THE INSTITUTE’S AREAS OF ACTIVITY
For more than three decades of distinguished activity,
the Institute has achieved both technological
and halachic advances in the following areas:
- applied research
- development
- design
- consultancy
In parallel with its halachic analysis, the Institute has enlisted the aid of highly qualified scientists and technologists of both local and international renown.
Assisted by their knowledge and advice, the Institute has:
- enhanced its own capability of dealing with the broad spectrum of current problems
- created and maintained contact with the leading Rabbinic authorities of our time
- become widely recognized as a prime halachic authority in all matters interfacing Technology with Halacha
Applications Of Solutions To Challenges
The Institute has developed solutions in all areas connected with Halacha, Science and Technology for the private and public sectors, including:
- industry
- public institutions
- private individuals
Consultancy To Public Institutions
The Institute provides consulting services and guidance in a manner consistent with Halacha to public institutions, such as:
- hospitals
- homes for the aged
- restaurants/caterers
- dormitories
- hotels
- educational institutions
This service is reactive and proactive regarding
challenges in the observance of Shabbat, kashrut
and other relevant halachic areas, by:
• pinpointing problematic activities
• providing guidance regarding the proper
selection of: approaches,procedures,methods,systems,
devices, and equipment.
In addition to its rich cumulative experience in these matters, the Institute has developed various special purpose devices and systems for institutions, including the following outstanding examples:
- Nurse call system for Shabbat and weekday use in hospitals, homes for the aged, etc.
- Shabbat telephone for essential Shabbat use by medical and security personnel only
- Automatic hot water urn for institutional use on Shabbat and weekdays
- Shabbat elevator control for Shabbat use in multistory buildings
- Water disinfection system for water purification in Mikvaot
- Kashrut assurance (Stem Jacketed Cookers) for institutional cooking systems,where steam supply serves any combination of meat, dairy and pareve cooking. Similar problems have been found in industrial parks – see Consultancy to Industry
The following are examples of subjects included in the broad range of professional consultancy provided by the Institute to institutions, sponsors, designers, installers and manufacturers:
- design and equipping of kitchens and food service departments in hospitals, hotels and homes for the aged
- design and installation of Shabbat elevators
- guidance to Rabbis and Religious Councils
- acceptable operational procedures for hospitals, hotels, etc. on Shabbat, Pesach and other Holidays
- permissible approaches to design and activation of equipment
- such as, refrigerators, hot water, food heaters, air conditioners, steam cooking systems, etc.
- for year-round operation, including Shabbat, Pesach and other Holidays.
Consultancy to Industry
Expert professional evaluations of industrial plants are performed or supervised by the Institute’s staff to:
• clarify and verify details of current
and proposed plant operation
• propose alternative approaches
The goal of the Institute in such cases is to enable a plant to desist from work on Shabbat, with a minimal income loss. In cases where this is not possible, automation approaches may be recommended, for continuation of uninterruptible activities through Shabbat, without employing manpower.
In certain cases, the Institute’s proposals have resulted not only in the elimination of Shabbat work, but also in efficiency improvement accompanied by profit increase.
A severe problem was solved by the Institute
regarding kashrut assurance for cooking systems
in industrial parks, where a central steam supply
may be found to serve combinations of meat, dairy,
pareve and even non-kosher product cooking. Similar
problems have been found in public institutions,
such as hotels – see Consultancy to Public
Institutions.