Frankfurt’s Jewish community has become the first in Germany to launch an app to help combat antisemitism by alerting users to potential security threats.

After three years of research and development, and closely studying apps used by various churches, the Jewish community has now unveiled its app, which serves both its members and the general public.

It also has a protected area where members can exchange ideas “without fear”.

Benjamin Graumann, head of Frankfurt Jewish community’s digitalisation department, said the app is a vital tool for community engagement, offering updates on events and fostering member connections.

“We can no longer reach all members via Facebook and letters,” he said.

“It is the first app from a Jewish community in Germany. That's why we didn't have a blueprint, which was a challenge. But now I’m very happy.

“We also plan to train app-savvy seniors in our retirement home.”

The app allows users to buy tickets for plays, check the dates of Jewish holidays, or find Jewish daycare centres and kosher restaurants.

It also includes a bulletin board for new members to find everything from babysitters to new friends.

Future plans include making the app multilingual and adding features like document-sharing and chat functions.

The Jewish community of Frankfurt has almost 7,000 members, making it one of the four largest in Germany.

It is hoped the app will be a blueprint for the 95,000 members of Jewish communities nationwide, which operate under the umbrella organisation of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.

In the aftermath of the recent Hamas attack in Israel, many Israelis sought safety and assistance within the Frankfurt community, which has also provided refuge for many Ukrainian refugees.

Its “Shuk Maidan” online marketplace, initially for Ukrainians, now offers expanded support.