>>>>>>>>Wow. All my life I had this dream, going all the way back to the CompuServe days, that I would start a thread conversation that was so amazing it would spawn many messages. While I had envisioned it as a result of my massive VFP skills, instead it came as the result of a throw away remark!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I realize many people want to minimize missed work days, so I do not expect a change. I was just wistfully remarking. I did not expect much response, however most of the posters were correct; as an Orthodox Jew, I do not conduct business from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday in observance of the Sabbath. Saturday has always been a key day or even _the_ key day at the conference. To miss that, to make arrangements to be near a synagogue on that day, etc., seems not to practical of a way to get the most out of the conference.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Going to such a conference is not like working, isn't it?! It's a joy being there, right? Or am I wrong here and is do joyful things also forbidden on Sabbath?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Sadly for Orthodox Jews going to a conference on Shabbat (however joyful the occasion) is forbidden - in my Orthodox phase as a Jew I would't have considered it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Do you ever regret having quit that 'phase'?
>>>>
>>>>Yes I do - but I married into a family which were not very observant - Shabbos is very peaceful if you follow the spirit
>>>>
>>>>But then it its necessary to earn a living and this is more important than pure observance - that's why orthodoxy is now in a minority
>>>
>>>See what I wrote here: message #1420300
>>>Apparently even nowadays an orthodox way of living is a luxury?!
>>
>>I think that non-orthodox way of living is more a matter of convenience than a necessity.
>
>That's an interesting difference in pov. As I understood from my father, only the more wealthy jews could afford:
>1) not working on sabbath
>2) eat only kosjer food
>
>Admitted, that was 80-90 years ago, here in Amsterdam. Times have changed. But it might still be the case. Perhaps not in your city, but in other places, yes.

I don't think it was a matter of social inequality. I cannot say for Amsterdam, but in schtetl environment Sabbat observation was quite universal. Naturally, our days, when 5-day workweek is very common and kosher food is available in supermarkets, it is even more difficult, in my opinion, to find income lines in this issue.