A touching event took place today at the Chozrim L’chayim Rehabilitation Department at Tel Hashomer Hospital. Lt. Col. Hadi Falah, a Bedouin officer in the IDF who suffered severe injuries during a battle in the Gaza Strip about three months ago, signed a special agreement to purchase all of the chametz from the residents of Gush Etzion in preparation for Pesach.
The idea originated from a conversation between Falah and Rabbi Akiva Weiss, who served as a liaison in the Nachal Brigade. Their discussions at the ‘Brigade House’ led to the formation of a friendship, and during one of their talks, Falah asked a surprising question: “You are a religious rabbi, right? So why do you sell the chometz every year to a Palestinian? Why not to me – a Bedouin who serves the country and loves the people of Israel?”
Just days after this exchange, tragedy struck. The unit’s two Humvees hit explosives, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and the injury of six others, including Falah. Rabbi Weiss, who saw Falah among the wounded, held his hand when he asked for water and assured him, “Hadi, I will not only bring you water – I will bring you a sale of chometz!”
Despite his serious injuries, Falah did not forget his request. When Rabbi Weiss visited him in the hospital, Falah, with a smile, inquired, “Well, what about the chometz?”
Rabbi Weiss reached out to Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon, the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, to share the story. Rabbi Rimon responded: “As soon as I heard the request from Hadi, a Bedouin lieutenant colonel, that he wanted to have chometz sold through him, I knew: Gush Etzion’s chometz will be sold through him,” said Rabbi Rimon. “It is a great privilege that the chometz 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.”
In a heartfelt ceremony today, with the presence of Rabbi Rimon and other rabbonim, the sale was finalized. Falah, who is still undergoing a lengthy rehabilitation, signed the documents to officially purchase the chometz from thousands of Gush Etzion residents. Communities from all over the country, including Caesarea, Tel Aviv, Efrat, and more, requested to join in the sale.

{Matzav.com Israel}