What's New
Latest: 8 Adar 5786
New English Translation
The English translation has been switched to the highly readable translation by Yosef Marcus, published by Kehot Publication Society (via Chabad.org).
10 Languages Supported
Two new languages have been added: German and Greek. The app now supports Hebrew, English, Spanish, Russian, French, Portuguese, Italian, Hungarian, German, and Greek.
Broadcaster Defaults for Followers
When a broadcaster configures settings like font size, language, and translation mode, those preferences are saved as defaults for anyone who joins the session. Followers can still adjust their own settings after joining.
Sync Toggle Confirmation
When a follower taps the sync button to follow or unfollow the broadcaster, a brief confirmation message now appears letting them know what happened.
Person Name Highlighting
Names of people (Achashverosh, Esther, Mordechai, Haman, etc.) are now subtly highlighted in the English translation across all 10 chapters.
Side-by-Side Default for English
Non-Hebrew languages now default to side-by-side mode (Hebrew + translation) instead of Hebrew only, so new users immediately see translations without needing to change settings.
Improved Follower Scrolling
Scroll syncing for followers has been refined — verses are now centered in the viewport when the broadcaster highlights them, providing a smoother and more natural reading experience.
Live Session Broadcasting
Note: Several bugs with live sessions reported yesterday have been fixed. If you experienced issues, please try again.
Readers can now create a live session and share a 6-digit code with their audience. Followers join with the code and see the reader's scroll position, highlighted verses, and word-by-word tracking in real time.
The broadcaster's settings work in two ways:
- Reading time — the broadcaster sets an estimate of how long the reading will take (in minutes). Based on this and how far you've scrolled, a progress bar at the top shows viewers the estimated time remaining. Only the broadcaster can set or change this. This updates in real time.
- Haman highlighting mode — whether all Hamans or only titled ones are highlighted is controlled by the broadcaster and updates for followers in real time.
- Language, translation mode, font size — these are saved as defaults for new joiners. Followers who are already in the session are not affected and can set their own preferences.
- Custom subtitle and announcement — any custom header text or announcement area content set by the broadcaster is saved and shown to anyone who joins the session.
How to use
- Go to /live and create a session — all you need is a password.
- Once broadcasting, configure your settings (language, Haman mode, etc.). All settings are saved and will be there when you come back later.
- Set the reading time by tapping the clock icon in the toolbar. Enter your estimated reading duration in minutes (e.g. 30 for a typical reading). The progress bar will then show viewers how much time is left based on your scroll position.
- Share the 6-digit code (or QR link) with your audience.
- Followers open /live and enter the code to follow along.
Sessions don't expire — you can set up a session once and reuse it for all your readings (night and day, year after year). Your settings will be saved. You only need multiple sessions if you have several readings happening at the same time.
About your password: Choose something simple and easy to remember, like "purim" or "megillah". There is no "forgot password" feature — we don't collect emails or any personal information, so there's no way to recover a lost password. The password is only used to identify you as the session admin. Don't reuse a password you use for email, banking, or other accounts — passwords are stored as plain text and are not encrypted.
Tracking Modes
Broadcasters can choose how much detail to share with followers:
- Scroll only — followers see your scroll position.
- Verse highlighting (recommended) — verses you tap are highlighted for viewers.
- Word highlighting — individual words you tap or drag over are highlighted.
Note: Verse highlighting is the most accurate mode — when you tap a verse, the system knows exactly which verse to scroll to for your followers. Word highlighting depends on touch precision, which can be less reliable on mobile devices.
Translation Display Modes
Three ways to view translations:
- Hebrew Only — the original text without translation.
- Side-by-Side — Hebrew and translation displayed in two columns (non-Hebrew languages).
- Translation Only — hides the Hebrew and shows only the translation.
How to use
Open the settings menu and find the translation selector. Choose your preferred mode from the three options.
Editable Header Subtitle
Session broadcasters can customize the subtitle shown at the top of the page. Add custom text and an optional link — perfect for synagogue names, sponsor messages, or event info.
How to use
While broadcasting, click the pencil icon next to the subtitle. Enter your text and optional URL, then save. Your custom subtitle will be shown to anyone who joins the session.
Editable Announcement Area
Broadcasters can replace the default "click Haman's name" hint with a custom announcement using a rich text editor. Add formatted text, links, lists, and more. For example, you can use this spot to add links for Matanos La'evyonim or any other announcements.
How to use
While broadcasting, click the pencil icon next to the hint text. A rich text editor will open where you can format your announcement. Click Save to apply it for anyone who joins the session, or Reset to restore the default message.
Transliteration for Loud Verses
For English readers, verses traditionally read aloud by the congregation now include transliteration boxes showing the pronunciation in Latin characters. This covers the four "loud" verses as well as the Bnei Haman section (9:6–9:10).
Follower Sync Controls
Followers can now toggle sync on and off. When sync is on, scrolling and highlighting follow the broadcaster. Turn it off to browse freely, and turn it back on to jump back to the broadcaster's position.
8 Languages (Initial Launch)
The app launched with Hebrew, English, Spanish, Russian, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Hungarian. German and Greek were added later (see above).
Inline Illustrations
Optional illustrations can be displayed between verses, bringing the story to life. Toggle them on or off from the settings menu.
This feature is still in development — more illustrations will be added over time.
Database Upgrade
The database powering live sessions has been upgraded from the free tier to 4 GB memory and a 2-core CPU, which should provide a much smoother experience for live broadcasts.
Connection Troubleshooting
Having trouble creating or joining a live session? Visit /debug to check if your browser can reach the required services. The page tests connectivity and provides troubleshooting tips if something is blocked.