Doni Schwartz and his business partner Daniel Kramer started the no. 1 Passover program website in the world, PassoverListings.com. Now, the two have launched a similar site called My Jewish Listings, which is the self-proclaimed Yelp and TripAdvisor for the Jewish business world.
The site contains listings and customer reviews for Jewish non-profits, consumer products, finance and law firms, media and entertainment, healthcare and service-based businesses and restaurants throughout the United States (and of course, a travel directory of Passover and holiday programs around the world). In the first two weeks of the site’s launch, Schwartz said that 375 businesses were added and 7,000 Jewish consumers visited it.
“We made the site to foster the growth of Jewish businesses during COVID and always,” he said in a phone interview with the Journal. “You can give back as a local or national Jewish consumer.” The goal is to encourage Jewish consumers to give their business to fellow Jews and provide them with feedback.
The goal is to encourage Jewish consumers to give their business to fellow Jews and provide them with feedback.
“When you’re on the site and you want to look for a Jewish accountant in Los Angeles or a real estate agent, you can go in, look at photos, videos, pricing and reviews, and submit your inquiry,” said Schwartz. “The Jewish business owner can read that and call you. We make that shidduch possible. You’re staying within your Jewish network on one site and really supporting the local Jewish market.”
Business owners can create headlines like “Best Jewish accountant in LA” and put their address, phone number, website, a description of their business, pictures, a Q&A section, company hours, a price range, coupons and a contact form. They can see how many people visit their page and the types of leads they’re getting on the back end; they can update their page any time they want.
According to Schwartz, Jewish business owners pay a fraction of the cost what they spend to advertise on other platforms. “We’re not charging an arm and a leg, and we’re providing a very good package. You can boost your business and get it out there. People can see who you really are.”
Additionally, he said that the reviews will be a good marketing tool for these owners. “People don’t realize how important reviews are for your business. Having a one stop shop, where people can see everything about your business, is crucial.”
Now that Schwartz and Kramer have taken on Yelp and TripAdvisor, they’re now preparing to offer Jewish consumers a completely kosher version of Postmates called Kosher GPS. The app is launching this April.
“You will be able to place an order and help out the Jewish community,” Schwartz said. “The restaurant industry is struggling because apps like Postmates charge 20% to 30% in transaction fees. We’re not charging a single cent on the transaction fee side. There’s a big benefit to the consumer and the businesses.”
Kosher GPS users will be able to search for restaurants by location and cuisine and see reviews from other customers. They can also access promotions and deals that the restaurants are offering.
The ultimate goal with both ventures, Schwartz said, is to expand his site and app to the global market so they can help out more Jewish business owners and consumers.
“My Jewish Listings provides online referrals people can trust,” he said. “We hope business owners experience growth. We hope that more people use their service or product and the businesses flourish.”
Kylie Ora Lobell is a writer for the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, The Forward, Tablet Magazine, Aish, and Chabad.org and the author of the first children’s book for the children of Jewish converts, “Jewish Just Like You.”
