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 14^th marked the 55^th 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.

I’ll be heading to Cape Canaveral on Thursday for the Space Coast Book Lovers conference. I’ve never been and the organizers are pretty opaque about what happens, but it looks like I’ll be hanging out in the lobby a lot, looking for readers to talk with about books. I’m on one panel, which focuses on the tropes in my books, like found family and small town.

Interestingly, they don’t reveal who’s on the panel to the readers. They’re supposed to choose the panel because of the subject, and get exposed to new authors who write what they like. It’s a clever concept, and I hope it works!

Then I’m back at work on my laptop, preparing for the first in-person reading I’ve done in years.

Greg Lindeblom was a professor of Economics on the South Campus of Broward College while I was in the English department, and we became friends through shared interests. I’ve been mentoring him with his first novels, and with self-publishing. When he announced he was ready to publish his first book, I thought it would be fun to do a joint event, where we’ll each read for a bit but also talk with each other about our friendship and our collaboration.

This is enlightened self-interest on my part. I figured since it’s his first book, his friends will all want to turn out to support him. And maybe they’ll be interested in Blood Code, too, which I’ll be promoting. I think multi-author events are always more fun and more useful than single-author ones, and Greg was able to use his contacts to get us a great venue, at a theater in Wilton Manors. (It’s one of the neighborhoods of Fort Lauderdale.)

Love, Mystery, and Cultural Identity: An Evening with Two Dynamic Authors

Monday, June 30, 6:00 PM

Island City Stage, 2304 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, Florida |

Greg Lindeblom, The Only Farang in Town

Making his literary debut, Greg Lindeblom transports readers into the vibrant world of Thailand's entertainment industry with a romance that's perfect for fans of The White Lotus and Crazy Rich Asians. When American software engineer Chris Eriksen falls for Thai TV star First Amonsak—a leading man in Thailand's booming "Boys' Love" drama scene—their relationship ignites a social media firestorm that threatens both their futures. Set against the backdrop of Bangkok's bustling streets and ancient temples, this heartwarming tale explores what happens when real love collides with manufactured fantasy, and the courage it takes to choose authenticity over expectation.

Greg is a big fan of what are called Thai BL (for boy love) dramas. They’re fun and sexy and feature young men (fortunately not boys!) I’m eager to hear more about them from Greg.

Two authors. Two cultures. Two unforgettable stories about love, identity, and the bonds that define us.

And then, that same Monday, my next golden retriever mystery releases. It’s called Dog of Deliverance, and I’ll write more about it next week. It’s up for pre-order now.

At the same time as I have all this great stuff going on in my life, according to the BBC, there are now 53 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. However you feel about events in the Middle East, I hope you will hold these captives and their families in your hearts and your prayers.

With gratitude,

Neil