Talmud scholarship in general is an important part of some Jewish people's culture. They have a rich history of debating rules/their interpretations and applyin

Talmud scholarship in general is an important part of some Jewish people's culture. They have a rich history of debating rules/their interpretations and applying them to hypothetical or actual life situations. It's a great way to practice critical thinking skills. A Shabbat oven could square with the spirit of the law if you do all your prep the day before and put it in a timed oven to enjoy later. Pretty similar in principle to people in an agrarian society harvesting before their day of rest so they can enjoy a meal together without laboring. Islamic finance is a similar work-around, since charging interest (riba/usury) is against some interpretations of Sharia law. Banks structure special products that don't make guaranteed interest payments: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_banking_and_finance#Sukuk_(Islamic_bonds) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_banking_and_finance#Su... I actually quite like the idea of setting aside some time for family and community without work, modern machinery or electronics.