Sabbath Mode on my New Oven

[Tidybuoy]

I'm installing a new wall oven and I was reading the installation book - I noticed that this oven has "Sabbath Mode". What is that? Does anybody know and why?

Just wondering...

[Zeke]

Wouldn't that be to power it down as per religious belief? I believe it would keep settings as opposed to turning off the breaker.

[masraum]

I'm pretty sure that there's something about Jewish folks not being able to use electricity on the weekends or something like that. Some refrigerators also have a Sabbath mode. They keep your stuff cold. Maybe the light doesn't come on inside too.

We bought a fridge probably 17-20 years ago that had a Sabbath mode. I thought it was interesting and looked it up.

Another thing that I learned about while watching a Real Estate reality show on HGTV years ago is that there are rules that have to be adhered to for a kitchen to be Kosher, which means that a lot of stuff needs to be duplicated.

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4639764/jewish/What-Is-a-Kosher-Kitchen.htm

A kosher kitchen is a kitchen in which food is prepared according to the Jewish kosher dietary laws. Some basic elements of the kosher kitchen:

• Meat and dairy are kept strictly separate.
• Only kosher ingredients are used.
• Any traces of non-kosher have been purged from the kitchen utensils and surfaces before they can be used.
• In a commercial setting, careful watch is maintained to ensure that everything remains kosher.

What Is Kosher?

• Meat and milk are never combined. Separate utensils are used for each, and a waiting period is observed between eating them.
• Certain species of animals (and their eggs and milk) are permitted for consumption, while others are forbidden—notably pork and shellfish. Some fish are also forbidden.
• Meat must come from animals that are slaughtered in a specific (and painless) manner known as shechitah, and parts of the animal (including the blood and certain fats) must be removed in a specific manner.
• Raw fruits, vegetables and grains are basically always kosher, but must be insect-free. Wine and grape juice have unique laws and must be certified kosher.
• Since even a small trace of a non-kosher substance can render a food not kosher, all processed foods require certification by a reliable rabbi or kosher supervision agency.

I never had much/any interaction with anyone Jewish growing up. I'm not sure if I ever met or knew anyone that was Jewish until starting the job that I'm at now, so that means that I would have been in my 40s. And even then, I never really hear anything about it. Most of my knowledge comes from TV or movies or stuff that I've read when curious about things.

[masraum]

Yep
https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/kitchen/what-is-sabbath-mode.html

During the Sabbath or Shabbat, and religious holidays in Judaism, there may be restrictions on certain activities that can extend to the use of appliances. Restrictions may include turning appliances on or off, using control panels or activating lights and sounds.

Sabbath Mode enables the operation of household appliances in compliance with certain Jewish laws. When appliances are put into Sabbath Mode, certain features may be modified or disabled to accommodate these religious practices.
What appliances have a Sabbath Mode?

Sabbath Mode can be found on a number of appliances, including some refrigerators, ovens, ranges and wine refrigerators. Select Whirlpool brand appliances with Sabbath Mode are STAR-K certified. When an appliance is STAR-K certified, it has met certain requirements to be considered Kosher. An appliance with Sabbath Mode can function like a Kosher appliance.

[pavulon]

[herr_oberst]

Actually, it flips a switch that sends a text message to a Shabbos Goy, who can come over and turn the oven on, thereby allowing the Jewish owner of the stove to keep Shabbat.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Actually, it flips a switch that sends a text message to a Shabbos Goy, who can come over and turn the oven on, thereby allowing the Jewish owner of the stove to keep Shabbat.

And submit their invoice.

[rwest]

I worked for a city that had a large Jewish population and there was an issue with them having to pick up a lobby phone to get police help. I did a little bit of research and my basic understanding is that it comes from an ancient idea of not “moving the flame” they can leave lights or appliances on during the sabbath, but can’t turn them on or off.

Motion sensing lights are a bit problematic for them.

We literally put a bell above the ceiling of the dispatch room with a pull cord out in the lobby for them to pull.

They did have reasonable exceptions like if it was an emergency, they could use their phone to call the police, fire or ambulance.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

I never had much/any interaction with anyone Jewish growing up. I'm not sure if I ever met or knew anyone that was Jewish until starting the job that I'm at now, so that means that I would have been in my 40s. And even then, I never really hear anything about it.

My best friend in college is Jewish. I went home with him to visit his family on school breaks on many occasions. They were reformed Jews. I don't know all the rules for the various levels of commitment to the original laws, but they loved their BBQ ribs and bacon. Mrs Sherman's parents escaped Stalin in Russia, and some old family recipes were, um, "interesting." We had tongue sandwiches for lunch one afternoon. It was actually pretty good after I stopped thinking about how I was chewing on a cow's tongue and paid attention to the flavor.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

My best friend in college is Jewish. I went home with him to visit his family on school breaks on many occasions. They were reformed Jews. I don't know all the rules for the various levels of commitment to the original laws, but they loved their BBQ ribs and bacon. Mrs Sherman's parents escaped Stalin in Russia, and some old family recipes were, um, "interesting." We had tongue sandwiches for lunch one afternoon. It was actually pretty good after I stopped thinking about how I was chewing on a cow's tongue and paid attention to the flavor.

I'm guessing that folks that eat ribs and bacon are not terribly concerned with mixing milk and meat.

I had tongue a couple of times when on a boat in the Amazon. It was very tasty. It's the texture that gets me. I'll eat it if it's placed in front of me, but I wouldn't ever ask for it. Maybe in a sandwich the texture wouldn't bother me as much.

[KFC911]

I just learned something new!

.... my appliances have always been heathens

[red-beard]

Is it Black?

[stevej37]

My mother packed our lunches with beef tongue sandwiches at least twice a week...we loved them.
Sliced about 1/4 inch thick with mayo on white bread.

The only bad part was when she cooked the tongue the night before. The boiling water smelled bad.

[look 171]

I thought it would blast black Sabbath's first album as you cook your favorite meal. Haven't heard that or read that, interesting.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

My mother packed our lunches with beef tongue sandwiches at least twice a week...we loved them.
Sliced about 1/4 inch thick with mayo on white bread.

The only bad part was when she cooked the tongue the night before. The boiling water smelled bad.

halitosis!

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

halitosis!

If you have seen where a cow's tongue has been....

After cooking (boiling), the outer skin was always peeled off in one or two pieces and thrown away. It's a very tender meat...and tasty.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Is it Black?

That be sorta Paranoid...

[TimT]

Actually, it flips a switch that sends a text message to a Shabbos Goy, who can come over and turn the oven on, thereby allowing the Jewish owner of the stove to keep Shabbat.

Actually this is pretty accurate.. Me a Protestant (Episcopalian) have some very good friends of mine were raised Conservative Jews.. they strictly observed the sabbath .. It was funny because if I was at there place Friday after sundown, or on Saturday until Sundown.. they would not flip a light switch, answer the phone etc... but since I was Goy I could flip switches answer there phone.. Turn on the guitar amps (my friends are amazing musicians)

I was a Goy who turned the lights, A/C, stove on and off...

Even in the most conservative neighborhoods they have a workaround the, "Eruv"

Its basically an defined boundary agreed to by the community where certain Sabbath rules are waived

Wiki: Eruvim


I know this post was pure religion... but it is just information..

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

If you have seen where a cow's tongue has been....

After cooking (boiling), the outer skin was always peeled off in one or two pieces and thrown away. It's a very tender meat...and tasty.

Yes, super tender and tasty. I would agree.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by TimT

Actually this is pretty accurate.. Me a Protestant (Episcopalian) have some very good friends of mine were raised Conservative Jews.. they strictly observed the sabbath .. It was funny because if I was at there place Friday after sundown, or on Saturday until Sundown.. they would not flip a light switch, answer the phone etc... but since I was Goy I could flip switches answer there phone.. Turn on the guitar amps (my friends are amazing musicians)

I was a Goy who turned the lights, A/C, stove on and off...

Even in the most conservative neighborhoods they have a workaround the, "Eruv"

Its basically an defined boundary agreed to by the community where certain Sabbath rules are waived

Wiki: Eruvim


I know this post was pure religion... but it is just information..

Cool, thanks for the info. Like I said, I have had minimal experience with Jews, so this sort of info is very interesting to me.