OU Kosher Presents Shabbos Keeper for Ovens

This past January, OU Kosher—in collaboration with GE Appliances (GEA) and ZMAN Technologies—launched the next phase of Shabbos-permissible cooking appliances with a Shabbos Keeper for ovens.

Over the past two years, Director of OU Kosher Technology Rabbi Tzvi Ortner has worked closely with GEA engineers to develop the ZMAN Technologies Shabbos Keeper for Ovens, which connects to certain models of GEA ovens to automatically enable Shabbos compatible modes each week and before every holiday. The pocket-sized device effectively disables all sensors, alerts, lights, buttons and safety shut off features for the duration of Shabbos and yom tov.

“Increasingly sophisticated appliances have necessitated the need for more complex solutions to keeping Shabbos,” said OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack. “Our partnership with GEA and ZMAN Technologies allows us to support the community far beyond food certification.”

“With our halachic guidance, GEA has become more committed to developing advanced technology that continually raises the bar for Shabbos and holiday observance,” Rabbi Ortner said. “For the first time ever in appliance certification, we now have a full line of ovens and refrigerators that can be used freely on Shabbos and Yom Tov.”

Said OU Kosher COO Rabbi Moshe Elefant, “This collaboration between OU Kosher, ZMAN Technologies and GEA is yet another step forward in the development of software and hardware to help people better prepare for and enjoy Shabbos.”

Consumers seeking to purchase appliances compatible with Shabbos and yom tov are advised to select models certified by a reliable kashrut organization. A list of oven models compatible with the Shabbos Keeper can be found on the ZMAN Technologies website. Consumers who have questions or concerns may contact GEA directly at 1-800-626-2005.

Listen to Rabbi Tzvi Ortner discuss the Shabbos Keeper for Ovens with Nachum Segal on “JM in the AM”: https://bit.ly/3gKPY3P