At the rehabilitation ward in Tel Hashomer on Thursday morning, Lt. Col. (res.) Hadi Falah stood and purchased the IDF’s chametz in a moving ceremony. Falah was severely wounded during combat in the Gaza Strip. In a special gesture, he was chosen to perform the symbolic sale of the army’s chametz in the traditional ceremony led by the IDF Rabbinate.
One of the primary commandments of the Jewish holiday of Passover is get rid of all chametz, (foods with leavening agents). For centuries, Jews have sold the chametz to non-Jews for the duration of the holiday. The IDF holds an annual ceremony to sell all the army’s chametz before the holiday.
Honor for a Hero in Recovery
The ceremony was held at the “Back to Life” rehabilitation center at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, where Falah continues his recovery. He was joined by IDF Chief Rabbi Eyal Krim.
Rabbi Krim conducted the sale after receiving authorization from Defense Minister Israel Katz. Also in attendance were senior rabbinate officials and the hospital’s rabbi, Yoav Oknin.
The IDF Rabbinate noted that this year, chametz was sold in larger quantities than usual. As in recent years, the process was made accessible to IDF soldiers through an online platform, allowing them to participate in the sale remotely
