Shabbos just got Lighter

Dec 2, 2023 by Susan Rosenbluth

By S. Levin

Getting ready for Shabbos or Yom Tov can be a down-to-the-wire race, complete 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 or knowing when lights should go on and off. What if it is overcast? No one wants to end up sitting in the dark. In my house, checking the lights and getting the timers right is a fine art.

Well, it just got a little easier with the Sunlite ShabBulb, a bulb that is endorsed and certified by the OU, and/or the KosherLamp™ MAX brand shabbos lamp, produced by Kosher Innovations. These two products give Sabbath observers a level of control over darkness, thanks to simple yet elegant solutions that allow a bulb to be covered or a light to be blocked.  One twist of the wrist takes a room from light to dark, or vice-versa, and it’s all Shabbos permissible.

The idea behind these products is not new.  For many years, Sabbath observers depended on incandescent bulbs and timers, but now some choices are more energy-efficient.

So Nu – What are They?

Kosherlamp™ MAX is a small, squat, free-standing, six-sided lamp that consists of two parts: the base on which the bulb sits and a cover that fits on top of the base and can be twisted. The cover has a hole 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.  No instructions are necessary; it’s simple to use: Just block the light, or let it shine.

ShabBulb, on the other hand, is an LED light bulb with a light-regulating slider built into the bulb’s base. The ShabBulb fits right into any working socket, and nothing additional is required. Replace a regular lightbulb with the ShabBulb, and leave the lamp in the “on” position. It works because the ShabBulb stays on the entire time (in this case, all of Shabbos or Yom Tov).  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.

 

Each has an Advantage

ShabBulb works in any existing light fixture; all that’s required is to change 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 a bedside lamp, it can accompany its owner on trips, making any hotel room Shabbos-friendly. The ShabBulb is 7 watts, with a multi-voltage of 120-240 volts, making it compatible with international fixtures, too.

Kosherlamp™ is ideal for rooms with overhead lighting. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. The larger, called The MAX, is intended to accessorize a home, while the Kosherlamp™ 360 is portable, making it great for home and travel.  The company even makes a Mushroom-shaped Kosherlamp™ for children with a wider base for stability.

Both the ShabBulb and Kosherlamp™ are designed to work in bedrooms, bathrooms, or family spaces: one solution for all rooms. They provide the light necessary to sit, talk, or read, but are probably insufficient to light up a Shabbos table.

Brightness

ShabBulb has a brightness of 450 lumens and a warm white color of 3000 Kelvin.  The particulars of the LED bulb are listed on the packaging, reminiscent of the way nutritional values are shown on food labels. Compared to other lights, the ShabBulb appeared to be dim, emitting a soft light. The bulb’s brightness is equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb, which is less than the 60-watt bulbs many of us are accustomed to.

We tested the ShabBulb in living room and bedroom lamps and found they fit well and lent themselves to easy control. Although they were not as convenient for Torch Lights, I found myself looking directly into the bulb when adjusting the slide. With time and practice, this would probably become less of an issue.

The KosherLamp uses a 9-watt, 800-lumens LED bulb, which is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. By design, it illuminates the room, and the light is diffused rather than focused like a reading lamp.  The only thing necessary is an outlet.

Light Bulbs

LED (light-emitting diodes) bulbs produce light in a different way than the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, which work by passing an electric current through a wire called a filament. As the filament “burns,” the incandescent bulb produces light, but it also gets hot.

With LEDs, electrical current passes through semiconductive material and illuminates the tiny diodes, which then release photons. The bulbs remain cool to the touch, and they use lower wattage than incandescent bulbs but emit the same amount of light. Wattage equates to energy use, which means that using LEDs will lower your electric bill. Because LEDs are cool to the touch, the ShabBulb does not heat up. It is safe to touch the bulb when adjusting the cover, making it fine for children.

The Kosherlamp™ comes with a bright LED but can also use bulbs called compact fluorescent lamps (CFL bulbs), which are similarly energy-efficient and screw into the same kind of sockets as incandescent bulbs.  Remember the long fluorescent tubes? CLF bulbs function the same way, and they release less heat than incandescent bulbs.

See and Save

Both Kosherlamp™ and ShabBulb take advantage of the properties of LEDs that are not only energy-efficient but also the longest-lasting lightbulbs.  LEDs have an expected life of five to ten years or 50,000 to 100,000 hours compared to incandescent bulbs which last approximately 1,200 hours). The ShabBulb’s estimated yearly energy cost is $.84 based on an average of 3 hours of use a day.

LEDs last longer, and although they have a higher upfront cost, they should lower your electric bill.

Let There Be Light

ShabBulb and Kosherlamp™ provide control over lights on Shabbos with a simple twist of the wrist.  They are easy solutions that eliminate the guesswork from Shabbos’s preparation. Both are high-quality, durable products.  Even the packaging is sturdy, making them safe for travel. ShabBulb and Kosherlamp™ let you regain control over finicky timers.

ShabBulb can be ordered online. Kosherlamp™ can be ordered from Kosher.Innovations.com.

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