Can you open an oven door on Shabbos? How does one properly use the Shabbos-mode on a refrigerator to bypass the internal light and disable the icemaker? What warming drawer model is accepted by most rabbis? These are but a few of the complex concerns that kosher customers of today’s technologically advanced appliances face, according to Mr. Motty Gross, CEO of Brooklyn-based AJ Madsion, a large appliance retailer with nationwide sales. Mr. Gross and a team of rabbis recently met with experts at the Star-K Kosher Certification in Baltimore, under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, where they discussed several issues related to the advances made by many appliance brands for the Orthodox consumer. The Star-K certifies many of these appliances. AJ Madison has invested considerable resources to research the impact on kosher consumers of features offered by major brands to attract kosher consumers.
Following a series of consultations with leading Halakhic authorities including Rabbi Cheskel Strasser and Rabbi Zvi Ortner, AJ Madison has undertaken a massive campaign to educate the religious consumer about Shabbos and Yom Tov mode kitchen appliances. The educational campaign will include a website and informational pamphlets, in addition to seminars and demonstrations, addressing many of the issues relating to Shabbos and Holiday-mode appliances.
“While the Shabbos-mode option is available on many different appliance models, it is not always well understood by consumers, said Mr. Gross. “As a business that is built on customer service, we have a responsibility to educate Shabbos-observant customers to properly understand the technological features, as they relate to Shabbos and Yom Tov use, on appliance models. We want them to have sufficient information on the appliances they are considering before consulting with a competent rabbinic authority and ultimately purchasing the products. As an appliance retailer and an observant Jew, I felt the need and responsibility to advocate on behalf of the Shomer Shabbos consumer.”
Mr. Gross, a well-known community activist, will be traveling to several major appliance brands such as General Electric and Whirlpool, to spearhead a compliance campaign on behalf of the Shabbos observant community. Mr. Gross commented that “our plan is to get every appliance manufacturer to implement improved Shabbos-mode functions on all their technologically advanced products as a new standard in their production of appliances.” Mr. Gross feels that he has a unique opportunity to help the Shabbos-observing community to combine state-of-the-art products with cutting-edge technology to help them observe Shabbos better.
As “Your Appliance Authority,” AJ Madison is a favorite with contractors, designers, and individual customers because of its expert and extremely knowledgeable staff who are focused on customer service. The Shabbos mode program is only one of a number of major customer educational activities sponsored by AJ Madison (www.ajmadison.com). The appliance center features all major brands, including cooking products, wall ovens, gas range cooking tops, refrigeration, dishwashers, food disposal, laundry, air conditioners, outdoor grilling, sinks and faucets, and vacuum cleaner products.
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