Edmond Amran El Maleh's Riddle

Franz Goldstein is not just a publisher, and Edifice du Sable is not just a publishing house. Monsieur Goldstein dedicates his work and his life to this cause, his cause of bringing one of the novels to the Nile River in a simple literary prize. Imran Al-Maal is not just a member of the prize jury, nor just a Moroccan critic for the French newspaper Le Monde. Imran is the Jew who grasps the nuances of detail, torn between a homeland promised by the captain and others who inhabit it, and who discovered certain details after Abraham's slap, on the day of Hishoah in the kibbutz, shook his hopes for the Promised Land. Imran is also burdened by a heavy memory because he revealed the kitchen's secret to the kitchen intelligence, which led to the sinking of the ship Egoz. The Jews swallowed by the sea that day, undoubtedly for some reason as well. These quotations on the offerings are what he used to participate in the feast of blood and deception. Imran is the one who will say no to Franz, and he is the one who will pay a heavy price for it. He too will be a sacrifice, but on a different altar… or perhaps on more than one. Franz Goldstein is not just a publisher, and Dar Al-Rimal is not just a publishing house. Mr. Goldstein dedicates his work and his life to the cause, and his cause revolves around a novel that made the shortlist for a prestigious literary prize. Likewise, Imran Elmaleh is not just a member of the prize jury, nor is he simply a Moroccan critic for Le Monde. Imran is the Jew lost amidst the clamor of causes, torn between the land promised by God and the land where he lives, who discovered the fragility of the cause the moment Abraham's slap shook him on Holocaust Remembrance Day. On that day, all his hopes for the Promised Land were shattered. Imran is also burdened by the memory of revealing the secret of the emigrants to Egyptian intelligence and the sinking of the Egoz ship. The Jews swallowed by the sea that day were also killed for this cause. This cause thrives on sacrifice, and he is no longer willing to participate in bloodshed and deception. Imran will be the one to refuse Franz's request, and he will pay a heavy price. He, too, will be a sacrifice, but on a different altar... or perhaps on more than one altar.