An Officer’s Holy Purchase

In the chaos of war, the most unexpected connections often emerge. During his service with the Nachal Brigade in Gaza, Rabbi Akiva Dovid Weiss developed a friendship with Hadi Falach, a Druze lieutenant colonel who commanded the army’s Druze and Bedouin trackers. Their connection began simply enough—conversations over tea and coffee at Brigade Headquarters, moments of respite amid conflict.

During one such conversation, Hadi posed a question that caught Rabbi Weiss off guard: “Akiva, you’re a religious rabbi, yes? So tell me, why is that the Rabanut Hareishit of Israel each year sells their chametz to a non-Jew who doesn’t do the army? I’m an officer in the IDF and I love and support the state and the Jewish people? How come they don’t give this honor to purchase the chametz to someone like me? Can you arrange for me to be the one who purchases the chametz?”

For those unfamiliar, before Passover, Jews are commanded to remove all leavened products (chametz) from their possession. Since discarding large quantities of food would be wasteful, especially for businesses and institutions, Jewish law permits temporarily selling chametz to a non-Jew until after the holiday ends. This transaction, called mechirat chametz, is typically arranged through a Rabbi who acts on behalf of the community. It’s both a practical solution and a meaningful ritual that has taken place for generations.

This sincere inquiry from a man of a different faith, yet deeply committed to Israel’s protection, points to something profound about interfaith relationships—they often begin not with grand philosophical discussions but with genuine curiosity about each other’s practices.

For Christians and Jews, our faiths are distinct yet interwoven. We share sacred texts, foundational stories, and ethical frameworks, yet we interpret and practice them differently. This relationship is not about erasing differences or creating theological compromises but about finding points of meaningful connection despite our differences.

The prophet Isaiah envisioned a time when “many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths'” (Isaiah 2:3).

This vision doesn’t suggest all nations will become identical in their worship but that diverse peoples can still find common ground in seeking divine wisdom.

What makes Hadi’s question so remarkable is that it goes beyond mere tolerance. He wasn’t simply acknowledging Jewish practices—he wanted to actively participate in supporting them. In a world that often focuses on the minimum standard of peaceful coexistence, Hadi’s request represents something far more beautiful: the desire to help others fulfill their faith commitments.

Two weeks after their conversation, tragedy struck. Hamas detonated eight roadside bombs in an ambush. Four soldiers were killed, and six wounded—including Hadi. As Rabbi Weiss helped with evacuation efforts, he found himself holding Hadi’s hand as the wounded officer lay on a stretcher.

“Akiva, water. Please get me some water,” Hadi requested.

Hoping to lift his friend’s spirits, Rabbi Weiss responded, “Hadi, I’m not just going to get you water, I’m going to get you mechirat chametz!” Even in his pain, Hadi smiled and then laughed.

A few weeks later, when visiting Hadi during his recovery, the Druze officer hadn’t forgotten. With a twinkle in his eye, he asked, “Nu, Akiva? What’s with the mechirat chametz?” Rabbi Weiss laughed and told him, “I’m working on it!”

After reaching out to several rabbis without success, Rabbi Weiss took a chance and approached Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon, the rabbi of Gush Etzion, asking for advice on how to fulfill this promise. To his complete surprise and delight, Rabbi Rimon responded: “We’ll sell him all of the chametz of Gush Etzion!” Rabbi Rimon then had the Rabbi of Alon Shvut, Rabbi Vightman, contact Hadi to review the process, and arrangements were made for Hadi to purchase the community’s chametz for Passover.

This story reflects the spirit of what the prophet Zechariah described when he wrote:

This passage isn’t about conversion but about recognizing the divine presence within another’s tradition and wanting to honor it.

As Christians and Jews, we can draw inspiration from Hadi’s example. True interfaith relationships aren’t merely about polite dialogue—they’re about recognizing the authentic devotion in each other’s practices and asking how we might support one another in our distinct spiritual journeys.

The ceremony to formalize Hadi’s role in purchasing chametz will occur at Tel HaShomer hospital, where he continues to recover from his wounds. This location itself speaks volumes—a place of healing becoming a place of interfaith connection.

The story of Rabbi Weiss and Hadi offers us a powerful model for genuine interfaith relationships. Their connection wasn’t built on abstract theological discussions but on practical support and mutual respect. It reminds us that meaningful bridges between different faith traditions often emerge not from formal dialogue but from authentic human connection and a willingness to participate in each other’s journeys.

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