File this one under "You Learn Something New Every Day (whether you want to, or not)." Some of you devoted readers (bless your heart, Doreena) may recall my entry about my new refrigerator the husband brought home last year. That's a picture of it, up there, fingerprints and all. I was so excited, because for the first time in my life, I had an ice maker! Well, I gotta tell ya' - it's been a good year. I sure do love having ice all the time. And, I also love that water in the door, but the fridge started hollering about needing a new water filter quite a while ago, and I haven't gotten around to it (Seth just needs to get over it).The ice recently became clogged in the dispenser mechanism, and the husband thought he had it cleaned out. Unfortunately, he did not, so this evening he was beating and banging on the ice holder, again "fixing" it. While I was thinking about it, I Googled the user's manual. The fridge was on clearance, and did not come with the user's manual, but the internet makes that a moot point. Anyway, I downloaded it, and was reading how to use the controls (better late than never, right?), and I reached "Holiday Mode." That was right after the instructions on how to increase ice production, for those especially hot times, I guess, so I figured it was probably related to Thanksgiving and Christmas, and times when all those people at your dinner table need ice. But, it was not. "Holiday Mode", as the manual informs us, is designed for those whose religious observances require turning off the lights and dispensers.
Say what?
Like the Amish? I stupidly wondered. No, that wouldn't be right. They don't use any electricity, at all. I guess. Now that I think about it, I have no idea how they keep food cold. But, that will have to wait for another time, because I have laundry to do. Okay then, what religion requires a "Holiday Mode" on a refrigerator? And, why? Another Google search informed me that my refrigerator's "Holiday Mode" is actually a Sabbath mode. This mode allows someone to keep the Sabbath according to Jewish law. The site, www.allaboutappliances.com explains, "According to the written Torah and Jewish Oral Law, it is forbidden to ignite or extinguish a fire on the Sabbath. Modern day rabbinic authorities explain that electricity is included in this prohibition. Therefore any appliance that is activated by a person’s direct action such as a refrigerator light or fan that turns on when the door is opened is categorically forbidden on the Sabbath."
My refrigerator is kosher.
Well, isn't that interesting? And, one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Of course, that is merely my opinion, but this is my blog, and I am allowed to say that. And, I do. That, my friends, is stupid. Oh, I understand Orthodox Judaism, and keeping the Shabbat, and not writing God's name (G*d), and observing dietary laws, and if that's your religion, hey, more power to you. But, electricity is flowing in the house all the time. Unless the electricity is entirely turned off, it's still there. If the refrigerator is cooling, then there is electricity flowing to it. Activating a light by opening a door is irrelevant! Opening the door is "work." Why would a light not turning on make a whit of difference? It seems to me that if one were to strictly keep the Shabbat, one would not have any electricity flowing, at all. And since lighting a fire is forbidden, one would probably go to bed at sundown on Friday, and fire up the oven at sundown on Saturday.
And, dispense the heck out of that ice!!
Shalom!
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