Shas Chabura – Personalised mobile solution for the Talmudo Byado Study Program

01 The Challenge

The journey of learning Judaism is one that takes patience, dedication, and a lot of heart. It’s a path where each step is meaningful as you dig into the traditions, laws, and values that define Jewish life.

Talmudo Byado is built to guide you through the Talmud, page by page, so you don’t just read the text but engage with it, questioning, debating, and learning to apply its lessons. It’s not about memorising alone but genuinely understanding the reasons behind the laws, and the philosophy woven into each line.

In reaching the milestone of Shas, a written record of the discussions held by Rabbis, there is a feeling of accomplishment and an awareness that learning never stops. Each cycle through the Talmud reveals new insights as you bring fresh experiences and perspectives to the text.

So, our Client cherished the idea of creating a solution that would support people and guide them through the study of Torah, the core text in Jewish tradition, outlining daily study requirements in a structured way.

The Client sought to develop a program for memorising Jewish sacred text and provide structure for students, addressing the common challenge of balancing learning with daily responsibilities. Traditionally, learning Torah is an arduous, years-long journey requiring dedication and discipline. Shas Chabura needed a way to help users break this journey into manageable daily tasks without introducing additional headaches to their study routine.

Altamira team worked closely with the Client to refine the concept, tailoring the app’s flow and features to suit the varying paces and goals of the community. The Client was also actively involved throughout the development phases, from initial brainstorming and feature mapping to prototype reviews and final testing.

In our turn, Altamira brought a mix of educational technology expertise and project management focus, guiding the technical direction of a high-utility application that was also intuitive for users of all backgrounds.

In the process, our team faced some challenges related to user engagement and notifications; notifications needed to encourage users without becoming annoying. As a result, we successfully implemented a notification management system where users could easily adjust their settings to suit their needs.

02 The Solution

Altamira’s development team created a mobile app that offers users a daily checklist with personalised study tasks.

Key features

• Customised learning plans: Users can select their preferred study program (e.g., Daf Yomi or Amud Yomi), and the app calculates daily tasks based on that choice.

• Dynamic task tracker: Each day, users see what they need to study or review, with a checklist to track their completion. Users can postpone tasks if required, with the system recalculating future schedules accordingly.

• Progress tracking and calendar: A progress bar and calendar view allow users to see completed sections and upcoming tasks, providing a clear view of their journey through Shas.

• Motivational rewards system: Users receive virtual rewards for consistency and milestones achieved, with a dashboard displaying earned trophies and study accomplishments.

• Notification management: Local notifications remind users of daily tasks, and a customisable notification centre allows users to control frequency and timing.

• Data backup and syncing: Data is backed up using Firebase for Android users and iCloud for iOS, ensuring consistent access and data recovery.

• Support and community sharing: Users can share their progress with others, building up a sense of community and accountability and contact support for app-related issues.

Design

The Shas Chabura app design is minimalist and focused on clarity, featuring a clean and calming teal colour scheme. The layout prioritises easy navigation and visual cues to help users quickly understand their progress in the Shas study program.

Dashboard with progress indicators: The main dashboard displays key metrics such as the number of masechtos (books) and dafim (pages) completed and the percentage of Shas completed. This simple layout helps users stay motivated by tracking tangible milestones.

Achievement cards: Below the progress indicators, users can see their achievements as cards with icons and completion dates. Each card shows a specific accomplishment, such as completing a seder (section) or masechta, with a “Share” button to allow users to celebrate their progress with others.

Simple navigation: The app uses a navigation bar with simple menu items to easily access the main features. This approach minimises distractions, allowing users to quickly find what they need.

Typography and iconography: The typography is clear and consistent, with icons that facilitate understanding without clutter. These elements guide users intuitively, creating a user-friendly experience tailored to a broad audience.

When creating the app design, our team kept in mind the user learning journey by providing a structured, visually engaging interfaces that keep them informed and motivated without overwhelming them with clutter elements.

03 The Result

Altamira team delivered a fully customisable mobile app – Shas Chabura, that transformed a challenging educational task into an achievable, rewarding experience through intuitive design and tailored functionality. This app continues to support and motivate Shas Chabura’s users as they work toward their study goals, one page at a time.

• Consistency and discipline: The checklist feature has encouraged users to maintain a daily habit, reducing drop-off rates compared to traditional, unscheduled study.

• Progress visualisation: The app’s calendar and progress tracking have provided users with a clear sense of accomplishment, encouraging sustained engagement.

• Increased motivation: The rewards system, along with the ability to share achievements, has fostered motivation within the community, creating positive reinforcement without requiring external incentives.

• User-controlled engagement: The customisable notification system allows users to maintain engagement at a level they find helpful, balancing study reminders with personal schedules.