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rewarded. Yishmael’s mixed marriages and illegitimacy will be apparent
from the Heavenly Registry and they will no longer be able to request
reward for this mitzvah. Am Yisrael, on the other hand, will be found
worthy of reward, in line with their authenticity and high fidelity to the
Torah.

The Ba’al Shem Tov zt”l explains the etymology behind Yishmael’s

name. Avraham Avinu made it his life’s mission to spread the belief in

Hashem. The Hebrew letters of the name can be rearranged to

form the letters , there is a One Above. Avraham helped others

to realize that our world has a Heavenly Superior and all should

acknowledge Hashem as the Creator. This message was implanted into

their consciousness by calling his son, Yishmael.

Yishmael displayed his unsuitability for his name when he began to adopt
ways which bordered on idol worship. Avraham referred to him as a ‘lad,’
and Sarah referred to him without mentioning him by name, calling him,
“Son of the slave woman” instead.

Sarah Imeinu objected to any contact between Yitzchak and Yishmael.
Hashem agreed to Sarah’s opposition, and so the Torah finished recording
all there is about Yishmael before it began to chronicle the life of Yitzchak
in parashat Toldot. This is another explanation why the Torah records
Yishmael’s demise at the end of this parashah.