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Keep Current - Feature Article
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| BEAM ME UP! September-26-2001
URSULA WAYNE
For thousands of years, the question, "Do you accept the
Torah?" has meant just that - do you believe in the Torah? Now, thanks to high
tech advances, this same question has taken on an another meaning - one that is
far more practical than religious/ philosophical. Utilizing free software from
Pilotyid.com, a site aimed toward "the Jewish Piloteer," Palm OS users can now
literally send each other the Torah. |
Rabbi Elliot Baskin of Congregation Beth Evergreen explained, "The beaming
function of the Palm Pilot is really amazing. You can send the whole Torah.
After you beam it to them, it asks, "Do you accept the Torah?" To get it, they
have to say, "Yes." I love that!"
Baskin, a Palm enthusiast for years,
has found that the programs in the Pilotyid "Tzedakahware" program (where users
are encouraged to download for free and then give tzedakah) have transformed his
life. "Yesterday, I even did the Viddui on my Palm," he said.
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The site, started by Ari Engel when he was a Computer Science student at Yeshiva
University in 1998, also includes kosher restaurant listings, the Hebrew
calendar, local synagogue lists, holidays, virtual dredle and an Omer program.
The site’s "Avant Go" feature allows users to download copies of international
newspapers. "It lets you read everything from Ha’Aretz to the New York Times,"
Baskin stated.
"All of my Rabbi friends use it," Baskin enthused, "We
were just at the CAJE conference and we were all beaming each other different
programs. It was great!" With all of his Palm programs backed up on his PC and
laptop, Baskin never worries about accessing important information. "It makes
you so much more efficient. It’s transformed my life as a rabbi, enabling me to
be a cyberrebbe," he said.
These days, even Baskin’s kids are getting
into the act. With Jewish games and programs for kids, Baskin’s six and a half
year old son Jonah loves playing with his dad’s "toy" as much as he does. "It’s
fun!" he said, proving that you don’t have to be a Rabbi - or even an adult - to
enjoy being a Jewish Piloteer.
**Anyone can download the Jewish
calendar, Psalms, Jewish games and more... GO CHECK IT OUT! **
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For Palm and Visor users:
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For Pocket PC users:
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