Reviews

JEDnet Jewish Software reviews.
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Avner and Brachot Touch typing Now!
The Stone Chumash Aleph-Bet Schoolhouse
Noah and the Rainbow Purim Rock
Virtual Shabbat  

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These reviews should help you to discover whether the software:

  1. Will work on your computers
  2. Is suitable for the age-group that you work with
  3. Has the content and functionality that you require
  4. Can be adapted to excellent teacher-pupil use through innovative planning

More detailed reviews

A more detailed review is available by clicking on the "Full Review" link at the bottom of each summary.

Please note:

Full Reviews are only available to AJE members, (individuals and those working for member organisations).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avner & Brachot
Developer Lamigal Publisher Torah Educational Software (TES)
Platforms PC and MAC Minimum Platform requirements

PC Pentium 100 Mhz

Mac PowerPC 100Mhz

Minimal System requirements

· 16MB Ram(32MB recommended)

· Windows 95 or above·

Hebrew or English Windows

Suggested age group 6-12.
The game play, style and content is age appropriate.
Help Avner get home through a series of 3D games that really demand a level of skill. Along the way, learn different brachot for food, why we say them and what we say them on. Great games, great sound and a great child-friendly (but detailed) "Brachot database". A real winner for both pupils and teachers.
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Touch Typing Now!
Developer Publisher TES
Platforms Windows Compatible 95.98,2000,NT4 Minimum Platform requirements

PC Windows 95

Mac Not available

Minimal System requirements 32 MB RAM
Suggested age group None Suggested
This program provides an original way to firmly embed the letters of the Aleph-Bet in an entertaining and tactile manner. In our bi-lingual teaching framework, where letter recognition and use is of primary importance, it might suit the older learner, who is feeling patronised and demoralised by methods more suited to a younger age group. At the same time, able children in younger year groups could benefit enormously from this as an extension exercise, providing computer-guided steps to recognising and using Hebrew letters. The games that accompany the various steps are well designed, fun and of direct benefit to the skills to be mastered at each level.Teachers could also benefit greatly from increased English and Hebrew touch-typing skills as more and more plans and resources are produced at the keyboard.
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The Stone Chumash
Developer Artscroll Publisher TES
Platforms PC and MAC Minimum Platform requirements

PC Windows 3.1

Mac System 7

Minimal System requirements None Listed
Suggested age group None Suggested
Torah meets the twenty-first century head on in a fantastic fusion of technology and text.The Stone Chumash CD-ROM edition includes some of the most powerful and user-friendly learning tools, which could be made a useful, exciting and motivating part of an individual Chumash lesson, syllabus or an entire school spiral curriculum. It creates opportunities for all levels and its ready-made functions provide for all pupils, including those with special needs, at both high and low ability ends of the spectrum and those who are very able but who find accessing the material and relaying responses difficult in regular classroom circumstances. This is a tool for student and scholar alike but, for teachers who are prepared to think a little creatively, would open a new experience and understanding of Limmud Torah. Ignore it at your peril.
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Aleph-Bet SchoolHouse
Developer
Davka
Publisher
Davka
Platforms
PC and MAC
Minimum Platform requirements

PC Windows 3.1

Mac System 7

Minimal System requirements

Screen setting should be at 640x480 pixels.

Suggested age group
JEDnet suggests 3-11yrs
This program will make you want to forget the Aleph-Bet, just so you can have more fun learning it second time round. Aleph-Bet Schoolhouse takes us on a fun-packed journey from learning our Hebrew letters, through combining them with vowels into syllables and words, to using basic rules of Hebrew grammar. If you think that can't possibly be fun. Think again! Every level has a good game and the harder the lesson the more support you are given, through easily accessible rules to learn and review. An optional soundtrack at every stage keeps the player entertained, occupied and on task. This is a must-have program for anyone teaching youngsters (or the young at heart) how to read and understand.
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Noah and the Rainbow

Author

Developer

Based on the book by Shoshana Lepon

Impact PLUS

Publisher
Davka
Platforms
Minimum Platform requirements

 

Minimal System requirements

Screen setting should be at 640x480 pixels.

Suggested age group
JEDnet suggests 3-8yrs

This exciting animated version of the Flood includes a rhyming narration, hidden picture elements to explore, games based on the story and additional information giving more detail, according to the midrash. Matching the traditional storyline with some modern humour, Noah and the Rainbow is relevant and accessible to all.

"RRRRRing RRRRRing……You have reached the home of Noah. I'm not home at the moment, but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you as soon as we reach dry land!"

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Purim Rock

Developer

Scopus Films/JEMM

Publisher
JEMM
Platforms
Windows & Mac
Minimum Platform requirements

PC Windows 95/98

MAC Powermac/iMac

Minimal System requirements
  • 16 MB RAM
  • Double-speed CD-ROM
  • 8-bit sound cardQuicktime 3
Suggested age group
JEDnet suggests 5 Yrs and upwards
This rock-opera version of the Purim story has lyrics and music to rival any Disney Film. The people who brought you the "Interactive Hagaddah" and "Who stole Chanukah" just found out that clay can sing. The CD, which runs in either Hebrew or English, also includes games involving the characters from the show, to help revise the story and a full Megillah reading with clickable text for commentaries and explanations. Move over Joseph! There's a new show in town.
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Virtual Shabbat

Developer

Goldwatch Interactive

Publisher
National Jewish Outreach Program
Platforms
Windows & Mac
Minimum Platform requirements

PC Windows 3.1

MAC

Minimal System requirements
  • Sound Card
  • 1MB of video RAM
  • 24 speed CD-ROM or faster
Suggested age group
JEDnet suggests 5 Yrs and upwards
Virtual Shabbat guides us through the dining room, kitchen and Shul of a family who really know how to do Shabbat. These explorable areas hide a wealth of information, music and song, for you to discover. Learn Kiddush and Zemirot around the Shabbat table, discover how the Kosher kitchen runs and transforms for Shabbat and investigate the Shul, hearing lots of the beautiful Shabbat tunes used around the world, every seven days.
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