The Last Watchman of Old Cairo - Michael David Lukas - 4 Stars

[[deleted user]]

This is a wonderfully written story about Cairo and its Jewish community told through three alternating timelines. I loved the mixing of ancient Egypt, colonial Egypt and modern Egypt, all woven together like a colorful tapestry. A thousand years in the past, a Muslim, Ali al-Rahq, becomes the first watchman of the Ibn Ezra Synagogue. He is charged with protecting thousands of documents in the synagogue's genizah, storage area. Also hidden away there is the Ezra Scroll, possibly the most perfect Torah ever created.

In the 19th century colonial segment of the story, twin sisters from Britain, Agnes and Margaret, are both antiquity scholars. During the colonial time of British history, looting antiquities was largely acceptable behavior, and upon receiving reports of documents disappearing from the Ibn Ezra Synagogue, the sisters, along with a Cambridge University professor, set about exporting the synagogue's documents in order to preserve them for posterity.

In modern day, an American graduate student at Berkeley, Joseph, goes to Cairo in search of his late father's history as the last watchman of the Ibn Ezra Synagogue.

This book tackles complex themes and places like religion, war, colonialism, corrupt rulers, politics, and culture, while creating an enthralling human story delicately woven with the things that divide us, like forbidden love, tradition, and the power of religion. What sets this story apart for me is the underlying theme of love, family, and hope guiding us toward a better understanding and a necessary tolerance during a time when relationships between many religions might find an equilibrium. The magical mysticism, mystery, and connections make this a very charming story.