Channel 2 News correspondent Yair Sherki reported that the Chief Rabbinates of Israel has informed former Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger they will be stripping him of his rabbinical ordination in light of the criminal convictions against him.
Rabbi Metzger is currently serving a jail term after being convicted on an array of white collar charges including pocketing substantial sums of tzedaka money he collected.
Channel 2 reported the rav was given 21 days to respond to the Chief Rabbinate on his own behalf before unilateral action is taken.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
I don’t believe that he pocketed any tzedaka money . People love to tear down the next person because they think that this will elevate them and give them an emergency boost that is so desperately needed. Destroying another person, this is their bread and butter.
Could I have his hat?
Totally agree. People love bringing down others.
Baruch Hashem.
#1- While I agree with your general observation it does not apply to this case: Mr. Metzger confessed and entered a ‘guilty’ plea.
If a Rabbi were to need money for basic housing needs then it is absolutely not theft! You can’t expect him or his family to live on the sidewalk! He pleaded guilty to get a more favorable outcome in the court case as the mindset of the courts doesn’t understand tzedakah and all the ramifications.
Who do you “Revoke Semicha”?
He was the landlord for my friend’s apartment. Now his son-in-law deals with it, it was apparently one of the few things not seized by the court for being bought with shvartzgelt/corrupt funds. Not a pleasant story.