Galus Yishmael

Galus Yishmael

Galus Yishmael is cited to be the most brutal Galus Bnei Yisroel will endure and its terror will herald the coming of Moshiach. What is the nature of Yishmael that makes it so fearfull, and why is this fifth galus buried inside the other four without any mention of it in Tanach?

Rav Alexander Mandelbaum in Matzmiach Yeshua explains. Bavel, Paras, Yavan, and Edom were all shlichim of Hashem to punish us for our shortcomings. U’li’om Mi’Li’om Yeematz. Each one drew its strength from the power amassed by the Satan from our specific flaws, which then came to haunt us when waved by our enemies. Each one was the arch enemy of Hashem. In their treachery they tried to wipe out Hashem’s name k’viyachol and establish a kingdom of evil.

Not so Yishmael who draws its strength completely independent of Bnei Yisroel. Their strength comes from Avrohom Avinu and from the mitzva of mila. In fact Yishmael believes in the unity of Hashem unlike all the others, hence Hashem’s name in the name Yishmael. They don’t want to erase Hashem’s name but rather they staunchly spread Hashem’s name in everything they do.

So where does Yishmael go wrong? The Torah calls Yishmael a Pereh Adam. Rav Shamshon Refoel Hirsch says that Pereh means free and totally without limits. Yishmael takes what it wants regardless of who it belongs to or whether fair or not. They have no red lines and no compromise. It is not in their genetic composition and never will be. Morals, ethics, standards will never matter.

These two facets of Yishmael combine to create a state of devastating terror. They do as they please without any concern or respect for others, all in the name of Hashem. They do not seek to understand the will of Hashem only their own. Yet their every action and desire is said to be sanctioned by Hashem and for his honor. Neither the fear of retribution or death can stop this awesome people. Only from this unsurvivable Galus will Hashem finally rescue us forever.