As we pray for rain in our Holy Land, my personal deluge has come in the form of having to replace several major household appliances almost at once. The oven, fridge, and air conditioner that had served us well for 15 years all went belly-up within a six-month period. Financially challenging, yes – but also technologically terrifying. Just as I was getting comfortable setting the Shabbos mode on my new oven, it was time to order a new fridge. From my preliminary research, I learned that some refrigerators now come with a Shabbos mode setting, too.
“I highly recommend the GE with the Shabbos Keeper attachment made by Zman Technologies,” advised a frum salesman at Baltimore’s newly-opened Town Appliance store. “It’s programmed according to your location to automatically put the fridge in Shabbos mode an hour-and-a-half before every Shabbos and Yom Tov – and will turn off the Shabbos mode an hour-and-a-half after Shabbos/Yom Tov – for the next 30 years!”
Ha, I mused. That’s probably twice as long as the life of the fridge itself. I felt like a character in a Jewish science fiction short story as I imagined not having to remember to push that little button. I recall all-too-vividly from living in Israel and having a Shabbos-mode setting on the fridge that forgetting means not being able to open (or, possibly worse, close!) the door until Shabbos/Yom Tov is over. I was skeptical about this being so simple, but the fridge was the right size and price (and would match the recently purchased oven) so I signed on the dotted line and handed over my credit card information.
Fridge installed on Tuesday. Frum salesman hand-delivers Shabbos Keeper on Wednesday. We program it immediately. Friday afternoon arrives and…nothing.
“Maybe the clock is off by a bit; let’s wait a little longer,” I said to my husband. Almost Shabbos. Husband leaves to shul. And still, nothing. Fortunately, the fridge instructions were clear about how to set the Shabbos mode manually. I did, and all was well.
Called frum salesman on Monday and said, “It didn’t work.”
“Not possible,” he replied. “Are you sure you programmed it at least 24 hours before Shabbos?” Check. “Try it again this week. It will work.”
Fast forward to Friday. Same scenario. Frustration mounting. Called Mayeer on Monday (yes, we’re on a first-name basis now). “I would like to request a replacement or a refund,” I stated, sans smile.
His response: “What is your indication that it’s not working?”
“My indication?! The lights stayed on!” Duh. (The entire notion of having a light on in the fridge was contrary to my earliest childhood memories of refrigerators in the first place. Who ever heard of a fridge light in a Torah observant home? The very first thing one did after installing a new fridge was unscrew the bulb and toss it away forever.)
“Mrs. Galkin,” Mayeer calmly cooed. (I guess the first-name basis was one sided.) “With the Shabbos Keeper attachment, the lights stay on.” WHAT? “The lighting is LED so it doesn’t heat up the fridge. It might be a bit dimmer than usual but your lights will stay on.”
I was floored and incredulous at the same time. But that Friday, I stood in awe and humility as my Shabbos Keeper box brightened my kitchen with its Shabbos candlesticks icon. I opened the door and was able to see the Shabbos delicacies all the way back to the hummus container in the far-left corner. Of course, always being able to see what’s in the back of the fridge has its pros and cons. But overall, it’s been great, and I recommend it highly.
Now, I pen this piece as a public service announcement: If you ever see the fridge light on in someone’s home on Shabbos, don’t panic, as one of our guests did. (“Do I tell them on Shabbos and then they won’t be able to open the fridge, or is it better to let them sin beshogeig?”) How relieved she was when I just happened to show her my new toy. Just assume that there’s a Shabbos Keeper at work.
I am not being paid by GE or Town Appliance to push the product, but I will take this opportunity to say a good word about the excellent customer service I received from Mayeer and the rest of the gang at Town Appliance. When your fridge, oven, dishwasher, etc. needs replacing, give Mayeer a call at 410-364-4400, ext. 2205.
In this Chanuka season and these dark winter months, may you always be able to see the light – in your life and in your fridge!
