BETH-DIN OF JOHANNESBURG
(JEWISH ECCLESIASTICAL COURT)
Telephone: (011) 485-4865
 Facsimile: (011) 485-4578
58 Oaklands Road 
Orchards, 2192  
Johannesburg

P.O. Box 46559
Orange Grove, 2119
 

BS”D
19 February 2008
13 Adar 1 5768

 

IN RESPONSE TO THE MANY ENQUIRES REGARDING SHABBAT AND YOM TOV COOKING WHEN THERE ARE POWER CUTS THE BETH DIN ADVISES AS FOLLOWS:

 
1. The food should be fully cooked on Friday and placed on a Blech (the metal covering placed over the fire or the electric plate) before Shabbat commences.
2. If there is a power cut either immediately preceding or during Shabbat and the electricity comes on again and re-heats the food it may be eaten even if it has gone cold in the meantime.
3. If the food was not cooked at all before Shabbat, it may be left on the Blech and when the electricity returns and cooks the food on Shabbat it may be eaten. There is no concern of “Bishul Akum” in this case.
4. With regard to hot water, if an electric urn did not boil before Shabbat due to a power cut, a pot of water should be placed on the Blech before Shabbat and when the electricity resumes and it boils it may be used.
5. In the event of 3 or 4 above, if you lift the lid on Shabbat and discover that the food is not fully cooked or the water is not boiling, you may neither remove some of it nor replace the lid (it would hasten the cooking).
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