Stories,photos

182 results total, viewing 11 - 20

I have to admit it. I am an Olympics junkie. I started getting excited about this summer’s games during a trip to Paris in March 2023. That was more than a year ago! And the anticipation has … more

Fran Ostendorf | 8/2/24

Things change, but family is forever

I’ve spent a lot of time in my childhood home in the last few months. My folks still live independently, but they sometimes need a little help from their children, which has given me an … more

Fran Ostendorf | 7/5/24

Change is in the air

June always seems like a month of transitions to me. There are school graduations and moving up a level in a sports league. Organizations hold their annual meetings. Your son or daughter or … more

Fran Ostendorf | 6/7/24

Pollen and pets and patrons

I have to admit that I dread May. While everyone else is outside, enjoying the nice weather and the beautiful flowering trees, I hide inside with swollen eyes, a scratchy throat and bulging sinuses. … more

Fran Ostendorf | 5/10/24

L’dor vador: Our traditions keep us close

It’s not easy being far from family, especially during different, and sometimes difficult, life-cycle changes. More people than ever seem to be experiencing the trials and tribulations of … more

Fran Ostendorf | 4/5/24

Spring is in the air!

For me , March is a hopeful month. Signs of spring are everywhere. The weather is getting a little warmer. Light brightens our days a little longer. Purim and Passover are coming up quickly. And my … more

Fran Ostendorf | 3/1/24

The editor’s life, in all its messiness

Oy, the things on my desk! I’m not just the editor of a newspaper, I’m also a subscriber and get a copy mailed to my home. Then I get lots of extra copies at my office. But … more

Fran Ostendorf | 2/2/24

You may not agree with everything we print – and that’s fine

We are a community of divergent views. If you are reading this, chances are you are Jewish. But maybe not. You could be a non-Jewish partner, spouse or advertiser, or perhaps you picked up the … more

Fran Ostendorf | 1/7/24

Spread light during this dark December

As I write this column, we face continuing troubles worldwide. In the Middle East, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a short pause in the fighting, which will probably be over by the time you read … more

Fran Ostendorf | 12/1/23

What binds Jews together is stronger than our disagreements

The horrific and fast-moving events in Israel and the Gaza Strip pose a unique challenge for a small, monthly Jewish newspaper in Rhode Island: How do you accurately show what’s happening there … more

Fran Ostendorf | 11/6/23