55 years ago...
I was called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah
It’s a busy month for me. In addition to being Trump’s birthday parade and the No Kings protests, Saturday June 14th marked the 55th anniversary of my bar mitzvah at Har Sinai Temple in Trenton, NJ. A while ago I used a Chabad website to find out that my Torah portion was Beha’alotecha.
Back in 1970, I had no idea what any of those obscure sections of the Torah meant. My speech thanked the rabbi and the cantor for help, and my family and friends for showing up.
But I was curious to know what my portion might mean to me today, so I wrote what’s called a Dvar Torah, a short speech or commentary on the weekly Torah portion.
The portion begins with a simple command: Beha’alotecha et ha-neirot—“When you raise up the lights.” Aaron is told to light the menorah in the Tabernacle, not just to ignite it, but to elevate the flames, helping them burn steadily on their own.
Note this menorah has only room for seven candles—
it was the ordinary kind Aaron would have lit, not the 9-candle Hanukkiah.
I didn’t understand the deeper meaning back then. But now, after decades as a college professor and an author, I see it clearly.
For 20 years in the classroom, my job was to raise the light in others—to help students discover their own ideas, talents, and voices. Not to hand them answers, but to kindle something within them that would keep glowing after they left. As a writer, I’ve tried to do the same with words—telling stories that might reflect someone’s truth, offer a new perspective, or simply make the world feel a little less dark.
In that sense, I’ve come to see myself—maybe even symbolically—as a Levite. My great-grandmother’s maiden name was Levitan, and whether or not that officially places me in the tribe, the connection feels real. The Levites supported sacred work quietly, behind the scenes. They didn’t seek glory—they lit the lights, carried the burdens, and kept things going. That’s also the last name I chose for the hero of my golden retriever mysteries, because I wanted a name that would reflect his Jewish heritage and he works behind the scenes, using his computer skills and the insights provided by his golden retriever, to bring justice to the world.
Painting by Isaac Levitan. Maybe an ancestor?
On this anniversary, I’m grateful for the light I’ve received, and the chance to pass it on. This increased interest in Judaism is clearly coming from everything going on in the Middle East, as well as all the Jewish-themed podcasts I’ve been listening to. Spoiler alert: there will be a big Jewish book of non-fiction, aimed at post-bar mitzvah teens, coming out in a few months. The research has been fascinating.
With gratitude,
Neil
No comments:
Post a Comment