Kosher phone texting for shuls works. With one catch.

Plain text messages reach any kosher phone set to talk and text. Talk-only phones can't get texts at all, so you call those members instead. Text most of the kehilla, call the rest, and nobody misses the Yom Tov schedule.

Pricing and features checked November 2026. Vendors change this stuff, so check their sites before you sign up.

The short answer

• Talk-and-text kosher phones get regular SMS. Pictures and links are where it gets shaky.
• Talk-only kosher phones can't receive texts. Period. A phone call is the only way in.
• The fix is a tool that does both from one list. Texts for most members, a voice call for the ones who can't text.

I built Evant with this in mind. It works on every phone, including basic, flip, and kosher phones. Members don't download anything. And voice calls are on every plan at 1.5¢ a minute.

Can kosher phones even get text messages?

Some can. Some can't. It depends on how the phone was set up.

Take one popular kosher flip phone, the Kazuna eTalk sold by Kosher Cell. It ships in three versions. Talk Only blocks text and internet. Talk with Media blocks text and internet too. Talk and Text blocks the internet, but texting works. And the setting can't be changed later.

Same phone. Three different answers.

US Mobile's guide to kosher phone plans says it plainly: "Some standards allow plain texts and some don't." It mentions filters like TAG and Techloq. Which standard your members follow is up to their rav, not up to your texting software.

So here's my point. You don't get to pick what phone your members carry. You only get to pick a tool that reaches all of them.

How to text shul members on kosher phones without losing anyone

This is the part most texting guides skip, because they assume everyone has an iPhone.

1. Keep it plain text

No pictures. No flyers. A kosher phone that allows texts may still block picture messages. Write the time, the place, and the ask. That's it.

2. Don't depend on links

A link needs the internet. Most kosher phones don't have it. So a "click here to RSVP" text is a dead end for a big chunk of your shul.

Ask for a reply instead. "Kiddush this Shabbos. Reply YES if you're coming." They reply. You get a headcount. No form. No link. No login. I wrote more about how RSVP texts work if you want the long version.

3. Call the talk-only members

This is the one people forget. A talk-only phone will never see your text, no matter how good it is.

With Evant you can text the list and call the members who can't text, from the same account. At 1.5¢ a minute, one-minute calls to 100 members cost $1.50. Not per campaign. Per minute.

4. Use one number they can save

Every Evant account gets a dedicated 10-digit phone number. Members save it once as "Shul" and they know who's texting.

5. Get registered

Any group mass texting in the US needs A2P 10DLC registration, or carriers start filtering your messages. Evant handles the registration for you. Here's my full A2P 10DLC guide for shuls and nonprofits, plus a few tips on keeping texts out of the spam pile.

Kosher phone texting for shuls: the tools compared

I'll be straight with you. Evant isn't the only option, and for some shuls it's not the right one.

Where ShulCloud wins

If your shul already runs on ShulCloud, their SMS add-on is built into ShulCloud's email module. One login. That's worth something. Their help center lists it at $35 a month for 2,000 messages, 150 characters per text, US only. Extra messages are 650 for $10. Unused credits expire at the end of the month.

Short texts are fine for kosher phones anyway. But I don't see voice calls or reply-to-RSVP in that article, so ask them before you count on it.

Where Text-Em-All wins

Voice broadcasts are their thing, and they're good at it. Text-Em-All's pricing starts at $19 a month for up to 50 contacts, or you buy credits from 9¢ each that never expire. One credit covers a 30-second voice message or a 160-character text.

If your shul mostly sends one recorded announcement to everyone, that's a solid fit. The monthly price climbs with your contact count though. 501 to 750 contacts runs $199 a month.

Where Evant wins

Plans start at $20 a month. You get two-way texting, reply YES to RSVP, keyword triggers, scheduled and targeted messages, and voice calls on every plan. Every customer also gets a customizable Stripe donation page at no extra charge. Free email too.

For the smartphone crowd, giving is easy. Send a text. They tap the link. They give. Done. Here's how that works when you collect donations and RSVPs in one text. For the kosher phone members, stick to replies and calls. The link won't open for them, and I'd rather tell you that now than have you find out on Purim.

A sample week of shul texts

Here's what a week can look like when half your members carry flip phones.

• Sunday: Text the whole list. "Shiur Tuesday 8pm in the beis medrash. Reply YES to save a seat."
• Wednesday: Targeted text to the kiddush committee only.
• Thursday: Scheduled text with Shabbos zmanim, plain text, no picture.
• Friday morning: Short voice call to talk-only members with the same zmanim.

Notice the Friday call. That's the step that gets the 70-year-old with the talk-only flip phone to show up. Everybody else got the text on Thursday.

Want a broader look at the tools out there? I ranked them in the best SMS platforms for Jewish organizations, and covered the bigger picture in this guide to synagogue management software.

So what's the best way to text a shul full of kosher phones?

Plain texts for anyone who can get them. Replies instead of links. A phone call for the talk-only crowd. All from one list, one number, one bill.

That's what I built Evant to do. It's simple enough that a 5 year old could use it. I know because I am very simple myself.

👉 Start your free trial. No credit card.

FAQ

Can kosher phones receive text messages?

It depends on the phone's setting. Some kosher flip phones come in a talk-and-text version where plain texts work and the internet is blocked. Talk-only versions block texting completely, so those members need a phone call instead.

How do I reach shul members who have talk-only kosher phones?

Call them. A talk-only phone can't get a text, but it can always get a call. With Evant, voice calls are on every plan at 1.5¢ a minute, so you can text most of the kehilla and call the rest from the same place.

Do links in a text work on a kosher phone?

Usually not. Most kosher phones block the internet, so a link has nowhere to open. Ask kosher phone members to reply to the text instead, for example reply YES to RSVP.

How much does ShulCloud SMS cost?

ShulCloud's help center lists its SMS service at $35 a month for 2,000 messages, with 150 characters per text. Extra messages are 650 credits for $10, and unused credits expire at the end of the month.