Take the 2-minute tour ×  I'm not Jewish but do know that strict
observance of religious laws is important in Judaism.  I
recently visited one of our suppliers in Israel and the hotel
and office block had sabbath elevators. The younger techies I
was working with thought it was ridiculous but it seemed that
pious/observant Jews used it. There was also a planning
controversy here in London about making an area an Eruv so that
religious restrictions could be avoided.  These didn't seem to
just be a cynical way of avoiding the law which applied to
everyone else - like medieval popes declaring Beaver to be a
fish or that geese grew from barnacles so they could eat meat in
lent.  Is there a particular reason that working around a holy
law should apparently be considered pious?  edit: Thank you, the
question was meant out of genuine interest I didn't intend any
offense with "loophole".  My question was really that in
Christianity or Islam in not doing something enjoyable or which
makes our life easier on Sabbath, or