Aug 10, 2017
OFJCC Event Services Director Ed Bancroft muses on the benefits of unplugging weekly. Shortly after starting work at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, I was thrilled to learn many core Jewish values align closely with my personal values. Here in the heart of Silicon Valley, life is fast-paced and...
Aug 4, 2017
OFJCC Staff member Amy Shulman describes the best part about joining a community theatre group. The first time my synagogue put on a Purim play, the theme was rock ‘n’ roll. King Achashverosh was dressed like Elvis Presley. All I could think was, “Why am I not on that stage?” I’m not...
Jul 3, 2017
Happy Fourth of July! This national holiday means different things to different people. One of my favorite July 4th memories is watching my then two-year-old niece see fireworks for the first time. The look of wonder on her face was unforgettable. If you are gearing up for a BBQ or picnic,...
Jun 21, 2017
If you love books, the hard thing about parenting is that there’s no definitive instruction manual. While a single source text may not exist, there is lots of research. Why hasn’t someone put all of it together for easy reference? The good news is that the Best for the Kids...
Jun 6, 2017
Let me start out with an admission: I am an unabashed fangirl of DC comics’ pantheon of characters. Ever since I secretly watched Batman: The Animated Series in my parents’ basement, I adored every hero (and some of the villains) DC produced. I still occasionally watch Justice League Unlimited as...
May 24, 2017
In honor of National Bike Month, Antoinette Rose, MD, internal medicine physician and the volunteer captain of the Oshman Family JCC Expresso Bike Team, takes a moment to explain the program’s appeal and why her team is in the lead of the JCC Expresso Bike Challenge. OFJCC: What are Expresso bikes? Dr....
May 10, 2017
OFJCC Staffer Andrea Longini opens up about overcoming her fear of biking in time for Bike to Work Day. As part of National Bike Month, tomorrow, May 11, is Bay Area Bike to Work Day. Local bicycle advocacy groups are asking folks to dust off their old iron steed and take...
May 8, 2017
OFJCC Specialized Trainer Joe Kelso describes how he trained himself for long distance running with a shift in philosophy. In 2005, I saw a podiatrist for my inflamed Achilles tendon. At the time, I had been running 10ks and half marathons, but my goal was to run full marathons and...
Apr 28, 2017
OFJCC Personal Trainer Lyndsey Jones shares profound insight from her trip to Japan. The last time I wrote I had just gotten back from my first solo trip to Peru, exhilarated by the perspective I gained. Even so, I couldn’t wait to embark on another journey. My goal in traveling is to experience other...
Apr 21, 2017
OFJCC Garden Pedagogista Debbie Togliatti ponders the impact of small actions in the big scheme of things. It’s the eve of Earth Day, and I’m wondering how people will choose to honor the one day out of the year when we devote ourselves to thinking about our planet and/or taking action...