An author any mother could be proud of

A review of the Last Ember and Daniel Levin

By Miriam Bradman Abrahams

Issue of October 30 2009/ 12 Cheshvan 5770

A series of coincidences led me to realize I was destined to meet Daniel Levin, author of the new novel, The Lost Ember. It began when I mistakenly received an uncorrected proof of the book in the mail meant for another reviewer. I was excited to be allowed to keep my copy. Then my husband came home from our shul, Congregation Beth Sholom, one Shabbat evening, exclaiming about the brilliant young author he heard. I told him I had the book and moved it to the top of my pile, determined to read it. Soon after, I got an urgent email from Jewish Book World asking me if I’d interview Daniel Levin ASAP. I replied “yes” and set the meeting for September 24, after the UN rally protesting the Iranian president.

I crammed for two days, rushing to finish the book but wanting to savor every minute since this is my favorite genre, historical fiction. It is indeed yet another coincidence that I met up with Levin after the rally, since his book and that event are very closely linked.

Daniel Levin has a degree in Roman and Greek civilizations; is a Harvard Law grad, clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel, was a visiting scholar at the American Academy in Rome and has practiced international law. His novel, The Last Ember, is a fascinating historical adventure that races through both ancient and modern Rome and Jerusalem. It amazingly encompasses much of Jewish history in 400 pages.

The protagonist, Jonathan Marcus, was a Classics scholar forced to leave his thesis unfinished due to tragic work-related circumstances. His scholarly life hit bottom, as he became a clerk at Sotheby’s, tagging artifacts. Fate propelled Marcus to a career as a high-end lawyer in a fancy firm that flies him to Rome to be an expert witness in a case about the origin of two fragments of a map of ancient Rome. His interest in continuing his research is rekindled as he is coerced to discount the testimony of Emili Travia, an antiquities preservationist known at the “angel of artifacts,” and an old flame of his.

Thus begins Marcus’ return to his true love: the study of ancient clues to find the Tabernacle Menorah which has been missing since the Romans stole it as they conquered Jerusalem 2000 years ago. Together, he and Emili embark on a treacherous treasure hunt as they study ancient manuscripts and artifacts for hints of the menorah’s modern day location.

They follow closely in the footsteps of Salah ad-Din, an archaeologist who is systematically destroying Jewish and Christian artifacts under the Temple Mount, which has been administered by the Waqf Authority, the secretive land trust that has overseen the area since 1187 CE. The searchers believe the clues have been left by Josephus, a Jewish military leader who inexplicably survived a group suicide and was later given Roman citizenship; he went on to become historian to Emperor Titus. Although his writings are ambiguous, they are a significant source of information about that period and have helped archaeologists discover and understand many ancient artifacts including the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Levin described his story, “in a nutshell, as a series of embedded messages from the first century historian Josephus that changes everything we know about him.” Levin says he envisioned Josephus’ role as a smuggler of the Tabernacle Menorah as a double agent, history’s “first Mossad agent.” I asked Levin how he managed to fit in most of Jewish history, from the Bible to the Crusades to the Holocaust and even modern-day events like Ariel Sharon visiting the Temple Mount. He said this was deliberate as “the extensive history of the Jewish people synthesizes all the strands of the story to create a cohesive narrative.”

Levin learned much Jewish history from his mother, a storyteller, to whom he dedicates this book. (What more could a Jewish mother ask for!) The book is filled with biblical references including the significance of the Menorah’s flame and Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream about the seven cows. Joseph advised Pharaoh to store grain from the prosperous times for the lean times. Levin creates a comparison of Josephus to the biblical Joseph. As Joseph rose from imprisonment to right-hand man of the king, so did Josephus. He adds that perhaps Joseph didn’t send for his father in order not to blow his cover so that he could help the Jewish people. Levin begins his book with a quote by Josephus, “historians are forgers,” but says perhaps Josephus forged in order to tell the truth. Maybe he took the fall as a traitor in order to rescue the Menorah and hide clues to its whereabouts for future generations. Levin’s theory about Josephus “is supported by the ambiguities that have been questioned by scholars for ages.”

Disappointed by the poor turnout at the UN rally and upset about the dangers we face from Iran, I brought up current events to the author. Levin is passionate about historical revisionism and “archaeological terrorism.” Levin says his book is much more than a spy novel that deals with very difficult concepts. The destruction under the Temple Mount is real, with more than 20,000 tons of archaeologically rich soil already discarded in an attempt to erase traces of our history. Levin hopes his readers will respond to archaeological terrorism and the UN speech that denies our history.

I felt compelled to ask Levin if he is Jonathan Marcus. He modestly replied that his “knowledge is JV compared to Jonathan’s knowledge which extends to the four corners of the page.” Levin is a fan of Daniel Silva and enjoys being compared to Dan Brown. He is proud that his novel takes place in West Jerusalem. When I asked Levin about his own provenance, he explained that his family has been in the US for generations “but is originally from Lodz, so he was bred to learn.” Levin is a brilliant mentch, but this book is very accessible with pathos, humor and romance included making for a great educational and entertaining read. Levin is at work on the next Jonathan Marcus adventure, which I eagerly await.

Miriam Bradman Abrahams is a reviewer for Jewish Book World, Hadassah Nassau Region liaison to the Jewish Book Council and One Region/One Book Chair, editor of Hewlett Hadassah’s bulletin, and chairs the HAFTR H.S. Book Fair. She lives in Woodmere.