Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 27, 2026

Kesher helps users build Jewish or Christian spiritual habits — including Shabbat or Sabbath rest, prayer reminders, focus blocks, Scripture or Torah content, friend and congregation community, and accountability check-ins. This Privacy Policy explains what information Kesher collects, how it is used, and the choices available to users.

Information We Collect

Kesher may collect the following information depending on which features a user chooses to use:

• Account information, such as name, email address, sign-in provider, Firebase user ID, and account creation or login timestamps.
• Profile information, such as display name, profile photo URL, gender if provided, congregation membership, friend code, friend requests, privacy settings, and app preferences.
• Religious practice and reminder information, such as faith tradition, Shabbat or rest intention text, streaks, tefillin or devotional check-in activity, wake time, bedtime, reminder settings, Screen Time blocking settings, and related local completion status.
• Location information, such as approximate latitude, longitude, city, and timezone, used to calculate Shabbat times, sunrise and sunset windows, and nearby congregations.
• Social and chat information, such as friend relationships, congregation membership, buddy chats, direct messages, group chats, message text, sender name, timestamps, image message URLs, opened status, and saved-by status.
• Photos or images the user chooses to take, upload, send, or save through the app.
• Notification information, such as push notification tokens and notification preferences.
• Local device data, such as cached location, zmanim cache, reminder state, and Screen Time selections stored on the device or in the app group.

How We Use Information

• Create, authenticate, and maintain user accounts.
• Provide Shabbat or rest timing, reminders, prayer prompts, streak tracking, and Screen Time blocking features.
• Support friend, buddy, congregation or church group, chat, and photo-sharing features.
• Send reminders and chat notifications when enabled.
• Calculate sunrise, sunset, Shabbat, and holiday timing based on location and timezone.
• Let users control profile visibility, friend request behavior, and notification preferences.
• Maintain app reliability, prevent abuse, troubleshoot issues, and comply with legal obligations.

Third-Party Services

• Firebase and Google services for authentication, Firestore database, Cloud Storage, push messaging, and related infrastructure.
• Apple services for Apple Sign-In, notifications, Family Controls, Device Activity, Managed Settings, Screen Time, and iOS platform features.
• Google Sign-In for users who choose to sign in with Google.
• HebCal for sunrise, sunset, Shabbat, and zmanim calculations.
• OpenStreetMap Nominatim for city search and geocoding.

Location Data

Kesher uses location to provide local Shabbat times, sunrise and sunset windows for tefillin photo eligibility, and nearby congregation features. Location may be obtained from device location services or from a manually selected city. Users can disable location permissions in device settings.

Photos and Camera

Kesher requests camera and photo library access only for features where users choose to take, upload, send, or save photos, such as tefillin buddy chat. Photos selected or taken by the user may be uploaded to Firebase Storage and shared with intended chat recipients.

Notifications

Kesher may request notification permission to send Shabbat or rest reminders, prayer reminders, buddy check-in notifications, and chat notifications. Users can turn off supported notification preferences in the app and at the device level.

Screen Time and App Blocking

On supported iOS devices, Kesher may use Apple Family Controls, Device Activity, and Managed Settings APIs to support Shabbat, prayer, and personal focus blocking features. App, category, and web domain selections are handled through Apple's Screen Time framework and stored locally on the device or app group where possible.

Sharing

Kesher does not sell personal information. Information may be shared with other users through social features, with service providers that operate app infrastructure, and when required by law.

Data Retention and Deletion

Kesher keeps account and app data while an account is active or as needed to provide the service. Users can delete their account from Settings. Some data may remain for a limited time in backups, logs, messages already shared with others, or records required by law.

User Choices

• Update profile information in Settings.
• Hide streak counts from other users.
• Change friend request behavior.
• Turn chat notifications on or off.
• Control location, camera, photos, notifications, and Screen Time permissions in device settings.
• Delete your account from Settings.

Children's Privacy

Kesher is not intended for children under 13.

Security

Kesher uses Firebase and platform security features to help protect user information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date above will reflect changes.

Contact

For privacy questions or deletion requests, email keshersupport@gmail.com.