Let There Be More Light on Shabbos

Sep 26, 2025 by The Jewish Voice And Opinion Staff

By The Jewish Voice And Opinion Staff 

Getting ready for Shabbos or Yom Tov can be a down-to-the-wire race, with last-minute checks to make certain everything is in order. No matter how well-prepared a family is, there are always some unknowns, especially when it comes to predicting the weather and knowing when lights should go on and off. What if it is overcast? No one wants to sit in the dark. 

For many years, Sabbath observers depended on light fixtures with timers, but for many, setting the timers correctly can be a challenge.

Now Sabbath observers have a level of control over darkness, taking advantage of simple yet elegant solutions that allow a bulb to be covered or a light to be blocked. We tried three products: Shabbostick, made by Smart Yid, KosherLamp™ MAX brand by Kosher Innovations; and Sunlite’s ShabBulb, all use an attached cover that slides to cover the bulb, eliminating the need for timers.

One twist of the wrist takes a room from light to dark, or vice versa, and they are all Shabbos-approved. 

What are They?

Shabbostick is an LED-stick lamp standing firmly on a durable zinc-aluminum base, creating a modern-looking design. The thin LED bar produces a focused light source that appears to be the brightest of the three lights we tested. A twist of the thin metallic cover lets you control the amount of light by exposing or covering the LED. 

Shabbostick is 5.9 x 1 x 16.9 inches. It is light, weighing 1.4 pounds, and easy to disassemble for traveling (it even comes with a black travel bag). It comes with a dual voltage 110/220V 50/60Hz. Shabbostick is approved by the Star K as well as by dayanim of BMG in Lakewood, New Jersey (R Yaakov Efriam Forschimer and R Shmuel Meir Katz).

Shabbostick is available online and in select stores.

Kosherlamp™ MAX is a small, squat, free-standing, six-sided lamp consisting of two parts: the base on which the bulb sits and a cover that fits on top of the base and can be twisted. (They also make a Kosherlamp 360, a smaller portable version.) 

The cover has an opening on one side while the other side is solid. Twisting the cover controls the amount of light entering the room. When the LED bulb inside is lined up with an opening, there is full exposure and full brightness. But when the solid wall is in front of the bulb, no light escapes from the lamp, and the room is dark.

Kosherlamp™ (as well as replacement parts) can be ordered online.

ShabBulb is an LED light bulb with a light-regulating slider built into the bulb’s base. This bulb fits right into any working socket. Replace your regular lightbulb with the ShabBulb, and leave the lamp in the “on” position. ShabBulb stays on the entire time. There is no guesswork about when the light will go on or off.

You control the slider lever, moving it manually to determine the amount of visible light in the room.  ShabBulb’s arrow shows which way to move the lever: one way opens it, giving full brightness, and the other closes it, plunging the room into darkness.

ShabBulb is certified by the OU and can be ordered online and is available at select stores.  

Each has an Advantage

All three are compatible with multi-voltages of 120-240 volts, making them acceptable for international travel. 

• Shabbostick is a thinner, taller modern light, which can be pointed toward the room or against the wall. The Shabbossticks come in three colors, gold, white, or black, and can be personalized for gifting or for a simcha by adding a logo.
• Kosherlamp™ is ideal for rooms with overhead lighting. It comes in a variety of colors and two sizes; the larger is the MAX, while the Kosherlamp™ 360 is smaller and easily portable (and has become their best seller). They also make a Mushroom-shaped Kosherlamp™ for children with a wider base for stability. In addition to LEDs, KosherLamp can use compact fluorescent lamp bulbs (CFL bulbs), which are also energy-efficient and screw into the same kind of sockets as traditional bulbs.
• ShabBulb is 7 watts and works in any existing light fixture; all that’s required is replacing the bulb. There is no hardware to purchase. It is a completely self-contained bulb, which makes it portable. Because it screws into the base of any lamp, it can travel, making any hotel room Shabbos-friendly.

Both Kosherlamp and Shabbostick have on and off controls. Plug in the lamp, turn the switch to the on position before Shabbos or Yom Tov, then adjust the amount of light by twisting the cover.

Comparing Brightness

ShabBulb has a brightness of 450 lumens and a warm white color of 3000 Kelvin. ShabBulb emits a soft, diffuse light. The bulb’s brightness is equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb (less than the 60-watt bulbs many of us are accustomed to).

The KosherLamp and the Shabbostick use an 800-lumen LED bulb, which is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. They both illuminate the room. KosherLamp produces a light that is diffused, while the Shabbostick bar is more focused (and can easily be used for reading).

More About LEDs

LED (light-emitting diodes) bulbs produce light in a different way than incandescent bulbs, which pass an electric current through a wire called a filament. As the filament “burns,” the incandescent bulb produces light, but it also gets hot. LEDs remain cooler and use lower wattage (which may lower your electric bill). Since LEDs do not heat up, they are safe to touch when adjusting the cover.

LEDs last approximately five to ten years, or 50,000 to 100,000 hours, compared to incandescent bulbs, which last approximately 1,200 hours.  

Let There Be Light

Shabbostick, Kosherlamp™, and ShabBulb provide control over lights on Shabbos and Yom Tov, eliminating reliance on finicky timers and removing the guesswork from Shabbos’s preparation. These are high-quality, durable products that are sturdy and safe for travel.

We found that using them in combination gave us the best results.

Bring on the clouds because Shomer Shabbos homes need not be left in the dark again.