A Sabbath compliant water dispenser, which comprises a hot water chamber, a heating element that is positioned in the hot water chamber for heating a body of water which is retained within the hot water chamber and a tap, through which hot water is dispensable. The water dispenser is controlled by a controller which is operable in a Sabbath mode to command the heating element to maintain the body of water at an essentially constant temperature which is near to scalding temperature and to command introduction of unheated water into the hot water chamber, when a low water level condition is detected. This way, overheating of the heating element is prevented, while also preventing the introduced water from being dispensed.