--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Hebcal Hebrew Calendar" developer_entity: "Michael Radwin" bundle_id: "com.hebcal.HebcalHDate" app_store_id: "1582733315" category: "Reference" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS" app_last_updated: "2023-09-21" report_date: "2026-08-07" last_verified: "2026-08-07T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "1.16.5" total_reviews: 24 overall_rating: 4.3 sentiment: "Mixed" sentiment_score: 45 confidence: "medium" confidence_score: 0.55 top_praise_theme: "Integration with watch faces allows users to view the Hebrew date and Torah portion at a glance" top_complaint_theme: "Users report the app fails to appear on newer watch models despite showing as purchased in the store" review_sample_size: 8 total_review_count: 8 analyzed_review_count: 8 data_age_days: 9 momentum_velocity: "zombie" intelligence_version: 3 tags: ["reference", "free", "mixed sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "jewish", "individuals", "seeking"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/hebcal-hebrew-calendar" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- ## ⚠ Content Warning This report covers topics classified as sensitive (religion). Information is aggregated from public sources for informational purposes only. Information is provided for context only and is not professional advice. --- # Hebcal Hebrew Calendar Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Reference · Free - **Signal**: Rating 4.33 · Sentiment Mixed - **Recent focus**: Users report the app fails to appear on newer watch models despite showing as purchased in the store (top complaint) · Integration with watch faces allows users to view the Hebrew date and Torah portion at a glance (top praise) > **TL;DR:** Hebcal Hebrew Calendar is a reference app by Michael Radwin, rated 4.33/5 by 24 users, with Mixed user sentiment (45/100), available on iOS. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Hebcal Hebrew Calendar shows Mixed sentiment (4.33/5 from 24 reviews) - users praise integration with watch faces allows users to view the hebrew date and torah portion at a glance but report issues with users report the app fails to appear on newer watch models despite showing as purchased in the store. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.33/5 (24 reviews) | | **User Mood** | Mixed | | **Category** | Reference | | **Developer** | Michael Radwin | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS | | **Confidence** | Medium (0.55/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 9d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Michael Radwin - **Category:** Reference - **Target Audience:** Jewish individuals seeking to maintain awareness of religious dates and Torah readings through digital calendar integration. - **Platforms:** iOS - **Version Reviewed:** 1.16.5 - **Report Date:** 2026-08-07 - **Signal Count:** 8 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Medium (0.55/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 1582733315 - **Bundle ID:** com.hebcal.HebcalHDate - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-08-07 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Hebcal is a reference app for Apple Watch that displays Hebrew dates and Torah portions as watch-face complications. **Why users hire it:** Users hire Hebcal for low-friction, glanceable access to religious calendar data that native calendar apps do not provide. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Differentiator] Watch Face Complications:** Displays Hebrew date and weekly Torah portion directly on Apple Watch faces. - **[Differentiator] Transliteration Customization:** Toggles between Sephardic and Ashkenazi transliteration styles. * *User Intent:* Users value self-expression and personalized experiences. ## Market Position {#market-position} Hebcal occupies a specialized reference niche with a 4.3-star rating, but the 1,051-day update gap signals a lack of active market defense. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Completely free service - **Analysis:** The service operates as a non-profit utility funded by donations, prioritizing accessibility over monetization. ## 🟡 User Sentiment (Medium Confidence: 8 of 8 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.33/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.3/5 (24 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Mixed ### Top Praises - **Integration with watch faces allows users to view the Hebrew date and Torah portion at a glance** - **Users find the ability to track multiple yartzeits in one location helpful for their daily religious practice** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Users report the app fails to appear on newer watch models despite showing as purchased in the store** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Watch face complications drive daily glanceable utility **Growth Levers:** - Adding candle lighting times addresses top user request ## Recent Changes (v2 → v3) {#recent-changes} The app's competitive position has declined due to prolonged development silence, with the analysis now framing the product as abandonware rather than a maintained utility. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-08-07 ### High-impact changes - **[Shifted] Abandonware Positioning** (positioning) ### Medium-impact changes - **[Removed] Regional Scheduling Feature Removal** (features) - **[Removed] SWOT Item Consolidation** (swot) ## What's New - **Latest (v1.16.5, 2 years ago):** Fixed transliteration errors for Ha'azinu and Tazria parsha names. ## App Momentum (Zombie) {#momentum} - No updates for 35 months. - Last release September 2023. > **Cadence:** 1 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 1050 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Hebcal Hebrew Calendar is a reference app that is completely free. With a 4.33/5 rating from 24 reviews, it shows mixed user reception. > **Bottom Line:** Hebcal provides high-utility religious data, but the 35-month update silence is causing hardware-related churn, so the PM must prioritize a stability patch to prevent total user loss. **Best for:** Jewish individuals seeking to maintain awareness of religious dates and Torah readings through digital calendar integration. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] Ship stability patch for watchOS compatibility because installation failures are the top complaint → restore install velocity ### Outlook: Declining The app is in a zombie state with no active maintenance since 2023. Without a stability release, the user base will continue to decline as hardware compatibility issues persist. - 🔴 The 35-month development gap causes installation failures on newer hardware, which erodes the user base as they upgrade devices. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.33/5 | | Total Reviews | 24 | | Sentiment | Mixed (45/100) | | Confidence | Medium | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS | | Key Features | 2 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Hebcal Hebrew Calendar** (this app) | 4.33/5 | Mixed | Michael Radwin | | [올어바웃성경](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-allabout-bibleapp) | 5.0/5 | N/A | Gilju Lee | | [Hallow: Prayer & Meditation](https://marlvel.ai/apps/hallow-prayer-meditation) | 4.7/5 | n/a | Hallow, Inc. | | [고려대 한국어 속담 사전](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--428) | N/A/5 | N/A | DaolSoft, Co., Ltd. | | [우리말 의학사전](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--427) | N/A/5 | N/A | DaolSoft, Co., Ltd. | | [공인중개사 용어사전](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--429) | N/A/5 | N/A | DaolSoft, Co., Ltd. | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Michael Radwin - **Website:** [https://www.hebcal.com/home/apple-watch](https://www.hebcal.com/home/apple-watch) - **Social:** [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159225803903830) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hebcal-hebrew-calendar/id1582733315?uo=4) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.hebcal.com/home/apple-watch) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*올어바웃성경*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-allabout-bibleapp) (Gilju Lee) · 5.0/5 Rating - [*Hallow: Prayer & Meditation*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/hallow-prayer-meditation) (Hallow, Inc.) · 4.7/5 Rating - [*고려대 한국어 속담 사전*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--428) (DaolSoft, Co., Ltd.) · N/A Rating - [*우리말 의학사전*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--427) (DaolSoft, Co., Ltd.) · N/A Rating - [*공인중개사 용어사전*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--429) (DaolSoft, Co., Ltd.) · N/A Rating - [*브리태니커 콘사이스 백과사전*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--425) (DaolSoft, Co., Ltd.) · N/A Rating - [*100 Radio Hrvatska (HR) : Vijesti, glazba, Nogomet*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/100-radio-hrvatska-hr-vijesti-glazba-nogomet) (Thomas Gesland) · 1.0/5 Rating - [*100 US Citizenship Test Questions 2017*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/100-us-citizenship-test-questions-2017) (Andrey Fetisov) · 4.7/5 Rating - [*١٠١ پرسیار لە زانستی قورئان*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--952) (Abdulwahab F. Omar) · 5.0/5 Rating - [*112 Bible Maps + Commentaries*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-biblestudypro-112biblemaps) (Sand Apps Inc.) · 3.5/5 Rating ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.55/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 8 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 9 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/hebcal-hebrew-calendar) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.