A gift from Mitzvah House
Reach more people. Inspire more good deeds.
Petach is the simple system we use to reach as many people as possible and connect them to more mitzvahs and good deeds. It worked for us, so we're giving it to you. Free, and fully yours.
For any organization or community that wants to bring more good into the world.
Why we're sharing it
Petach means "opening".
Every person we meet is a whole world, and every good deed counts. Keeping track of everyone, their families, their simchas, the last time we called, is a lot to hold in your head.
So at Mitzvah House, a Chabad center in Atlanta, we built a simple tool for ourselves. It helped us stay close to more people and see more mitzvahs done. We think it can do the same for you.
It's our gift: your own copy, in your own accounts, to use and change however you like.
With love, Mitzvah House
What it does
Everything you need, nothing you don't
Petach keeps it simple on purpose. Big buttons, plain words, and it works on your phone.
People and families
Everyone you know in one calm place: households, kids, birthdays, yahrzeits, notes, and the last time you were in touch.
Your daily five
Each day it suggests a few people to reach out to, so nobody quietly falls through the cracks. Tick them off as you go.
Map and routes
See your community on a map and plan a short route for mezuzah checks, holiday deliveries or visits.
Giving and receipts
Record donations and pledges, see who gave and when, and make thank-you letters and tax receipts.
Events
Keep your programs and who came, so you can invite the right people next time.
Write to a group from the same place you keep your people. Sending needs a free email account, and the guide shows you how.
How it works
Three steps, and it's yours
Request access
Fill in the short form below. It takes two minutes.
We set you up
We read every request, set up your access by hand, and email you when it's ready.
Make it yours
Follow our simple guide. About 30 minutes on a computer, no tech skills needed. Then it's yours forever.
Request access
Ask for your copy
Tell us a little about you and your work. We'll set you up and email you the next steps.
Thank you.
We got it. We'll set up your access and email you the next steps soon.
Want a hand?
Get Tab, a helper you text
Tab is a digital assistant that works for you over text. It can walk you through setting up Petach, and help with flyers, emails and the rest of your to-do list.
Get TabQuestions
Good to know
Is it really free?
Yes. Petach is a gift. There's no price, no subscription and no license key. It runs on the free plans of three services (GitHub, Vercel and Supabase), so for most organizations it costs nothing to run.
Where does my data live?
In your own accounts, never ours. Your copy runs on your own GitHub, Vercel and Supabase accounts. Mitzvah House can't see your people, your donations or anything else you put in.
Do I need to be technical?
No. The guide is written in plain language, one small step at a time, with a picture for each step. Most people finish in about 30 minutes. If you get stuck, the guide has a section for the usual hiccups.
Will it get updates?
No updates are pushed to your copy. It's yours, exactly as you received it, and nothing changes unless you change it. If you want something different, you (or your own Tab, or a developer you trust) can change it however you like.
Why do I need to request it?
We set up each new copy by hand, so we can make sure it goes smoothly. Fill in the short form and we'll email you the guide as soon as your access is ready.
Why do you ask for a GitHub username?
GitHub is where your copy of the code lives. We use your username to give you access to it. If you don't have one yet, make a free account at github.com/signup. It takes a minute.
Who can request it?
Any organization, community or person who wants to reach more people and help them do more good.
Is there support?
Petach is shared as it is. The guide is the support, and it covers the common questions. We're a small community organization, not a software company, so we can't promise more than that. We'd love to hear how it goes.
Can I bring my existing contacts?
Yes. You can add people one by one, or bring them in from a spreadsheet.
Support us
If Petach helps you
Petach is free and always will be. If you'd like to give back, here's how.
Partner with us
Want to help us share Petach with more organizations, or work on it together? We'd love to talk.
Email us