food laws from the Torah. Kosher means "fit" or "proper".
Many people take on kashrut step by step. For questions of Jewish law (halacha) and practice, ask your rabbi.
Jewish tradition marks every stage of life with the community around you.
Customs differ between communities and streams. For questions of Jewish law (halacha) and practice, ask your rabbi.
Hebrew has 22 letters and is read from right to left. Most letters are consonants; vowels are small dots and lines (nikkud) under, over or beside the letters.
Final forms: five letters change shape at the end of a word: ך ם ן ף ץ (Kaf, Mem, Nun, Pey, Tzadi).
A dot changes the sound of three letters: בּ is "b" and ב is "v"; כּ is "k" and כ is "ch"; פּ is "p" and פ is "f". A dot on the right of ש makes "sh", and on the left makes "s".
First word to read: שָׁלוֹם, shalom: peace, hello and goodbye.
A short book of the Mishnah full of wisdom from the early rabbis. Many people study a chapter each Shabbat afternoon between Passover and Rosh Hashanah.
These are simple English renderings. Verse numbers differ a little between editions.
A short overview. Early dates follow tradition and scholars' estimates, which differ.
Each button opens Google Maps with places near where you are now.
Share reflections, lessons, recipes, stories and good news with the Ner Tamid community. Posts follow the community rules and are checked before they appear.
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Start or join a Torah study, a minyan, a Shabbat dinner, a Hebrew class or a community event, in person or online, anywhere in the world. Times show in your own time zone.
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Stories from the Tanakh, memory verses and quiz games about the Tanakh and the Jewish holidays. Best enjoyed together with a parent.
This is general information, not legal advice. In an emergency, call 911.
Find jobs hiring immediately near you, plus jobs at synagogues, Jewish schools and Jewish nonprofits.
In the US, employers must reasonably accommodate your observance, such as leaving early on Fridays for Shabbat or taking off Jewish holidays, unless it causes them substantial hardship (Civil Rights Act, Title VII). It's fine to ask about your schedule in an interview.
Find a place to live now. If you walk to synagogue on Shabbat, look for a home within walking distance. The community marketplace, where members post rooms, items and services, is planned for a later update.
These services are planned for later updates and are not available yet. For now, Ner Tamid can give you tips and plans for each one.
Tell Ner Tamid about yourself so its answers fit your life: your work, family, synagogue, goals and interests. Only you can see this.
Reminders, alarms, messages and calls need your permission to alert you.
If something is off, open your phone's settings for this app and turn it on there.
Light or dark mode follows your device setting.
A quick tour of the app. The full guide has pictures of every screen.
See where your family and friends are, and let them see you, only when each person chooses to share. Sharing can be stopped any time.
Prayer reminders, the Tanakh, the Safety button and family locations are always free.
Tell us what to fix, what you love, or what Ner Tamid should do next. Every message is read by the Ner Tamid team.
Your reminders, notes and settings are private to your account. Your prayer journal never leaves this device. Ner Tamid does not sell your data.
Ner Tamid gives general guidance. For medical, legal or money decisions, check with a professional. For questions of Jewish law (halacha) and practice, ask your rabbi. If you are in crisis in the US, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Translations are made by AI and may not be perfect. To read a whole Tanakh chapter in your language, use Translate this chapter in the Tanakh tab.
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Texts them a live map of where you are, and sends an urgent alert to any of them who use Ner Tamid.
Finding your location…
Leave blank to use the usual number for the city you set in Prayer → Synagogue. 112 also works on most mobile phones worldwide.
When you call 911 or 112 from a cell phone, your phone sends your exact location to the dispatcher automatically in most of the US and many other countries. Stay on the line. Ner Tamid can't contact the police by itself.