LED KippahTodd has an excellent idea, to write this post. How do I use or not use technology when it comes to my religion, Judaism.

There is a lot one can't do on Shabbos, so in order to be efficient with not leaving on lights or the heat, we use technology to aid us without committing a "sin" on the day of rest.

Shabbos Technology:

  • Heat Programmable Thermostats to lower or increase heat at specified times
  • Central A/C Programmable Thermostats
  • Wall timers & Light timers
  • Timer to turn on hot plate for Shabbos day (warms food)
  • Shabbos switch for Alarm (so beams don't go off)
  • Turn off light motion detectors
  • Mechanical door locks so no key is required to carry
  • Crock Pot for cholent (which is a new word added to the Oxford English Dictionary

Online Tools:

  • HebCal, best online hebrew calendar system
  • Mincha.com, a site that has PDFs of prayer services, great for my iPhone, when on the go.
  • My Zmanim, excellent site to look up zmanim (times), since in Judaism, certain tasks need to be done by specific times, this site gives me those times.

Since I am writing this "off the cuff," I am sure I am missing a ton of things. Maybe I'll continue to add to this post as time goes on, if I remember.

Let's not forget the LED Kippah I ordered almost a year ago and never received.

Note, this is a simplified list. There are books and books on this subject. In fact, although it is forbidden to drive a car on Shabbos (for many reasons)... If you must drive for life or death reasons, there is even a proper way to drive the car on Shabbos.