Spring is a time of milestones: Weddings, births and especially graduations. This weekend I took a little drive (about 16 hours round-trip) to see my daughter present her thesis project. The product of a year’s worth of work, it was quite a …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
5/9/14
|
Who would have thought? On a recent rainy Monday, four Israel-oriented programs were scheduled in our community. Whether or not you agree with the viewpoints presented in these programs, you have to …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
12/9/19
|
When I was growing up, I remember those discussions after services during the High Holy Days. The conversation inevitably turned to the rabbi’s message. What was it? Did you like it? Did you agree … or disagree? Was it too political; not …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
10/20/14
|
I love this time of year. The holidays signal the change of seasons, as do warm days and cool nights. A certain rhythm returns to daily life after a summer filled with long days, vacations and all …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
9/29/16
|
Those pesky envelopes are back. Perhaps one fell out of your newspaper when you opened it to read this column.
If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know that the envelope …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
5/11/17
|
Recently, I’ve been asked many questions about letters to the editor and contributors’ columns (op-eds). We love when our readers take enough interest in our content to write to us. We also love getting feedback, and we value the diverse …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
1/22/16
|
Finally we are seeing prolonged signs of spring … consistently warm temperatures, flowering trees everywhere, longer days. People are out in their yards cleaning up and planting. Community gardens are coming to life. I love being able to …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
5/7/15
|
I spent a beautiful and enriching weekend in Connecticut recently, kvelling as my niece led a full congregation in worship as a Bat Mitzvah.
No matter that Rosie is 15, the rabbi told us. She had …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
5/6/22
|
In the middle of summer, the last thing we really want to think about is responsibility. But that’s exactly what I’ve been mulling over lately.
I guess it is part of being an adult. We …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
8/4/22
|
Five years ago, then-editor of The Jewish Voice Nancy Kirsch wrote a moving editor’s column about the Newtown, Connecticut, school shootings. Her column came to mind after …
more
Fran Ostendorf
|
6/24/16
|