GE Appliances, in cooperation with ZMAN Technologies, launched a device this week that allows cooking, warming, and storing food on Shabbat in compliance with Jewish law.
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The two companies have developed a new technology that overrides the usual everyday electrical operation of an appliance making it compliant with the rules of Halachah.
The device, called the Shabbos Keeper, is certified by the Orthodox Union and other leading rabbis. It connects to an oven or a refrigerator to automatically enable Shabbat-compatible modes each week and before every holiday.
The device is preprogrammed through 2050. Once set, it is programmed to automatically enter Shabbat-mode 90 minutes before sunset Friday evening and revert to weekday mode 90 minutes after sunset on Saturday night.
"As a company, we're always looking for ways we can come together to create good things for every home," Vice President of Cooking at GE Appliances Paul Surowiec said. "Thanks to this new technology, we can help even the most observant Orthodox Jews observe their religious beliefs and practices in the kitchen year-round."
Unlike other appliance manufacturers' devices, the Shabbos Keeper allows an oven door to be opened and closed as many times as needed. This feature allows owners to take out some food while keeping other food or courses warm. It also disables the buttons on the appliance and adjusts temperatures automatically.
"I personally certify the technology and oversee the lab testing," Rabbi Tzvi Ortner, who was in charge of halachic supervision, said. "It took years to develop this technology, and all Shabbos Keeper-compatible GE Appliances ovens and refrigerators have been lab-tested, so people can feel confident that the appliances are compliant to the highest halacha standards."
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