Modern fridges have gone from just being somewhere you store your food to having all kinds of additions, whether it’s a Bluetooth connection or a water dispenser. And if you look through your refrigerator manual, you may see all sorts of modes that you weren’t even aware of.
One Brit, who recently had a new fridge installed, took to Facebook after reading through their manual to discover that it had something called ‘Sabbath Mode.’ They wrote: “Had a new integrated fridge fitted today. The installer handed me the instructions (which I read as I am quite fond of an instruction manual) and saw this – Sabbath mode. Does this mean my fridge will not work and my milk will go sour on the Sabbath day, regardless of my religion?”
Others were quick to explain the meaning of this mode to the confused fridge-owner, with one writing: “Sabbath-observant Jew here.
“The idea is to be able to use the appliance without triggering any electrical components, as igniting/extinguishing fire is forbidden to Jews on the Sabbath according to Torah law, and according to traditional interpretation, electricity is fire.”
Another added: “It makes it ‘safe’ for orthodox Jewish people to use by ensuring the light doesn’t turn on when you open the door.
“They are forbidden from turning in and off lights as it’s considered a form of work (creating and extinguishing fire) the fridge stays cold, but all displays and lights will stop working when Sabbath mode is engaged.”
How does ‘Sabbath Mode’ work?
Keeping the light off may be the key aspect of Sabbath Mode; some models of refrigerators take extra steps to ensure the appliance remains safe for those observing the Sabbath.
Opening the door can trigger the compressor to start cooling down the fridge once more, while Sabbath Mode ensures that this cycle won’t be activated.
Similarly, there are a number of other aspects of the fridge that will be turned off when this mode is activated, including touchscreens, alarms, water coolers, and icemakers.