Jewish Scene
Chief Rabbi Metzger suspends himself
Kobi Nachshoni
Published: 23.06.13, 11:01
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25 Talkbacks for this article
1. In the meantime all chiloni MKs
(06.23.13)
are free to continue their fraud and bribe (as heard from an insider).
2. Chief Rabbi Metzger
Son Of Cyrus ,   UK   (06.23.13)
Evidently he has the proper credentials to apply for a Job in the Ayatollah's Regime of Islamic Republic of Iran! They will welcome him with open arms and would offer him a high profile position in their government!
3. Divrei Chaim
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (06.23.13)
When under police investigation the only proper course is to step down from all public duties pending the outcome of the investigation. Everyone seems to agree except one resident of Bridge Lane in NW London!
4. That was the right thing to do
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (06.23.13)
there must not be any suspicion on acts of bribery or similar acts on a chief rabbi . Such a position requires a 100 % clean record . He did the right thing now , sad he had to do it .
5. Highly Irregular and Most Inappropriate
Arielush ,   Ramat Ha Golan   (06.23.13)
According to standards set by his predecessors this is very unusual. It's usually the norm to cling on for as long as possible. Guilty or not. Metzger has won my respect for behaving like a mensh.
6. Atheists in government relish roast preacher for dinner.
Rivkah   (06.23.13)
They just are not happy unless someone who is religious falls or is destroyed by them. They will find their reward in hell when they learn there really is a God. Are the religious Jews in Israel to be as persecuted as in other nations? Then Israel is not a nation for Jews who are Jews in their hearts but for atheists and thugs.
7. Suspend himself...
Erez ,   London   (06.23.13)
...an unfortunate choice of words.
8. He needs to dismiss himself
Dror ,   Haifa, Israel   (06.23.13)
He needs to step down completely. Many sources very close to him and distant from him have had very unflattering things to say about him. Including unsavory accusations of molestation. Get him gone... Find a humble and truly righteous man to take his place. This is nothing new to Jewish history. Many high priests were corrupt just before the destruction of the Second Temple.
9. 2 Son of Cyrus, UK: What a horrid thing to say.
Rivkah   (06.23.13)
Scriptures says not to speak evil of the leader of the people. You have no respect for Jewish religious authority which means you have no respect for the authority of HaShem. Even Rabbi Yehoshua of Nazareth would not condemn or speak evil of the Chief Rabbi Caiphas when he was wrongly condemned to death. Such was His respect for the authority of God that was bestowed upon Caiphas even though Caiphas himself was not worthy to be in the position.
10. 3 Sherlock Holmes: In the USA, it used to be a person was
Rivkah   (06.23.13)
considered to be innocent until proven guilty, but that is no longer true in the USA or other countries where people are considered to be guilty until proven innocent.
11. #9 - Rivkah - thanks
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (06.23.13)
Another good reason not to be religious. Not to speak the truth because of a person's position?!? Sounds like Iran.
12. Metzger
Ed Codish ,   Pardessiya   (06.23.13)
In the absence of an acting chief Ashkenazi rabbi, how will we Ashkenazim know what to do? Ed Codish
13. #9 Rivkah
Son Of Cyrus ,   UK   (06.23.13)
Shalom and Dorood to you Dear Rivkah! I have always enjoyed your posts, however, unfortunately I do not agree with your take this time! By self suspension this gentleman whom I only became aware of for the first time through this article has implicitly acknowledged that has has done something wrong. I am a very strong believer in Ahura Mazda/Hashem/Christ so please be advised that I am not an atheist. I am sure time will tell on his wrong doings based on evidence which will hold up in a court of law. No one should be allowed to be above the law because that is all we have as human beings to hold the fabrics of our society and moral and decent codes of conduct for one and all, in particular the priest class of people among us. Most Mullahs in Iran are charlatans and using religion for their own worldly gains and if and when this gentleman's misdeeds are proven he is no better than them. I have always respected and admired the Israeli Society for building a wonderful country based on the existence of our good lord the creator and has managed to keep its government on principles of freedom of choice and democracy. Otherwise Israel will end up being a Jewish version of the Islamic Republic Of Iran which is run by autocracy and Ayatollah-cracy!
14. A rabbi under investigation ?
Ralph ,   Caesarea   (06.23.13)
What a surprise!
15. Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi?
Robert ,   NY USA   (06.23.13)
He sure wasn't very good at it ;)
16. Leiberman needs to muzzle his sh-t also
Ricky ,   The Bronx   (06.23.13)
Why does Leiberman still have a voice in the affairs of Israel and the Jewish people? This man, Leiberman is and will be a convicted criminal of same such said and worse crimes. We'll be hearing from this thug in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,0,,, here comes Leiberman with his criminal opinionated a-- self,,,, Oh please G-d save us. LOL, there are STANDARDS and DOUBLE STANDARDS. Rabbis are human too and can fall short of the "Glory", "Thou Shall not Covet", all of Israel can learn from this, now lets have some PEACE, speaking of PEACE,,, Lady Rivkah haven't heard from you in awhile,,, lots going on,,,, as we approach,,,,,,,,,,,,,,PEACE.
17. 15 Where do you see , he is guilty?
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (06.23.13)
18. 13 Son of Cyrus, UK: The stress of being accused of wrong
Rivkah   (06.23.13)
doing is such that it requires all of most people's savings to fight and all their strength which is reason enough to resign even if innocent. In an elderly person such as Rabbi Yona Metzger, the stress can cause a stroke or heart attack. One has to focus all one's attention on the judicial situation. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. No one should be above the law if the law is within HaShem's scope of what is wrong. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with accepting a discount at a hotel for a room from those who respect the person or for other reasons. To destroy a Chief Rabbi for accepting the kindness of others is akin to murdering the person since to destroy a person's reputation is equal to HaShem to killing the person. The blood of the person killed or slandered, libeled or perjured cries out for vengeance to HaShem and if the person belongs to HaShem, it is avenged. That is why is is wise not to prosecute a person in HaShem's camp unless there is absolute proof and a conviction is certain. Otherwise, vengeance come from the Lord and it is horrific and on all those in the sphere of authority that was misused.
19. Hopefully...
Michael ,   Haifa   (06.23.13)
...he will get his day in court
20. #18 Jews for Jesus not Welcome
Dror ,   Haifa, Israel   (06.23.13)
Crawl back under the rock from which you came. You are not fooling anyone..
21. Listen good all of you self righteous igiots
Dror ,   Haifa, Israel   (06.23.13)
A crook is a crook is a crook regardless of what position they hold. Time to clean up the Rabbinate, just like it is time to clean up JNF and all the other charitable institutions in Israel. Thieving nepotistic crooks. That is IT!!! enough is enough!!!
22. #1 - Can we stick to the truth and NOT Catch Phrases
Joe ,   Sydney Australia   (06.24.13)
You are totally correct. This whole thing is a sting on the religious and the Chiloni MKs are laughing.... except Moshe Katzav Olmert Ariel Sharons son Arei Deri etc.... It seems that the judicial system focuses ONLY on the relgious in an attempt to demonise them
23. Dror , 20 . she's not Jewish at all
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (06.24.13)
only a crippled mind in a wheelchair , who prefers het cat above humans . She does not have children , too expensive . All this was told by this "person" . She also tol us that she was abused , divorced .
24. Guess his royal holliness never heard of morality
Haim ,   TA   (06.25.13)
And this is the man preaching to others on morality, just goes to show the true face of the rabbinute and other so called religious institutions.
25. Number 10. Innocent til proved guilty
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (07.01.13)
We do asume a person is innocent until proved guilty. The point of stepping down is to avoid witness tampering and to allow the accused to focus on replying to the allegations. Regarding the hotel discount the false allegation was that there was a conflict of interest because the Rabbinate gave the hotel its hechsher, while overlooking that the Chief Rabbi had no direct say in the hechsher issued by the local rabbinate.
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