This is a wonderful book. It demonstrates the blessing that one gains by paying attention to the details of tradition. I have been blessed by examples of doing worship, rather than reading or listening worship.

Lauren Winner has had quite an interesting life, in which she has written quite openly about her adult conversion from Judaism to Christianity in "Girl Meets God". She also covers this at length in "Mudhouse Sabbath", which is a look at various Jewish religious/spiritual practices from her new Christian perspective. Some of these, like prayer and fasting, are things that Christians are known to do. Others, like using candles or keeping kosher, don't necessarily have a counter-part in her new faith.

Winner, like many who go through a radical conversion, have a sense of mourning about their old ways and this book sorts through her thoughts on these various Jewish and Christian disciplines. She writes with warmth and clarity and is obviously well-read, quoting both ancient and modern scholars. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in Jewish-Christian dialogue/practices, as well as those who are exploring different spiritual disciplines to undertake. It's a short book and could easily be read in an afternoon or slowly digested as a daily devotional.

Being raised Jewish like the author I searched out the meaning of my Jewish roots as a Christian. As a convert to the Catholic Church I have found many of the answers to the questions and practice of my Jewish faith, which lives in the Christian Church. For anyone who wants to learn a little about the roots of our faith I recommend this book.

I was lent this book several years ago by a parent of one my sixth graders, and it's a super fast read. Winner illuminates eleven rituals and values that were shaped by her Jewish roots. She is now a believer in Jesus, and her book offers practical suggestions to deepen your walk with Christ. Winner made me evaluate how I spend my days of rest, what and when I choose to eat, and my selfish ways of not wanting to open my home to others. It's a good little book that taught me a lot about Judaism as well. Mudhouse refers to the coffee house where Winner found a compelling Sabbath account one Sunday afternoon. Although Winner has been described as emergent, I do not recall reading anything in Mudhouse Sabbath that was off base.