While the sudden death of the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, may the name of the wicked rot, on the 11th of Iyar 5784 (May 19, 2024), was perceived by the sane world as a joyful surprise, it did not surprise those who listen to the teachings of our teacher, the holy and righteous Gaon Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days).

In a lesson given by our teacher Rabbi Berland shlit"a on the 7th of Iyar 5784 (May 15, 2024), four days before the blessed helicopter accident, the Rav predicted the surprising death of the President of Iran.

These are his holy words:

We read at the end of Parshas Toldos (regarding the connection between Ishmael and Esau), "And he went to Paddan-aram" (Genesis 28:5)... "And Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, the sister of Nebaioth."

Who does it interest that she is the "sister of Nebaioth"?

Rather, this comes to teach that Ishmael passed away immediately. Because the plan was that immediately after the wedding, he would impersonate Isaac; he would put some bomb in his carriage. He would come to the wedding or [at the time] when they were eating during the Sheva Brachos (seven days of wedding festivities); this was the plan of Ishmael and Esau to assassinate Isaac.

Esau arranged the entire plan; everything was set to assassinate Isaac in a second—but he didn't manage it because Ishmael passed away on him.

Hashem (God) always makes it so that Ishmael passes away, or Biden passes away, or el-Sisi the President of Egypt passes away, or Khomeini of Persia, who is a direct descendant of Haman.