According to journalist Aid Meir, there are some new and interesting developments in the case pertaining to former Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger. Police reportedly have a recording to Rav Metzger telling an assistant “If you take the blame in this case, I will give you a great deal of money as well as an apartment, just like Shula Zaken did for Ehud Olmert.”
To the rabbi’s poor luck, that aide who he hoped to plead guilty of the charges became the star state witness.
Earlier in the week the rabbi’s remand was extended for nine days. He was arrested following an investigation taking place during recent months, allegedly guilty of money laundering, tax evasion and other white collar crimes.
Reports state that the rabbi traveled abroad in his capacity as chief rabbi and it was during those official trips he raised money for tzedaka organizations, large sums of money. Reports state Rabbi Metzger took as much as 50% of donations as his commission. In addition he did not report that income.
Reports indicate the state has more than one key witness against the former chief rabbi and the prosecutor is releasing statements that the case against the rabbi is quite air tight and the indictment against him will be a most serious one.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
oooh, what a bad!
So here are the heinous crimes:
He took a commission on what he collected, passed the checks through another organization and never paid taxes on that.
About half the country of Israel are in the same boat.
[Yawn]
#2- Your tolerance for crime and corruption speaks volumes. And while what he did may (sadly) be commonplace and acceptable within parts of the Charedi community, it is not so outside of it. And let’s not forget that the rabbi was collecting money from people outside the Charedi community, who thought they were giving money for the needy and had no reason to suspect that the Chief Rabbi of Israel was lining his own pockets with their money. It is not only theft, it is meillah of caspei tzdakkah, a horrible misuse of the public office that was entrusted to him (and thanks, once again, to UTJ for getting him appointed instead of harav Ariel), a terrible chilul hashem and bizyon hatorah. And if all that causes you to yawn, well, God bless.