Lane Igoudin

Mujerista Theology, or Finding Sacredness amidst Poverty and Oppression

This post is part of Blessing the Sea 4. Is search for the sacred a class privilege? Or to put it differently, are the opportunities to touch the divine – beyond the formal religious settings open to the masses, like synagogues, churches, or mosques – luxuries afforded only to those who can afford them, andContinue reading “Mujerista Theology, or Finding Sacredness amidst Poverty and Oppression”

Spirit and Spunk of a Merchant’s Wife

This book review is part of Blessing the Sea 4 newsletter. Gluckel of Hameln’s memoir has many layers. Written in simple, vivid language for her children over 300 years ago, it makes a surprisingly fast and lively read. There are anecdotes galore – funny, heartwarming, or bizarre, like when she and her mother give birthContinue reading “Spirit and Spunk of a Merchant’s Wife”

Meeting Life’s Challenges with Palms Together

This fall, I am participating again in a three-month practice period at Zen Center Los Angeles. Traditionally called Ango, this is the time of intensified practice to strengthen awareness and concentration, built around a particular theme. The theme of this year’s ZCLA Ango is gassho. As its website explains: Gassho is the act of placingContinue reading “Meeting Life’s Challenges with Palms Together”

Serialized Blog on Morning Prayers as Meditative Practice

The Applied Jewish Spirituality institute in Jerusalem published my 3-part mini-blog called “Setting the Right Intention with Morning Prayers,” which describes how to set up an individual spiritual practice that combines Jewish morning prayers with mindful techniques.

Article in The Forward: This High Holiday Season, We Are in Charge

Delighted with my first publication in a major Jewish newspaper: an opinion piece in The Forward on the challenges of celebrating Jewish High Holidays amidst the unprecedented synagogue and communal space lockdown. These extraordinary times offer an opportunity to create individual sacred spaces to celebrate the end of one Jewish year and the start ofContinue reading “Article in The Forward: This High Holiday Season, We Are in Charge”

Against Polarization

Something has changed drastically in the last several years in the political debates in the US: not so much the topics, but the debates themselves.

Setting the Right Intention with Morning Prayers: A Personal Liturgy

This is part 1 of a 3-part post I wrote for the Applied Jewish Spirituality blog about discovering the time and place for daily meditation in morning prayers. My Hebrew name is Akiva ben Ariel. Akiva comes from Yaakov, ‘the follower’, in Genesis; Ariel being my father’s Hebrew name. My dharma name is Kyojin, meaning ‘abiding in compassion’.Continue reading “Setting the Right Intention with Morning Prayers: A Personal Liturgy”

A Jerusalem Notebook

In the summer of 2019, I was studying in an intensive program at the Conservative (Masorti) Yeshiva in Jerusalem. It turned out to be one of the most transformative experiences I’ve ever had. Here’s a brief account of my discoveries from that time. Last year in Jerusalem… struck by a teaching of Rabbi Kook, explainedContinue reading “A Jerusalem Notebook”

Guest post on engaging bilingual / ESL students in writing

My post on the AWP College Creative Writing Caucus blog synthesizes writing strategies and pedagogical approaches to encourage bilingual/multilingual/ESL college students to write in English. It is based on the discussions at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) 2020 panel I moderated that year. Two Year Caucus Blog

Essay on raising a multicultural family in FamilyEquality.org

Proud to share my guest blog post on the Family Equality website as part of the celebration of the International Family Equality Day (IFED 2020). The cause it celebrates – achievement of equal rights for LGBTQ families everywhere – is very close to my heart as both a gay parent and a former refugee whoContinue reading “Essay on raising a multicultural family in FamilyEquality.org”