Outgoing Chief Rabbis Yechiel Yonah Metzger and Moshe Shlomo Amar were not among the invited guests invited to take part in Wednesday’s, 8 Elul 5773 inauguration for the new chief rabbis. Rabbi David Lau and Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef were officially instated in their new posts as Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi and Rishon L’Tzion respectively.

The ceremony was held in the President’s Residence during the morning hours. Officials in the Chief Rabbinate of Israel stated the decision not to invite the outgoing rabbonim was disrespectful and another indicator of the politicization of the Chief Rabbinate.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)