As I have mentioned in my previous articles, prophecies are coming true in our days. Events that the Torah and Neviim prophesied about thousands of years ago, discussing the end of times, are unfolding before our eyes. It is essential to delve deeper into these prophecies, as they are increasingly relevant to the current events happening to us daily. One such profound insight comes from Rav Chaim Vital, a student of the Arizal, in his Etz Daas Tov commentary on Tehillim 124:

We already know from the Neviim, particularly Daniel, that there are four exiles: Bavel, Madai, Yavan, and Edom. However, in the future, at the end of the days, there will be another golus , Yishmoel. This fifth galus will be the final one and more challenging than all the four previous ones. Yishmoel is called a פּרא אדם. This is the meaning of Dovid Hamelech’s words: “If not for Hashem being with us, Odom would come against us.” Yishmoel was called “odom” because he had the merit of being a son of Avrohom and having a bris milah, which makes this golus so much harder.

How do you translate פּרא אדם? A remarkable midrash on Esther Rabbah 1:17 presents places and nations that have disproportionate amounts of various characteristics:

תָּנֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי נָתָן מֵעֲשָׂרָה מִדּוֹת אֵלּוּ,

It is taught in the name of Rabbi Noson about these ten measures:

עֲשָׂרָה חֲלָקִים שֶׁל טִפְּשׁוּת בָּעוֹלָם, תִּשְׁעָה בַּיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים וְאֶחָד בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם.

There are ten portions of foolishness in the world, nine among the Ishmoelim and one in the rest of the world.

The Radal writes in midrash rabbah Bereishis16:12 that Yishmoel is called a פּרא אדם, which translates to “wild donkey of a man.”

What does פּרא אדם have to do with foolishness טִפְּשׁוּת? We all know what foolishness means; it implies brainlessness and a lack of intelligence. Why not call Arabs cockroaches? Cockroaches keep popping up even when killed, much like the recurring threats from Gaza. But the term “wild ass” is used instead. Donkeys are known to be highly unintelligent and brainless—that is what foolishness means.

Did all those Arabs who committed such atrocities on October 7th think they would get away with killing over 1200 Jews? Are they nuts? No country in the world would accept such a thing. Why do they do it? Because they are like wild asses, completely brainless and foolish. In fact, the Iranian regime knows this and uses proxies around Israel to do their dirty work. These proxies, motivated by money, include groups like Hezbollah and others in Yemen and neighboring countries—all Arabs. Do you think Yemen would dare to attack America? They wouldn’t, but their foolishness drives them to irrational actions.

This lack of intelligence is evident on university campuses around the world, such as America, England, Europe, and Australia, where Arabs demonstrate and use violence under the guise of freedom of speech. Countries are now taking measures by banning these Arabs and revoking visas. Didn’t they consider the consequences of their actions? It’s not their country, but they still act foolishly. The Malach said to Hagar, “Your children will be numerous, but they will be wild asses,” highlighting their lack of intelligence.

Hagar did not complain when the Malach said her children would be טִפְּשׁוּת, brainless fools. What type of blessing is that? However, the verse says something fascinating:

ה֤וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ יָד֣וֹ בַכֹּ֔ל וְיַ֥ד כֹּ֖ל בּ֑וֹ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו יִשְׁכֹּֽן “His hand will be upon all, and everyone’s hand upon him, and before all his brothers he will dwell.”

Onkelos explains in English:

וְהוּא יְהֵא מָרוֹד בֶּאֱנָשָׁא הוּא יְהֵא צְרִיךְ לְכֹלָּא וִידָא דִבְנֵי אֲנָשָׁא יְהוֹן צְרִיכִין לֵיהּ וְעַל אַפֵּי כָל אֲחוֹהִי יִשְׁרֵי: “He will be a wild, uncivilized man [he will rebel against people]. His hand [will be] against everyone [He will need everyone] and everyone’s hand will be against him [and everyone’s hand will need him]; and in the presence of all his brothers he will dwell.”

One of my Rebbes interpreted this as referring to the Arabs owning oil. This could be why President Biden stopped oil production in America, to fulfill this prophecy and blessing for Hagar. They would not worry about financials; they have so much money, and we see today that the success of the Arabs is only through the oil they have. And that is a blessing, but nevertheless, the concept of foolishness remains. No parent wants their children to be considered foolish or brainless, as it implies a lack of foresight and understanding of the consequences of their actions.

So what type of blessing is it to be called a wild ass? An appearing contradiction in the verse.

Ramban answers this dilemma on the verse in Bereishis 16:12: תענה שרי ותברח מפניה חטאה אמנו בענוי הזה וגם אברהם בהניחו לעשות כן ושמע ה’ אל עניה ונתן לה בן שיהא פרא אדם לענות זרע אברהם ושרה בכל מיני הענוי: “Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from before her face. Our mother did transgress by this affliction, and Abraham also by his permitting her to do so. And so, G-d heard her [Hagar’s] affliction and gave her a son who would be a wild-ass of a man, to afflict the seed of Avroham and Sora with all kinds of affliction.”

In order to afflict all types of afflictions, one has to be טִפְּשׁוּת, refusing to submit to the norms of society—a coarse mentality. That is the characteristic of פּרא אדם, a wild ass of a man who does not accept societal norms. Although it sounds strange, the Arabs being טִפְּשׁוּת is not a negative; rather, it is a positive trait that allows them to afflict the Jewish people due to Sarai, our mother. חטאה אמנו בענוי הזה (our mother did transgress by this affliction). The latest catastrophe by the Arabs on the seventh of October exactly corresponds to what the Torah prophesied. That is why Hagar did not complain and question such a blessing from the Malach. It was an atonement for what Sarai afflicted her.

Dear readers, please do not get despondent; this is not going to go on forever. This affliction from the Arabs will cause the Final Redemption to happen, as Rav Chaim Vital writes further that Yishmoel’s name is ישמעאל because in the future, Klal Yisroel will cry out immensely at the end of days to Hashem due to the affliction caused by the Arabs, and then ישמעם קל, Hashem will hear them and bring the Final Redemption.