Shabbify automatically closes your Shopify store during Shabbat and Jewish holidays, at sunset-based times you control for your shop’s location. You control what gets blocked, what customers see, and when the store reopens.
This guide covers every feature in the app and how to use it.
What Shabbify does
When your store is closed, Shabbify can:
- Block add to cart — customers cannot add new items
- Block checkout (server-side) — checkout is rejected at Shopify’s checkout step
- Block checkout button — the checkout button on the cart page is disabled
- Block entire site — a full-page overlay with your message and countdown
When your store is open, Shabbify stays invisible to shoppers.
Closure windows are calculated from:
- Weekly Shabbat — candle-lighting / sunset and havdalah / nightfall at your location
- Jewish holidays — auto-generated from the Hebrew calendar (with options to edit or add custom closures)
Quick start
Open Apps → Shabbify → Setup for a step-by-step checklist. The full flow:
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Settings → check that Enable Shabbify is on (it is on for new installs) |
| 2 | Theme editor → App embeds → turn on Shabbify: Core Logic → Save theme |
| 3 | Add a storefront block (Text Banner or Contact Form) via Theme Setup |
| 4 | Home → set location, Shabbat window, and blocking options |
| 5 | Check the checkout card on Home: the Shabbify – Close checkout rule is turned on when you install. If it shows off or missing, click Turn on checkout blocking |
| 6 | Preview the blocks in the theme editor, then check your storefront during the next closure |
Admin pages overview
| Page | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Home | Live open/closed status, blocking behavior, Shabbat settings, manual close |
| Setup | Interactive onboarding checklist with theme editor links |
| Settings | Master on/off switch, Shabbat timing, Klaviyo (if available) |
| Holidays | View, edit, add, or regenerate holiday closure windows |
| Theme Setup | One-click links to enable the app embed and add blocks |
| Events | Activity log for status changes, notifications, and errors |
Settings
Path: Apps → Shabbify → Settings
Enable Shabbify
The master switch. When disabled, your store stays open during Shabbat and holidays regardless of schedule: no storefront closed state, no checkout blocking, and no status emails. New installs start with it on.
Shabbat configuration
Same options as on Home (see Shabbat & zmanim configuration):
- Weekly close mode — when Shabbat closure starts (
candles= before sunset, orchatzos= halachic midday) - Minutes before — how many minutes before candle-lighting to close (default: 18)
- Minutes after — how many minutes after nightfall to reopen (default: 60)
- Location — uses your Shopify store address by default; you can set a custom location if zmanim should be calculated elsewhere
Klaviyo (select installs)
If your shop has Klaviyo integration enabled, enter your API key and Flow ID here to send SMS notifications when the store reopens to shoppers who signed up during closure.
Home — store status & blocking
Path: Apps → Shabbify → Home
Status dashboard
Shows whether your store is currently OPEN or CLOSED, including:
- Next closure or reopening time
- Live countdown
- Reason (e.g., Shabbat, Yom Kippur)
- Time until the next automatic status check
Use Refresh status if the display looks out of date.
Manual close mode
Forces the store closed immediately, independent of the schedule.
When to use it: emergency closures, closing early before a holiday, or any time you need to block purchases outside the automatic schedule.
To return to normal: uncheck Manual close mode and save. The store will follow the automatic schedule again.
Blocking behavior
Choose one or more options (they can be combined):
| Option | What happens |
|---|---|
| Block add to cart | Customers cannot add items to the cart |
| Block checkout | Checkout is blocked server-side (requires checkout rule — see below) |
| Block checkout button | Checkout button on the cart page is disabled |
| Block entire site | Full-page overlay on every page with your message and countdown |
Requires theme embed: add-to-cart blocking, checkout button blocking, and site overlay need Shabbify: Core Logic enabled in your theme.
Block message
The text customers see when the store is closed. Supports dynamic placeholders (see Message placeholders).
Default message:
Checkout is currently not available because the shop is currently closed. It will reopen at [[opentime]].
Set times manually
Opens a modal to set exact closure start and end times instead of computed zmanim. Useful for testing or special one-off closures.
Shabbat & zmanim configuration
Shabbify calculates weekly Shabbat windows using kosher-zmanim at your shop’s coordinates and timezone.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Latitude/longitude for zmanim. Defaults to your Shopify store address. Use custom location if your business follows a different community’s times. |
| Weekly close mode | Candles (Shkiah) — close before sunset; Chatzos — close at halachic midday |
| Minutes before | Offset before candle-lighting to start closure |
| Minutes after | Offset after nightfall to end closure |
| Rest day | Weekly rest day (typically Friday) |
After changing location or minutes, save your settings. Holidays may be regenerated when timing offsets change.
Holidays
Path: Apps → Shabbify → Holidays
Auto-generated holidays
On install, Shabbify generates holiday closure windows for the current year based on your location and timing settings. Supported holidays include:
- Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur
- Succos (first/second days, Chol Hamoed, Hoshana Rabah)
- Pesach (first/second days, Chol Hamoed)
- Shavuos, Purim, Tisha B’Av
- Custom — your own named closure periods
Managing holidays
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| View | See all upcoming holidays in the table |
| Edit | Toggle active/inactive, adjust start/end times, customize per-holiday message |
| Add holiday | Create a fully custom closure period |
| Delete | Remove custom holidays you created |
| Regenerate holidays | Re-fetch from the Hebrew calendar for selected year(s) — use after location or timezone changes |
Holidays are also refreshed automatically on a quarterly schedule (January, April, July, October).
Theme setup (storefront)
Path: Apps → Shabbify → Theme Setup
Required: Shabbify Core Logic (app embed)
Theme editor → App embeds → Shabbify: Core Logic → Enable → Save
This powers:
- Add-to-cart blocking
- Checkout button blocking
- Full-site overlay
- Live status updates from the Shabbify API
Without this embed, blocking and overlays will not work on your storefront.
The Theme Setup page checks your live theme for you: each card shows whether the app embed is on and which Shabbify blocks are added (and where), with a button to turn it on, add it, or edit it in the theme editor. Click Check again after saving in the theme editor.
Preview what shoppers see
Theme Setup → Check what shoppers see shows the text banner, cart warning, contact form or whole-store block as shoppers see them while you're closed. It uses the settings from your live theme, in your admin language, on desktop or mobile, for Shabbat, Yom Tov or a closure by hand. Nothing on your store changes.
Previewing in the theme editor
Every Shabbify block has a Theme editor preview setting:
- Store closed: the block shows in the theme editor as if you were closed, so you can style it any day.
- Live status: the block shows exactly what shoppers see right now.
The text banner defaults to Store closed. The contact form, cart warning and the app embed (the whole-store block) default to Live status, because a popup or overlay would cover the page during everyday theme editing. Set them to Store closed to preview them, or use the preview on the Theme Setup page.
This setting only changes the theme editor. On your live store, blocks appear only while you're closed.
Storefront blocks
Add these in the theme editor (Online Store → Themes → Customize):
Shabbify: Text Banner
A banner with your closure message and live countdown.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Theme editor preview | Store closed (default) or Live status; theme editor only |
| Position | Normal, fixed top, or fixed bottom |
| Colors, padding, typography | Match your theme |
| Message | Richtext with [[opentime]] and [[countdown]] placeholders |
Tip: Place in the header for maximum visibility.
Shabbify: Contact Form
A popup or inline form during closure so shoppers can leave their phone number to be notified when you reopen.
Appears on the live storefront only after you save a Klaviyo API key and Flow ID in Settings. You can always preview it in the theme editor or on the Theme Setup page.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Desktop/mobile display mode | Popup or inline |
| Overlay colors & blur | Customize appearance |
| Form copy | Heading, description, button text, success/error messages |
| Theme editor preview | Live status (default) or Store closed; theme editor only |
Requires Klaviyo setup for SMS delivery (see SMS notifications).
Shabbify: Cart Warning
Injects a closure warning and optional SMS signup into your cart drawer or cart page.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Cart CSS selector | CSS class for your theme’s cart container (e.g. .mini-cart__items) |
| Header, description, phone label | Customize copy |
| Colors | Text, background, header and button colours |
| Theme editor preview | Live status (default) or Store closed; theme editor only |
Replacing older blocks
Older blocks (Shabbify Messaging, Shabbify Klaviyo - HP, Shabbify Klaviyo - Cart) were removed. If your theme still references one of them, replace it in the theme editor:
| Old block | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Shabbify Messaging | Shabbify: Text Banner |
| Shabbify Klaviyo - HP | Shabbify: Contact Form |
| Shabbify Klaviyo - Cart | Shabbify: Cart Warning |
You can also open Apps → Shabbify → Theme Setup for one-click add links.
Checkout blocking
Checkout blocking has two parts:
1. Enable in Shabbify (Home)
Check Block checkout under Blocking behavior and save.
2. Check the Shopify checkout rule
Shabbify adds the Shabbify – Close checkout rule in Shopify and turns it on when you install the app. The checkout card on Home and the setup guide show the rule's real state. If it's ever off or missing, click Turn on checkout blocking there and Shabbify repairs it.
If the button can't turn the rule on (for example, your store already has the maximum number of checkout rules), add it by hand:
- Go to Shopify Admin → Settings → Checkout
- Scroll to Checkout rules
- Click Add rule
- Select Shabbify – Close checkout
- Set the rule to Active
- Click Save
Without this rule, server-side checkout blocking will not work. Client-side checkout button blocking still works via the theme embed.
Checkout banner
When checkout blocking is enabled and the store is closed, a warning banner automatically appears at checkout with your message, reopen time, and countdown. No extra setup is required.
SMS notifications (Klaviyo)
When Klaviyo is configured, shoppers can sign up during closure to receive an SMS when your store reopens.
Setup
- Settings → enter Klaviyo API key and Flow ID → Save
- Add a Contact Form or Cart Warning block to your theme
- Shoppers enter their phone number during closure
- When the store reopens, Shabbify triggers your Klaviyo flow to send the SMS
The Contact Form block stays hidden on the live storefront until both Klaviyo fields are saved.
Requirements
- Klaviyo account with an SMS flow configured
- Contact Form or Cart Warning block on your storefront
- Klaviyo settings visible in Shabbify (available on select app installs)
Message placeholders
Use these in block messages (admin or theme editor):
| Placeholder | Replaced with |
|---|---|
[[opentime]] |
Formatted reopen time (e.g., "Saturday at 8:42 PM") |
[[countdown]] |
Live countdown until the store reopens |
Example:
We are closed for Shabbat and will reopen at [[opentime]]. Time remaining: [[countdown]]
Events log
Path: Apps → Shabbify → Events
A paginated timeline of app activity:
- Store status changes (open ↔ closed)
- Notification signups
- Klaviyo events (if enabled)
- Errors and workflow completions
Useful for auditing and troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting
Store isn’t closing during Shabbat
- Confirm Enable Shabbify is on in Settings
- Check Home — is status showing CLOSED?
- Verify your location and minutes before/after are correct
- Click Refresh status on Home
- On Holidays, confirm the relevant holiday is active
Blocking doesn’t work on the storefront
- Enable Shabbify: Core Logic app embed in the theme editor
- Save the theme
- Confirm the correct block levels are checked on Home
Checkout still works when closed
- Enable Block checkout on Home
- Check the checkout card on Home: the Shabbify – Close checkout rule should show as on. If it shows off or missing, click Turn on checkout blocking (see Checkout blocking)
Banner doesn’t appear
- Add a Text Banner or Contact Form block in the theme editor
- On the live store, banners only show during closure. To check styling, use Theme Setup → Check what shoppers see, or open the theme editor (blocks show as closed there)
- Confirm the app embed is enabled (Theme Setup shows whether it's on)
Wrong reopen/close times
- Check location — zmanim are calculated from coordinates
- Adjust minutes before and minutes after to match your minhag
- On Holidays, edit individual holiday times or Regenerate holidays after location changes
I don’t see closure behavior
- Confirm Enable Shabbify is on in Settings
- Confirm the Shabbify: Core Logic app embed is on in your theme
- Visit the storefront during a closure window (or use manual close mode)
FAQ
Does Shabbify work automatically after install?
Partially. Shabbify is on, holidays are seeded and the checkout rule is turned on at install, but you must complete setup: the theme app embed and your blocking options. The setup guide checks the embed and the rule for you.
Can I close the store outside of Shabbat/holidays?
Yes. Use Manual close mode on Home for immediate closure, or Add holiday on the Holidays page for scheduled custom closures.
Can I keep the store open during a scheduled closure?
Use manual override options in the admin (Manual close mode off, or force-open via support if needed).
What happens if Shabbify’s API is temporarily unavailable?
Storefront extensions read shop metafields and use cached zman data. The app is designed to fail safely and avoid blocking purchases due to transient errors unless you have explicitly configured closure.
Do I need every theme block?
No. Minimum setup:
- Core Logic app embed (required for blocking)
- At least one messaging block (Text Banner recommended)
- Checkout validation rule (required for server-side checkout blocking)
How often does status update?
A background job recalculates status continuously (approximately every minute). Home shows a countdown to the next check.
Can I use Shabbify with multiple themes?
Enable the app embed and add blocks on your live/published theme. Repeat for other themes if you switch themes frequently.
Does Shabbify slow down my storefront?
No. While your store is open, Shabbify adds nothing to your pages: no scripts, no stylesheets, no network requests. The app embed and theme blocks only load their code starting 24 hours before a scheduled closure, during the closure, when you manually close the store, or inside the theme editor.
If you run a speed test (Google PageSpeed, Lighthouse, etc.), run it while the store is open and compare against a run with the app embed turned off. The two should be indistinguishable. If you test during Shabbat or a holiday, the blocking script is active and will show up in the results; that is expected.
Languages
Shabbify's admin, storefront messages, checkout message and emails come in seven languages: English, Hebrew (right to left), Spanish, French, Russian, Portuguese (Brazil) and German. The admin follows your Shopify admin language. Storefront and checkout messages follow each shopper's language where your theme and Shopify provide it; if you write your own message, shoppers see your text as written.
Shopify Sidekick
Sidekick, the assistant in the Shopify admin, can answer questions about Shabbify using your store's own settings and schedule:
| You ask | You get |
|---|---|
| "Is my store closed right now? When does it reopen?" | Current status, the reason, and the next closing and reopening times |
| "What closures are coming up this week?" | Closure windows and holidays for the next few days |
| "Why can customers still check out?" | A check of every condition checkout blocking needs, with a fix link for anything that's off |
| "What's left in my Shabbify setup?" | The setup checklist, including whether the app embed is on in your live theme |
| "What did Shabbify do this week?" | The activity log |
Sidekick can read Shabbify's settings but not change them. To change a setting, it links you to the right page in the app. Nothing to set up: if Sidekick is available on your store, the tools are already there.
Need more help?
Contact Shabbify support through the help widget in the app, or visit your app’s support page on the Shopify App Store.