Written in the wake of the Paris attacks on November 13, 2015, Gila Lustiger examines the deep-rooted motives behind the attacks, the rise of antisemitism in the banlieues, and the profound flaws at the heart of the French governing system. She argues that the question of how to deal with terrorism has become a question for the whole of civil society. This essay has been awarded the Horst Bingel Prize for 2016. The biennial award celebrates literature which combines literary quality with social and political commitment.