Former Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger seems to have complicated his situation as he was recorded incriminating himself in a conversation with the star state witness against him.
The rav stands accused of tax evasion and accepting 7 million NIS in bribes http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/284848/former-chief-rabbi-metzger-likely-to-be-indicted.html during his tenure as Chief Rabbi, money that was laundered, in some cases by buying apartments for his family members.
In the latest episode the rav, who was released from prison with restrictions and is not supposed to speak with the state witness, his former driver and close confidant, spoke to the witness. Channel 2 reports that he told him “not to sell me out. If you do so you will be finished in the frum community. You will be a moiser”.
The rav is heard promising to take care of the witness for the remainder of his life and pay him whatever he wants so he never has to worry again. “I am not done. My career is not over and I will be back” Rabbi Metzger explains as he seeks to persuade the witness to recant his testimony as state witness.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
This story is only just starting. There is a whole other side to Rabbi Metzger which some of the boys are slowly accepting it is right to make public. When that happens it will make tax evasion, money laundering and bribe taking seem child’s play.
And let’s all thank UTJ for fighting tooth and nail to appoint R’ Metzger as Chief Rabbi. We could have had harav Yaakov Ariel but he was deemed ‘too Zionist’ by UTJ.
UTJ’s support for Rav Metzger was per Rav Elyashiv zt”l’s instructions. Only a prophet could have known that these allegations would surface. And let’s please not convict anyone in the media; let’s wait for the authentic Torah psak-din that will emanate from the secular judges. And let’s not get into zionist rabbis who were also convicted (in secular court!) of a horrendous crime a year or two ago. And in any case, Rav Metzger makes no attempt to hide the knitted kippa that he wears under his homberg.
Why is this whole report and comments not Lashon Hora? Maybe it’s time for Rabbi Hoffman to post the halachos as they pertain to media outlets.
I wish avreimi (commenter #1) was wrong, but I am afraid he is right. In choosing him, the chareidim succeeded in neutering the position of chief rabbi.
Why is this not lashon harah?
#3
While you’re correct that others of a different persuasion had their scandals covered over , that is of little import.
Backing Metzger was indeed a bad mistake
It was already concerning to me back then