Fran Ostendorf

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Celebrating freedom … with an eye on the news

Much is going on in the world around us. And in this issue of Jewish Rhode Island, which focuses on Passover and celebrates freedom, I can’t help but look at what’s happening in the world … more

Fran Ostendorf | 4/1/22

Helping our brethren in Ukraine

Like many of you, I have been glued to coverage of the war in Ukraine – in print, online and on TV. Yes, I have my favorite media outlets. But I tend to flip from one to another during this … more

Fran Ostendorf | 3/6/22

Keep up with those connections

As I sit down to write this column, Rhode Island is in the midst of a blizzard, the first in a number of years. The pre-storm hype had whipped our friends and neighbors into a frenzy. Grocery … more

Fran Ostendorf | 2/6/22

Launching into an exciting 2022

Putting together the January newspaper presents a time to look back and think ahead. What a year it was. What a year we hope it will be! In 2021, we had a roller-coaster of ups and downs. That new … more

Fran Ostendorf | 1/10/22

Which team are you on?

Have you listened to the first podcasts from Jewish Rhody Media? It’s a terrific series on leadership called Chutzpah! There’s a new episode every other Thursday, featuring Adam Greenman, … more

Fran Ostendorf | 12/4/21

A tribute to a much-loved tree

There will be no more weeping for the willow in my backyard. Sometime in the wee hours of a recent Wednesday morning, what was left of the once majestic, multi-trunk tree came crashing down. No … more

Fran Ostendorf | 11/7/21

Ramblings on the times of our lives

Life is in transition again. Nature is doing its annual shift from long, hot summer days to dark, cool fall evenings. As I write this, our backyard is showing a scattering of yellow and brown … more

Fran Ostendorf | 10/9/21

New year, new thought: Let’s embrace what’s good right now

Sometimes, when I sit down to write this column, I stare at a blank page on my computer screen and I wonder where to begin. My aim isn’t to be scholarly or to impart wisdom based on years of … more

Fran Ostendorf | 9/6/21

Precious memories, neatly boxed

I had time for some real moments of reflection this month as I rooted through a couple of boxes in my parents’ basement. They have lived in the same house since the mid-1960s and, as you can … more

Fran Ostendorf | 8/5/21

Jewish Rhody Media: The future is here

Do you remember The Herald? Or perhaps you remember the Jewish Voice, or the Community Voice from many years ago. At one time, The Rhode Island Jewish Herald was an independently published … more

Fran Ostendorf | 7/1/21