THE MERIT OF SARAH
Several weeks ago, an incredible drama took place in the skies over Saudi Arabia. A wild man who happened to be an airline pilot tried to destroy a plane filled with Jews. Hashem in His infinite mercy miraculously saved the plane and its passengers.
This is only the latest chapter in the history of a violent nation whose origin is described in this week’s Parsha, as it says, “And [Yishmoel] will be a wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him.”
In a fascinating article in Mishpacha Magazine (November 8, 2023) Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg discussed the Ishmaelite Exile. Many classic sources predict that Am Yisroel will undergo four exiles, the final one being Golus Edom – the Exile of Rome -- which began with the destruction of Bayis Shaini and has lasted until this very day. But our rabbonim tell us there will be another Golus, a Fifth Exile, which will be different from the first four, and that is Golus Yishmael.
“No exile will be as oppressive to the Jewish people as the Ishmaelite Exile.” (Zohar) Rabbi Chaim Vital writes, “At the End of Days, Israel is destined to experience the Ishmaelite exile. This fifth and final exile will be the most difficult of all. It is the exile of Yishmael, who is called ‘pe’re adam,’ a wild man.” (Seen in The Ishmaelite Exile)
What is different about Golus Yishmoel? Rabbi Ginzberg quotes sources which say that the nations which dominated us in the first four exiles had no intrinsic merits to strengthen them; it was rather our spiritual weakness which caused these exiles. When we did teshuva those exiles ended. But the Fifth Exile is different, because Yishmael may have certain “innate” merits which give him formidable strength.
What merits could this wild man possibly possess?
Bris milah, for one thing; Yishmoel had a bris. (Beraishis 17:23) And Yishmoel had the bracha of his father, Avraham Avinu. (Beraishis 17:18) Yishmael has another merit: his descendants are not embarrassed about their religion; they will kneel and pray on a public street. And their women have the merit of tznius; they cover themselves in public. In addition, Yishmael is the only nation – aside from Yisroel, lehavdil -- in whose name we find the Name of Hashem!
Until recently, Yishmael consisted mainly of nomadic tribes roaming the desert sands, but today they have spread over the entire globe, dominating many lands, apparently in accordance with the bracha their progenitor received in this week’s Parsha, in which Hashem says, “[I] will increase him exceedingly.” (Beraishis 17:20) And their goal is clear: to steal our title to the Holy Land of Israel, for which they are willing to sacrifice their lives. How can we deal with this powerful threat?
Please listen to this amazing thought: the Sefas Emes writes, “whereas the redemption from Egypt was accelerated in the merit of the Patriarchs, this merit may no longer be available for contemporary generations,” as it says (Shabbos 55a), “the merit of the patriarchs has expired.”
Oy! If we no longer have zechus Avos, what will save us!
The Sefas Emes continues: “however, the final redemption will still occur in the merit of the Matriarchs, the mothers of the Jewish People! Hashem will skip over the hills (reference to Shir ha Shirim 2:8) – meaning the obstacles to Moshiach’s arrival -- in the merit of the gentle compassionate women who built and nurtured the Jewish People, for their merit is forever!” (Seen in Artscroll’s Sefas Emes on the Three Festivals)
My friends, this is cosmic! The merit of the Matriarchs never ends! Although Sarah Imeinu was gentle and compassionate, she had greater strength than her husband in certain ways. She saw clearly Yishmael’s threat to their son Yitzchak Avinu. She – not Avraham -- had the strength and vision to protect Yitzchak by causing Yishmael to be expelled from their home!
My friends, in the merit of our Mother Sarah, we can forever destroy the threat from the wild man, the pe’re adam. Her merits will heal us. As it says, “al titosh Toras imecha … do not forsake the teaching of your mother!” (Mishlei 1:8) She was the one who cleansed the house of Avraham Avinu. She established the merit of the Jewish Mother, “aim habanim semaicha … the happy mother of holy children.” (Tehillim 113) She implanted within her children the qualities of compassion, love and unity. If we work to acquire her merits, we can eradicate violence from our hearts and bring Shalom to Am Yisroel, ending the sinas chinom which destroyed the Bais Hamikdosh and sent us into this terrible Golus. Then the light that burned in Sarah’s tent will once again be kindled, as says, “v’arichas ner l’ven Yishai … and [we will] prepare a lamp for the son of Yishai….” (Yomam Noraim davening)
In the merit or Sarah Imeinu may we soon greet the Redeemer, Moshiach ben Dovid, who will usher in the Great Light of Redemption, may we see it soon with our own eyes!
The Arab neighborhood of Shuafat in Yerushalayim
GLOSSARY
Bais Hamikdosh: the Holy Temple
Lehavdil: to differentiate
Son of Yishai: King David and his descendant, the Moshiach ben Dovid
Teshuva: repentance
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