A Modern Myth: Ancient Predictions and ISIS

A frequently shared image online, allegedly from Yalkut Shimoni

The spread of rumors online continues, now with an image purportedly from Yalkut Shimoni, supposedly documenting a chilling prophecy about ISIS and the end of days.

The message claims that 'Daesh' is an acronym for 'Esau shedding blood' and that numerologically, Daesh equals 'Achishena'. It suggests that the 'ISIS entity' will cause turmoil, strife, and a large war among the seventy nations, with these nations fighting and killing each other, while only the Jewish people will be protected, as written, 'Hashem will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.' It also claims that as this entity (ISIS) gains power, they will hasten the redemption and trigger the war of Gog and Magog, as in 'I will stir Egypt against Egypt; they shall fight everyone against his brother, everyone against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.'

According to the WhatsApp messages, the source is Yalkut Shimoni, but upon examining Yalkut, specifically in the section on Beshalach around the verse 'And Miriam the prophetess took the tambourine in her hand,' there is no mention of ISIS.

The real page from Yalkut Shimoni. No mention of ISIS.

So what's the real story?

The content was written in a book published last year by the kabbalist Rabbi Chaim Adani. In a conversation with 'Hidabroot,' Rabbi Adani said: "I wrote these things last year and quoted them in this year's weekly newsletter that we distribute. The person who spread it as if it was from Yalkut Shimoni or another ancient text called me and apologized - he said he made it up because he wanted people to believe in the content"...

The original newsletter where the Torah thoughts appeared, allegedly from Yalkut Shimoni.