A moving ceremony was held today (Wednesday) at the "Hozrim L'chayim" (Returning to Life) Rehabilitation Department at Tel Hashomer Hospital: Lt. Col. Hadi Falah, a Bedouin officer in the IDF who was seriously injured in battle in the Gaza Strip about three months ago, signed a special agreement to purchase all of the chametz of Gush Etzion residents in preparation for Passover.
The idea was born during a meeting held during the service of Falah and Rabbi Akiva Weiss, who served as a liaison in the Nahal Brigade. During their meetings at the 'Brigade House,' a friendship developed between them, and in one of their conversations, Falah raised a surprising question: "You are a religious rabbi, right? So why do you sell the chametz every year to a Palestinian? Why not to me – a Bedouin who serves the country and loves the people of Israel?"
A few days after the conversation, disaster struck. The force's two humvees ran over explosives. Four soldiers were killed and six were wounded, including Falah. Rabbi Weiss, who saw his friend among the wounded, held his hand when he asked for water and said to him: "Hadi, I will not only bring you water – I will bring you a sale of chametz!"
Despite his serious injury, Falah did not forget his request. When Rabbi Weiss visited him in the hospital, Falah asked him with a smile: "Well, what about the chametz?
Weiss contacted Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, and told him the story. Rabbi Rimon said: "As soon as I heard the request from Hadi, a Bedouin lieutenant colonel, that he wanted to have chametz sold through him, I knew: Gush Etzion's chametz will be sold through him," said Rabbi Rimon. "It is a great privilege that the chametz will be sold to a person who sacrifices himself for the people of Israel and for our wonderful country. The Bedouin community is an amazing partner in the IDF and even paid a heavy price in this war. We are very happy with this important partnership."
Today, in a moving ceremony in the presence of Rabbi Rimon and several other rabbis, the sale was completed. Falah, who is still undergoing a long rehabilitation process, signed the documents for the sale of the chametz of thousands of residents of Gush Etzion.
Many communities from across the country requested to join the sale, including Caesarea, Tel Aviv, Efrat, and more.