Smart Home + Halacha

This repository is a small collection of notes that I may update over time regarding questions of halacha that may arise in respect to smart home operation.

Smart home technologies - like Home Assistant - offer enormous benefits and flexibility to religiously observant Jewish users.

To that end, from time to time, I have shared a few notes and scripts - such as this template which offers a downstream combined Shabbat and Yom Tov sensor so that automations can be triggered when either condition is true.

Home Assistant can be used to:

• Replace manual timers with smart ones that can be calibrated automatically to Shabbat times (thanks to the work of projects like HebCal and integrations like Jewish Calendar!)
• Provide visual indications for the start and end of Shabbat and hagim (when Shabbat is over, turn this light off, etc)

It's even helpful from an environmental and cost-saving standpoint.

Before HA:

• Leave air conditioning running for the whole of Shabbat/Chag

After HA:

• Set up a recurring Shabbat/Chag automation. Scenes and automations turn lighting and ACs on and off befitting a recurrent pattern.

Current Topics

Sensor State Changes on Shabbat

The primary focus currently is on sensors that register state changes even when automations are disabled:

• Human Presence Sensors: Radar-based motion detection that registers movement internally
• Door/Window Security Sensors: Magnetic contact sensors that trigger on door opening

See the notes/ directory for detailed exploration of these questions.

Existing Resources

• Combined Shabbat/Yom Tov Sensor Template

Disclaimer

I am not a Rabbi! These are merely my own personal notes and may not be reflective of the halacha you hold by. Consult your posek for actual halachic guidance.