Fran Ostendorf

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Yes, ‘Fran was at camp’ – with no regrets

There’s a joke in my family. Whenever something happens that I can’t remember or wasn’t a participant in, I must have been at camp. Bad stuff happened? Couldn’t have … more

Fran Ostendorf | 2/3/23

2023 and me: Time to reconnect with family

In December, I went to a much-anticipated family wedding. It was a chance for relatives of all ages on my mother’s side to reconnect. For some, it had been years since we had seen one … more

Fran Ostendorf | 1/5/23

This Hanukkah, spread the light

It seems like we could all use a little more light in our lives right now. Light gives us joy. It opens our eyes to the world around us and cancels the darkness. And there sure is a lot of … more

Fran Ostendorf | 12/2/22

Silence is just not acceptable

Two years ago – just before the 2020 election – I wrote a column expressing hope that the country would settle down and come together after the vote was counted. I had no idea that … more

Fran Ostendorf | 11/3/22

It’s a season of new possibilities

This is my favorite time of the year. We have come through a period of introspection. We have assessed where we have been and where we are going. It is a fresh new year with a clean slate. I find … more

Fran Ostendorf | 10/7/22

Looking back, looking forward

I’ll let you in on a secret: I always feel a little wistful at the end of August. Summer is about over and nights are already cooler. Stores are advertising back-to-school items instead of … more

Fran Ostendorf | 9/8/22

September is on my mind

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

Controversy and civil conversation

It’s been a stressful week or so for those who like to keep up to date with the news, no matter how you like to consume that news. Lots of controversy in Congress, the Supreme Court and on … more

Fran Ostendorf | 6/30/22

It’s time for action

Like everyone else I know, I was totally horrified by the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. And the one barely two weeks earlier, at a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York. And the shooting … more

Fran Ostendorf | 6/2/22

Getting back to normal

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