A wooden board covered in pins and paper notes has stopped working as a synagogue's central communication channel. Prayer times change every week, Yahrzeit memorials shift according to the Hebrew calendar, and that important notice you hung up on Sunday — by Wednesday, nobody's reading it anymore. A digital screen solves exactly these problems: content that updates itself, is easy to read, and looks professional. The question is how to choose correctly — and there are a lot of decisions along the way.
In this article we'll cover every aspect: types of screens, the hardware that runs them, the content worth displaying, installation, maintenance, and costs — both one-time and monthly. At the end, we'll give you 5 simple questions to ask before you spend a single shekel.
Screen types — TV / Tablet / Monitor — pros and cons
The first decision is which type of physical screen to buy. Each one has a scenario where it's the right choice.
| Type | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart TV | Large (43"-65"), relatively cheap, clear from a distance | 5-7 year lifespan, power consumption | Main sanctuary |
| Monitor | Sharper at a small size, reliable | Small and relatively expensive for its size | Hallway, entrance |
| Tablet | Compact, has a battery | Small screen, battery wears down | Small synagogue / board room |
The most common choice is a 50"-55" Smart TV. It looks professional, is visible from every corner of the sanctuary, and is relatively cheap — buy a model for ₪1,500-₪2,500 and you're set. Avoid the very cheapest TVs: they usually don't support a stable 24/7 HDMI input.
Hardware — Fire Stick / Android TV / Chromecast / Raspberry Pi
The TV alone isn't enough. You need something to run on it — a small computer that streams the content. Four main options:
- Amazon Fire TV Stick (₪200-₪350): The most popular option. Plug it into HDMI, install the app, and it works. Easy to update, power-efficient, and comes with a built-in remote.
- Android TV Box (₪250-₪500): Similar to the Fire Stick but more flexible. For those who want to work with open apps.
- Google Chromecast (₪200-₪400): Great for streaming from a phone, but not user-friendly for automatically launching an app.
- Raspberry Pi (₪400-₪600): A "geek" solution — for those who want full control. Requires someone technical in the community to set it up.
For most synagogues, a Fire TV Stick is the right choice. It's cheap, reliable, and works right out of the box. Read the guide to connecting a screen for the first time.
Make sure there's stable WiFi where you'll mount the screen. Weak WiFi means a screen that freezes. In locations with poor reception, it's worth adding a nearby access point.
Content — what does the community want to see?
An empty screen that just says "Hello" is a waste of money. The community will actually look at the screen if it shows relevant content. Here are the components every good screen should include:
- Clock and Hebrew + Gregorian date: The basics. Always displayed.
- Today's prayer times: Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv — with a countdown to the next one.
- Halachic times of day: Netz (sunrise), the latest time for Shema, chatzot (midday), plag hamincha, tzeit hakochavim (nightfall).
- The weekly Parasha: The name of the Parasha and a short verse.
- Today's Yahrzeit memorials: Names of the deceased whose memorial date falls today.
- Community announcements: Memorial services, events, notices — editable from your phone.
- Candle lighting + Havdalah times (on Friday): A must.
- Donation campaign: If there's an active campaign, a progress bar encourages the community.
Installation — how long does it take? What do you need?
A proper installation takes between one and two hours, and includes:
- Mounting the TV on the wall (a standard VESA arm — ₪100-₪200).
- Running a nearby power outlet — or hiding a long cable.
- Connecting the Fire Stick to HDMI.
- Connecting to the synagogue's WiFi.
- Installing the app and linking the screen to the synagogue in the control panel.
If you don't have anyone technical in the community, a local electrician will do the installation for ₪400-₪700. It's worth the money — an improperly connected HDMI cable can cause the screen to disconnect every couple of days.
Maintenance — automatic vs. manual updates
A critical topic that gets overlooked in a lot of price quotes. Ask any vendor these questions:
- Do prayer times update automatically according to the Hebrew calendar, or do they need to be updated manually?
- Does the screen keep working even when the WiFi drops for an hour?
- How do you update the content? An app? A website? A call to support?
- What happens if the screen turns off — does it come back automatically when the power returns?
With Beita, content updates automatically — there's no need to physically touch the screen. Most Gabbaim simply open the control panel from their phone once a week, update announcements, and it's reflected on the screen within seconds.
Costs — hardware + software (one-time + monthly)
A transparent breakdown of first-year costs:
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50" TV | ₪1,500-₪2,500 | One-time |
| Fire TV Stick | ₪200-₪350 | One-time |
| VESA wall arm | ₪100-₪200 | One-time |
| Installation | ₪400-₪700 | Optional |
| Content software (Beita) | ₪99-₪199/month | Monthly expense |
Total for the first year: ₪3,500-₪5,500. Following years: just the software — ₪1,200-₪2,400 per year. See all plans on the pricing page.
5 questions to ask before you buy
- Do prayer times update automatically? "No" means you'll waste 30 minutes a week.
- Does the screen work on Shabbat too? This includes halachic questions — and technical ones too (automatic shutoff / Shabbat mode).
- What support will you get if something stops working? Phone? Email? In your language? At night?
- Can you edit the content from your phone, or only from a computer? That's the difference between a screen you'll actually use on a Sunday, and one you'll stop updating.
- What happens if you want to switch content providers in two years? Can the hardware run other providers, or are you locked in?
Ready for a digital screen in your synagogue?
Beita streams to any screen with HDMI — a Fire Stick starting at ₪200. No proprietary hardware required.
Learn about the digital screen Start your free 30 daysSwitching from a manual board to a digital screen isn't just modernization — it saves the Gabbai hours every week, and it upgrades the community's experience too. A budget of ₪3,000-₪5,000 upfront plus ₪100-₪200 a month is a worthwhile investment, especially if it replaces weekly printouts, arranging notes, and hours of manual updating. The key: choose a solution that updates itself, is stable 24/7, and has support in your language.