At the instruction of Israeli Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, the chief rabbis of Israel sold all of the chometz owned by the state to an Arab Israeli businessman, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel announced.
The sale has “halachic and legal validity and allows the citizens of Israel to properly observe the commandments of Pesach without the fear of chometz remaining in their possession,” the Chief Rabbinate said.
Hussein Jabar, 64, from the Arab town of Abu Ghosh west of Israel’s capital, paid a deposit of 20,000 shekels ($5,300).
After Yom Tov, he will be offered the possibility of completing the transaction, which has an estimated total value of $150 billion.
“The ceremony took place at 11 a.m. at the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in Yerushalayim. It felt very dignified. It made me proud and it was moving,” Jabar told JNS on Sunday night after signing the agreement.
“I put together a team of experts in the food and catering business from Abu Ghosh. We are about 10 people, and we designed a plan to raise the money. Hopefully, this year, we will make it happen,” Jabar said.
If Jabar and his partners fail to raise the total amount before the end of Pesach on the night of April 30, the ownership will revert to the state.
Jabar took over the task some 28 years ago after the previous buyer, also from Abu Ghosh, was relieved of his duties when it was discovered his maternal grandmother may have been Jewish.
At Yerushalayim’s Ramada Hotel, where he has worked for about 40 years, Jabar met with Rav Yisroel Meir Lau, then-Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, who suggested he take the job.
Jabar said on Sunday, “My family is really happy for me. They love it. By doing this, I feel that I am creating a connection between the Jews and the Arabs in Israel, bridging the gap between both communities.”
As Israel enters its seventh month of war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre of some 1,200 people, Jabar expressed a wish for quieter times. “I hope we will soon have peace and only good news for everyone. I wish the people of Israel a kosher and happy Pesach,” he told JNS.
As part of the ceremony, Smotrich authorized the chief rabbis, Rav Dovid Lau and Rav Yitzchok Yosef, to carry out the mechirah on behalf of the state.
“Since the chag of Simchas Torah, when the terrible disaster happened to us, we have been praying for the success of the security forces,” said Rav Yosef. “We need to continue to pray for our soldiers, who give their lives and fight on the northern and southern borders and wherever they are.”
Rav Lau said, “Our neighbors want to destroy us and make us forget the joy, but the entire nation of Israel has stood up to fight for its home, for our essence as the Jewish people—we are not ready to give up on that.” JNS