(This week’s Torah portion opens with Moshe calling together the people of Israel. A “kahal”, congregation, is composed of individuals who share a common background, destiny, ideology. Often, a “kahal” is centered in a particular location. But a “kahal” can also be composed of individuals who may be in different locations, but who share ideas and ideals. This week’s Angel for Shabbat column is based on an address I delivered at the annual dinner of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, held on Sunday night March 11. It relates not just to the large “kahal” that attended the dinner, but to the worldwide “kahal” of Jews who believe in an intellectually vibrant, compassionate, inclusive Orthodox Judaism.)

Shalom and best wishes for a happy Purim.

THANK YOU: We express sincere thanks to Alisa Bodner who has served as director of our University Network for the past nearly 2 years. She now lives in Israel and is working full time there, so that she is not able to continue her work for the University Network. We wish her happiness and success in her new endeavors.

NEW DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS FELLOWS PROGRAM: We are pleased that Raif Melhado will be serving as our new director of the Campus Fellows program. Raif is a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in Riverdale, NY, and brings a lot of enthusiasm and talent to his new post.

At a recent basketball game between two yeshiva day schools, a parent of one of the players behaved very badly. He shouted abusive comments at members of the opposing team. He screamed a threat against one of the players.

This parent is an Orthodox rabbi, well known in his community; but he obviously was unable to control his rage and his overbearing competitiveness. Like so many other parents, he allowed his unbridled emotions to interfere with basic decency, good sportsmanship, and proper interpersonal relationships. His behavior shamed his son, shamed himself, and shamed the Torah.

I recently learned of a shorthand symbol used in online communications among Jewish singles. It is “JFK”.  For example: “Don’t go out with him, he’s ‘JFK’.”  “He’s not reliable, he’s ‘JFK’.”

Angel for Shabbat, by Rabbi Marc D. Angel

Modern western civilization trains us to value independence, autonomy, freedom of choice.  We have an aversion to being told what to do by authoritarian figures; rather, we like to make decisions based on our own judgment.  We are open to advice and suggestions; but we  are less than enthusiastic about being bossed around.

My wife and I were recently having a quiet dinner in a local kasher restaurant. Before long, a young family was seated at a table across from us. As veteran grandparents, we are used to children making a bit of noise. No problem.

Shalom and happy Yom Yetushalayim. I recently received a copy of an article by a leftist Spanish journalist, in which she lambasts "the left" for its blatant anti-Israel prejudice. I thought you would like to see this. Please circulate it among your friends, fellow students, and family. Yes, some journalists still have moral courage. I've also posted this article on the Institute's website: www.jewishideas.org

An ancient Greek parable tells of a cat that was magically transformed into a Princess. The Princess was elegant, well mannered, and always with a ready smile on her face.  Everyone seemed to be enchanted by her nobility.

And then, one day, as the Princess greeted a group of admirers, a mouse happened to run into the room. In an instant, the Princess was transformed back into cat-like behavior. The illusion was over. Everyone realized she was not really a Princess after all, but was a cat  who was posing as a Princess.

Carl Sandburg once observed: "We know that when a nation goes down and never comes back, when a society or civilization perishes, one condition may always be found. They forgot where they came from. They lost sight of what brought them along. The hard beginnings were forgotten and the struggles farther along." ("Remembrance Rock," 1948, pp.18-19)