FarshteyRead a sicha in Yiddish, and understand it.
Tap any word to see what it means right here. Then play the same passage without translations, until you can read it on your own.
Also for Windows · iPhone coming later
- Free
- No ads, no sign-up
- No notifications on Shabbos and Yom Tov
Every passage in two steps
The sicha is divided into short passages. First you study a passage with translations, then you test yourself on the same passage.
Study
Read the passage. Every word is marked. Tap one to see its meaning in this context, with its dictionary form. You can also open the translation of the whole sentence.
Play
The same passage, without translations. Choose what each word means here, build points and a streak, and finish with a comprehension question.
The next passage opens
Earn up to three stars per passage. Play another round on the words you haven’t been asked yet, or move on.
One sicha, from beginning to end
The goal is concrete: read the sicha of Shabbos Parshas Bereishis 5752 in the original and understand it. The path goes through it section by section, passage by passage. The daily goal is one passage.
- 24
- passages
- 10
- sections
- 5,300
- words, all translated
Learn every day, and Shabbos stays Shabbos
Shabbos and Yom Tov
No notifications or reminders on Shabbos and Yom Tov, based on your city’s times. Your streak counts study days and never breaks on Shabbos or Yom Tov.
No tracking
No ads, no sign-up and no data collection. Your progress stays on your device.
English or Hebrew
The interface and translations come in both languages. The sicha itself is always right-to-left, in large, comfortable type.
Gentle sounds
Kalimba and wood, and a tune that builds with every correct answer in a row. You can turn them off.
Dark mode
Study at night without the glare. The app follows your phone’s setting.
About the translations
Every word in the sicha is translated, including phrases and in-context meanings. Some translations are still drafts, and language reviewers are going through them. Until a translation is reviewed, the app marks it with this label, so you always know what has been checked.
Before you start
Do I need to know Yiddish?
No. If you can read Hebrew letters, you can start. Every word is translated into English, and words from Lashon Hakodesh are marked as such.
Is there an iPhone app?
Not yet. An iPhone app is coming later. Meanwhile you can study in the browser and add the app to your home screen with Share → Add to Home Screen.
How do I install it on Windows?
Download the zip file, extract it to a folder and run farshtey.exe. The first time, Windows may warn that the app is unrecognized: click “More info”, then “Run anyway”.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The app is free, with no ads and no in-app purchases.
What about Shabbos?
There are no notifications or reminders on Shabbos and Yom Tov. The app knows when they are from the city you choose, and your streak doesn’t break on them.
How much time does it take?
The daily goal is one passage: a study session and a short game. If you want more, go on to the next passage or play another round on the same one.
What comes after this sicha?
More sichos, and later listening too: understanding sichos and farbrengens by ear.
The first passage is waiting.
A few minutes a day, passage after passage, until you read the sicha without translations.