The Blueprint for Saddam's Fate (1/7/07)

Over the past few weeks, there has been considerable talk in the media regarding the execution of Saddam Hussein. The notorious despot had been found guilty of killing over 148 Shias from the village of Dujail in the 1980s. While there is no doubt that Judaism holds high regard for the life of every single being in the world, including the 148 Shias, Saddam’s life and death was of great significance to Jews the world over--something which definitely could not be ignored; namely, his diehard hatred of the Jewish people and the Holy Land of Israel.

Who could ever forget Saddam’s launching of Scud missiles against Israel during the 1991 Gulf War, desperately trying to inflict heavy casualties on the Jewish? Years later, he encouraged suicide bombings by awarding substantial monetary rewards to the families of the bombers. And even after he was captured, he still harbored the same hatred. This is evident from the unofficial video of his execution (as everything that happens--whether official or not, whether appropriate or not—every incident ultimately serves a purpose), where you hear his last and final words, “Palestine is Arab!” Even when he was about to be executed, there was nothing else on his mind but the hatred for Israel.

In fact, Saddam personally considered himself the reincarnation of Nebuchadnezzar, the king who ruled Babylon in the 6th century BCE, who also possessed a tremendous hatred for the Jews. In fact, Nebuchadnezzar was the one who destroyed the first Holy Temple, exiling multitudes of Jews from Israel, while murdering untold numbers more.

Interestingly, the capture and execution of Saddam are similarly found in the Torah regarding the life of Esau, the progenitor of the Edomite Kingdom and Nebuchadnezzar, after whom Saddam modeled himself as their successor. Interestingly, Saddam’s last years parallel incidents in Esau’s life, which were read, in Synagogues during the same time of Saddam’s capture and execution.

After years of continuous hatred against his brother Jacob, Esau finally meets up with him in Parshas Vayishlach (Genesis 33). Ultimately, Jacob is saved and Esau walks away, leaving Jacob unharmed and no longer frightened of him. It was on December 13, 2003 when Saddam was captured, the day we read in Synagogues this particular section of the Torah. On that day we began to breathe a sigh of relief: Saddam is in custody and we are no longer concerned that he will rise again to power.

Subsequently, on December 30, 2006 we read in Synagogues (during Mincha service) the portion of Vayechi (Genesis 47-50) where Jacob is to be buried in Israel (in the Meoras Hamachpeila, where his wife Leah and parents were laid to rest). The Midrash relates how Esau intrudes, claiming he owns the rights to the burial site. Whereupon Chushim, the son of Dan, being deaf and not understanding what was going on, decapitates Esau. To his very embittered end, Esau fought against the Jews. Similarly, on this very same day (Shabbat, December,30) Saddam was executed. And with his very last breath, Saddam—like Esau before him--expressed his life-long desire to destroy Israel.

Let us hope that this is another step towards the ultimate eradication of all evil, thereby completing the protection of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel, with the coming of Moshiach.