# Shemanu — Privacy Policy
Effective date: June 25, 2026
Last updated: June 25, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how VNV Hospitality LLC ("Shemanu," "we," "us," or "our"), the provider of the Shemanu mobile application and related services (collectively, the "App"), collects, uses, and shares your information.
By creating an account or using the App, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
> Plain-language summary: Shemanu is a Jewish prayer, learning, and pronunciation app. To make it work we collect your account details, the preferences you choose (including your prayer tradition), your learning progress, and — only when you actively use those features — microphone audio and camera images and your approximate location. We use trusted service providers like Google Firebase and Google's Gemini AI to operate the App. We do not sell your personal information. You can delete your account and data from within the App.
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## 1. Who we are
The App is provided by VNV Hospitality LLC, located in Texas, United States.
For any privacy questions or requests, contact us at: sarah@shemanu.com.
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## 2. Information we collect
### 2.1 Information you provide
- Account information. When you create an account or sign in, we collect your email address and, depending on the method you choose, your name. If you sign in with Apple, Apple may provide a private relay email address instead of your real email. If you sign in with Google, we receive basic profile information (name, email, profile photo) that you authorize Google to share.
- Profile and preferences. Your selected prayer tradition (e.g., Ashkenazi or Sephardic), learning pace, tutor sensitivity settings, reminder preferences, and similar in-app settings.
- Journal and reflection content. Text (and, where you choose to record it, voice) you enter into journaling features such as Kol Kavanah.
- Support communications. Information you provide when you contact us.
### 2.2 Information collected through your use of features
- Microphone audio (pronunciation tutor & voice journaling). When you use the Pronunciation Tutor or voice features, the App accesses your microphone. Audio is used for on-device speech recognition and, to generate pronunciation feedback and scoring, audio and/or transcripts may be sent to our AI provider (Google Gemini). See Section 4. We use voice recordings only to provide these features; we do not create a biometric identifier or "voiceprint" from your voice and do not use voice recordings to identify you.
- Camera images (Siddur Scanner). When you scan prayer text from a physical siddur, the App accesses your camera to capture and process images of Hebrew text.
- Location. With your permission, we use your approximate location to calculate candle-lighting and Shabbat times. Location data may be sent to a third-party calendar service (Hebcal) to retrieve times for your area.
- Learning activity. Tutor session results, prayer progress, streaks, and similar learning data.
- Subscription and purchase information. If you purchase Shemanu Pro, we receive confirmation of your subscription status. Payments are processed by the applicable app store or payment processor; we do not store full payment card numbers. We may store limited, non-sensitive subscription metadata (such as plan type, renewal status, and a card's last four digits where applicable).
### 2.3 Information collected automatically
- Usage and analytics data. We use Google Firebase Analytics to understand how the App is used (e.g., screens viewed, features used, session length).
- Device and log data. Device model, operating system version, app version, language/region, crash and diagnostic data, and identifiers used by our service providers.
### 2.4 Sensitive information
Some information you provide is considered sensitive under certain laws, including:
- Religious beliefs/affiliation (your prayer tradition and your use of a religious app), and
- Voice recordings (biometric/audio data in some jurisdictions).
We process this information to provide the core features of the App and rely on your consent (which you provide by choosing these features) where consent is required. You may withdraw consent by discontinuing use of the relevant feature or deleting your account.
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## 3. How we use information
We use information to:
- Create and manage your account and authenticate you;
- Provide and personalize prayers, learning content, traditions, and guidance;
- Provide pronunciation feedback, scoring, and AI-generated insights (e.g., gematria analysis, coaching notes);
- Calculate candle-lighting/Shabbat times and deliver reminders and notifications you enable;
- Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the App;
- Process and manage Shemanu Pro subscriptions and enforce free-tier limits;
- Respond to support requests and communicate with you about the App;
- Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, and technical issues;
- Comply with legal obligations.
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## 4. AI features and third-party processing
Certain features rely on Google's Gemini / Generative Language API to generate pronunciation scoring, gematria analysis, and coaching notes. To provide these features, we send relevant inputs (such as the prayer text being practiced and, for pronunciation, your audio recording and/or its transcript) to Google for processing. We instruct our providers to process this data only to provide the requested feature.
Prayer texts are retrieved from the Sefaria API, and Shabbat/candle-lighting times are retrieved from Hebcal. Requests to these services generally include the prayer reference or location needed to return a result, not your account identity.
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## 5. How we share information
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as follows:
- Service providers / subprocessors who perform services on our behalf, including:
- Google Firebase (authentication, database/Firestore, analytics, cloud functions, hosting),
- Google Gemini / Generative Language API (AI features),
- Sefaria (prayer text content),
- Hebcal (Shabbat/holiday times),
- Apple and Google (sign-in and, for purchases, app-store billing).
- Legal and safety. When required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of users, the public, or Shemanu.
- Business transfers. In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to this Privacy Policy.
- With your direction or consent.
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## 6. Data retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the App. When you delete your account, we delete or de-identify your personal information within a reasonable period, except where we must retain it to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements. Aggregated or de-identified data that cannot reasonably identify you may be retained.
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## 7. Your choices and rights
- Account deletion. You can delete your account and associated personal data from within the App (Subscription & Billing → account actions). Deleting the App alone does not delete your account.
- Permissions. You can enable or disable microphone, camera, location, and notification permissions at any time in your device settings. Some features will not function without the relevant permission.
- Access, correction, deletion, portability. Depending on your location (e.g., the EEA/UK under GDPR, or California under the CCPA/CPRA), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or port your personal information, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact sarah@shemanu.com. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.
- Marketing communications. Where applicable, you can opt out of non-essential communications.
If you are in the EEA/UK, our legal bases for processing are: performance of a contract (providing the App), consent (e.g., sensitive data, microphone/camera/location, optional notifications), legitimate interests (securing and improving the App), and legal obligation.
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## 8. Children's privacy
The App is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
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## 9. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures (including those provided by Google Firebase) to protect your information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
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## 10. International data transfers
We and our service providers may process and store information in the United States and other countries that may have different data-protection laws than your own. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for such transfers.
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## 11. Third-party links and services
The App relies on and may link to third-party services (e.g., Sefaria, Hebcal, Google, Apple). Their use of your information is governed by their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.
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## 12. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will update the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice in the App. Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes acceptance.
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## 13. Contact us
VNV Hospitality LLC
Email: sarah@shemanu.com
United States