Strengthening Our Community: Proposal to Launch the IJC App

Over the past years, our community has grown not only in numbers but in activity, creativity, and connection. With that growth has come a familiar challenge: communication. Emails multiply, WhatsApp threads overlap, information gets buried, and it becomes harder than it should be to keep track of what matters.

For that reason, the Board is proposing that IJC adopt its own dedicated mobile application, built on the Donkey Mobile platform. The goal is simple: to bring IJC onto the communication device most of us use every day – our smartphones – in a way that is organised, secure, and fully tailored to our community.

This would not be a generic “Donkey Mobile” app. It would be our own IJC app, with our logo, our identity, and listed under our name in the App Store and Google Play. The app would also be accessible via computer, laptop, or tablet through the web. Whether on a small screen or a large one, the experience would remain seamless and user-friendly.

The vision behind the app is not just convenience. It is about centralising how we communicate, organise, and even collect donations – bringing all of this into one coherent and very secure space.

At the heart of the app would be a “My Synagogue” section, functioning as a shared community timeline for news and announcements. Alongside that, a dynamic group structure would allow for different layers of communication. The whole community could connect through basic and open groups, while smaller teams – the Board, RAC, giur candidates, Hebrew School families, volunteers – could communicate internally within closed groups. The structure allows communication to be targeted and meaningful rather than overwhelming.

One of the strengths of the platform is personalisation. Every member’s app would adapt to their role and involvement within IJC. If you are part of the Board, the giur group, Hebrew School, or a volunteer team, your timeline and agenda would reflect the groups to which you belong. Instead of receiving everything, you receive what is relevant to you. Responses and consultations can happen within the app in a structured way, helping to keep communication organised and reducing unnecessary clutter.

The calendar function would also become significantly clearer. Rather than searching through emails or scrolling back through messages to find event details, members would have one overview of all relevant upcoming activities. The system synchronises in real time with our existing Google Calendar. There would be a general synagogue calendar visible to all, alongside group-specific calendars. Events could be linked, saved, and integrated into personal agendas easily.

Beyond communication and scheduling, the app would strengthen community connection. Members would be able to put names to faces, see who is responsible for what, and learn more about those around them. Privacy remains fully protected within the IJC app environment, and each individual retains control over what appears on their profile.

Perhaps one of the most transformative elements is the integration of donations and tzedakah. Donating would no longer be a separate, external process. Appeals could be shared directly through the app, accompanied by information and updates. Members would be able to donate in just a few clicks. Guests could contribute easily via a QR code or a dedicated responsive webpage connected to the app. Importantly, 100% of what is donated by members through the app would go to IJC’s appeals.

In short, the proposed IJC app would allow us to communicate more clearly, organise more efficiently, and support our synagogue more effectively – all within one secure, community-focused platform. Rabbi Brian informs us that the app is widely used in Dutch liberal communities, especially the Tilburg community where many of the members are 70+. So age is clearly no barrier.

In the coming weeks, we will be organising an information session, inviting feedback and answering questions about this proposal before moving forward. Our intention is not simply to adopt new technology for its own sake, but to strengthen the way we live, learn, and connect as a community.

We look forward to sharing more details soon.

Rabbi Brian & the IJC Board

Note: The last photo is a screenshot from the Liberal Jewish Community of Brabant in Tilburg