Yona Metzger
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Yona Metzger (יונה מצגר) (born 1953) is the current Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, appointed in 2003. His counterpart is Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel. He is the first sabra Chief Rabbi.
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[edit] Background
Rabbi Metzger was born in Haifa. He served in the IDF as a chaplain, fought in several wars in the 7th Armored Tank Brigade, and was discharged with the rank of captain. He is the youngest Chief Rabbi in Israel's history. Rabbi Metzger received his ordination from the Yeshivat Kerem BeYavne hesder yeshiva before working as a religious teacher. He served as rabbi of the Tiferet Zvi Synagogue in Tel Aviv and was later appointed regional rabbi of northern Tel Aviv. [1] Metzger has written ten books, two of which were awarded prizes by the President of Israel. He is also the former head of a publishing house.
While Metzger is from a National Religious family and educational background, he has been closely identified with Haredi Judaism, and often seeks the advice of Degel HaTorah's spiritual leader Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv. Some observers have claimed that this makes Metzger an excellent candidate to represent both communities, with one reporter calling him " undoubtedly the most moderate and most Zionist candidate."[2] His supporters have often compared him to his immediate predecessor, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, who was seen as having a foot in every camp, which helped him in dealing with different kinds of Jews, particularly secular ones. However, others have suggested that the perception of Metzger not having a "real base" has in fact hurt his credibility. Some Religious Zionists consider Metzger to have "sold out" to the haredim [3], and while the haredim are happy to have someone loyal to their camp in the post, they do not really consider Metzger to be a member of their community [4]. The fact that he was largely undistinguished in either group prior to the election has not helped his prestige. A 2003 Jerusalem Post article included an interview with several students at the Religious Zionist Bar-Ilan University where one man commented, "We don't consider Metzger to be one of our own". [5]
[edit] Term as Chief Rabbi
Since becoming Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Metzger has been very active in attempting to reach out to various diverse groups of people, both Jews and non-Jews. His many high-profile relationships and cooperations with leaders of other faiths and nationalities are reminiscient with the "international" reputation of his predecessor, Rabbi Lau. Rabbi Metzger has attempted to facilitate the maintaining of kashrut standards in Israel by employing technology, for instance, by activating steam pumps for cooking meat via cell phone in order to avoid issues of bishul akum, (the cooking of food by a non-Jew). [6]. Metzger has also been involved in strengthening ties between Israeli and Diaspora standards of kashrut in order to make them more standardized and consistent. [7]
Rabbi Metzger has been a prominent activist in attempting to keep up public interest in the cases of several "lost Israelis", notably Jonathan Pollard and Ron Arad. He has repeatedly brought up Arad in the course of official meetings with various Muslim dignitaries. [8], [9] Metzger has also been involved in keeping up the pressure on both the Israeli and various Arab governments to protect the safety and negotiate the release of various Israeli prisoners taken captive by Hezbollah, [10] culminating in the 2004 release of Israeli businessman Elchanan Tenenbaum. [11]
In 2004, Metzger announced an initiative to insert a special prayer for Jonathan Pollard into the daily prayer service. The prayer was written by Metzger and is written in the style of a "Mishberach prayer" intended for people in dire straits. Many Orthodox synagogues announced that they would adopt the new prayer into their liturgy. [12]
[edit] New United Nations
One idea that Metzger has repeatedly proposed has been the establishment of a religious United Nations in Jerusalem. He first advocated this in late 2004 after mediating a highly-publicized dispute between Jerusalem haredim and the Armenian Christian community. [13] He raised the idea again in February 2006, at an ecumenical meeting between several high-profile rabbis and Muslim clerics with the 14th Dalai Lama in Israel, and again in March 2006, while attending the International Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in Seville, Spain.
Under Metzger's plan, the new body would contain representatives of the world's religions as opposed to nations. Metzger has also suggested that the Dalai Lama could lead the assembly. At their 2006 meeting, Metzger was quoted as saying, "Instead of planning for nuclear war and buying tanks and fighter jets, it will invest in peace... Religious leaders will get the opportunity to meet one another and discover that they have more in common than they may have realized..." The Dalai Lama was reportedly very excited at the idea and pledged to help Metzger realize his plan. [14], [15] Other supporters include Frederico Major, the co-president of the Alliance for Civilisations, a Spanish lobby group for international conflict resolution. [16]
[edit] Relationship with Armenians
During his term, Metzger has been involved in several notable incidents of rapprochement with the global and Israeli Armenian communities.
In December 2004, Metzger was instrumental in easing tensions between Jerusalem's haredim and Armenian Christians following an incident in which a Haredi yeshiva student spat on an Armenian Archbishop. Metzger gained further attention in November 2005, during a visit to the Memorial of Armenian Genocide and Genocide Museum in Yerevan. He laid a wreath and gave a short speech in which he acknowledged the pain of the Armenian people and emphasized that though Israel does not formally recognize the Armenian Genocide as a genocide, he does "use that term." Metzger went on to say that "no other nation can understand the pain of the Armenians better than Jews." [17] Metzger's comments received a very positive reaction in Armenia, particularly at the implication that more Israelis are changing their positions on using the term "Genocide" to refer to the Armenians. As Israel is a very strong ally of Turkey, many are optimistic that a change in Israeli attitudes could eventually lead to a similar phenomenon in Turkey. [18]
Turkey's Jews, on the other hand, themselves a vulnerable minority population, reacted with some discomfort at Metzger putting them in an awkward situation. The spokesman for Turkey's Chief Rabbi commented, "Let the historians do their job and then we will see." [19]
[edit] Controversy
[edit] 2003 Election
Metzger has been seen as a controversial figure since his original election as Chief Rabbi. Many saw his election as having more to do with Israeli politics than religion. Metzger, who is not considered a halachic authority, is largely acquiescent to the rulings of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, a powerful figure in the Ashkenazi haredi community. Metzger is not recognised a posek and lacks the moral authority of his predecessor, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. There is evidence suggesting that Metzger's election was orchestrated by Eliashiv, who wished to install a weak Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi as well as embarrass the NRP, whose candidate, Yaakov Ariel, had been expected to win the appointment. [20]. According to reports, Shas' Rabbi Ovadia Yosef had initially objected to Metzger's nomination, but became concerned that without Rabbi Eliashiv's support, Shas' own candidate for Sephardi Chief Rabbi might not win election, and so reversed his earlier position.
Metzger's election came as something of a surprise to both Religious Zionists and Haredim in Israel. Rabbi Yehuda Gilad, a left-wing Religious Zionist, charged that Metzger's close ties to the Mitnagdim leadership threatened to strongly alienate the country's Religious Zionists. "At the end of the day, the only population that related seriously to [the Chief Rabbinate] was the religious Zionist population, since the ultra-Orthodox population doesn't recognize the Chief Rabbinate and the secular population thinks the rabbinate is an issue for the religious...And if the religious Zionist population loses its faith in [the Chief Rabbinate], then we have a very sad situation." [21]
Metzger faced opposition for other reasons, as well. Detractors noted that, by comparison to most of his predecessors, Metzger had very little experience as a rabbinic authority. Metzger had never served as a religious judge (dayan), though his role as Chief Rabbi would require him to sit as President of the Rabbinical Supreme Court for five years, before switching with his Sephardic counterpart to be head of the Chief Rabbinate Council. [22] Outgoing Sephardic Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron wrote a formal letter to the Chief Rabbinic Council complaining about Metzger's appointment. In his letter, Bakshi-Doron described a 1998 rabbinical investigation into Metzger's personal conduct and credentials, following the publicizing of multiple accusations of sexual harassment, forged signatures on wedding contracts, fraud and threatening other rabbis.[23] The commission of rabbis found Metzger's explanations of his actions "insufficient" and ruled him "unfit to serve as a rabbi." The commission, which included Rabbi Shlomo Amar, later agreed to drop the ruling on condition that Metzger withdraw his candidacy for chief rabbi of Tel Aviv, which he did. Bakshi-Doron was incensed to learn that, five years later, Metzger had now entered into the race for Chief Rabbi of the state. He called his appointment "a desecration of God's name." [24]
[edit] WorldPride
In April 2005, Metzger united with Shlomo Amar, along with prominent Muslim and Christian religious leaders in condemning announcements that organizers of WorldPride, a Gay Pride festival, intended to hold their 2005 ten-day meeting in Jerusalem. At a press conference, Metzger pleaded with WorldPride's leaders: "Please do not damage the holiness of Jerusalem...Preserve its character, preserve its peace . . . cancel your plans." [25]
Metzger and his cohorts were criticized by many in both the GLBT and liberal Jewish movements for what they deemed religious intolerance. The festival, which was planned for August, was postponed until 2006 so as to not coincide with the Disengagement from Gaza.
[edit] Criminal allegations
Metzger has been repeatedly accused of breaking the law. In 2003, the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv published a report in which four young men accused Metzger of groping them. He has been accused of sexually harassing women as well. There have been multiple allegations that Metzger forged signatures of witnesses on ketubot, to permit him to officiate at as many weddings as possible in a single evening. He has also been charged with demanding exorbitant fees to perform weddings.
In February 2005, the Israeli police began a formal criminal investigation of Metzger regarding allegations of fraud and bribery related to benefits Metzger received from a Jerusalem hotel. [26] Metzger was questioned twice and denied any wrongdoing, but suspended himself from the Rabbinical High Court in June 2005 while waiting to see if the Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz would decide to indict him. [27] Despite the National Fraud Squad's announcement that it had sufficient evidence for an indictment, there was little public follow-up through early 2006.
Metzger and his supporters have dismissed all of the accusations against him as part of an ongoing smear campaign against him by his enemies and the secular press. The lack of any substantive reaction from either the Israeli public or government suggests that most people either do not believe the charges made against Metzger, or feel that they have been exaggerated and do not merit him losing his job. [28]
[edit] Calls for Resignation
On April 3, 2006, Menachem Mazuz announced that he was closing the Metzger investigation and would not seek an indictment against him, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. He added, however, that in light of various "disturbing" information that came to light during the investigation, including contradictory statements given to the police, that the Chief Rabbi should resign. Mazuz told reporters, "Given his flawed conduct, it is only right for Rabbi Metzger to take personal responsibility and decide - on his own accord - to step from his position as rabbinical judge and Chief Rabbi... The continuation of his tenure is liable to seriously hamper the public standing of the chief rabbinate and the main rabbinical court." [29] Mazuz also called on the Justice Ministry to consider bringing Metzger's case "before the Dayanim Selection Committee ... to consider ending his term in office" if Metzger did not resign. [30] On April 4, the Justice Ministry confirmed that Metzger will not be able to continue as chief rabbi if the dayanim Appointment Committee disqualifies him from serving as a judge in the High Rabbinic Court. [31]
[edit] Reaction
Within hours, various activist groups and politicians had joined Mazuz in urging Metzger's resignation. National Union-NRP MK Yitzhak Levy said, "Rabbi Metzger to resign his post in order to safeguard the honor of the Chief Rabbinate... The Rabbinate needs to symbolize the Jewish values of morality and public decency, and must not be tainted by suspicions of corruption." Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan commented, "I'm calling on Rabbi Metzger to heed the attorney general's recommendation and resign at once." Labor MK Ophir Pines-Paz added, "in light of the serious affair, there's no possibility for Rabbi Metzger to remain in his post." [32] The response among American Jewish leaders was more subdued, with only a few Modern Orthodox rabbis making public comments (partly because Modern Orthodoxy is the only Jewish movement to recognize the authority of the Chief Rabbinate). Rabbi Yosef Blau, President of the Religious Zionists of America, told reporters, "I have no difficulty with the standard for a person being chief rabbi being higher than the standard [for a normal person]... If the description of Attorney General Mazuz is accurate, then this is totally inappropriate for a Chief Rabbi." [33]
Several religious and anti-corruption organizations in Israel announced that they would appeal to the Supreme Court in protest if Metzger refused to resign. A spokesman for the Israel Religious Action Center, which is part of the Israeli Reform Movement, remarked that Mazuz's announcement was "further testament to the depth of the corruption with which the Israeli religious establishment is tainted." [34]
Rabbi Metzger responded to the news by saying that the ruling had been issued "without giving me the opportunity to defend myself. This was a violation of the basic rights enjoyed by every individual." Shortly after Mazuz's comments, the rabbi's spokespeople declared that he had no intention of resigning, and criticized Mazuz for convicting Metzger in the public square by tarnishing his reputation. Some in the Israeli media, while not defending Metzger, also castigated Mazuz for over-stepping his role as Attorney General, and for going after "small fries" like Metzger, as opposed to public figures involved in significantly more serious scandals in an attempt to seem tough on corruption. [35]
In contrast to Metzger's various political critics, the rabbi was supported by some of Israel's most notable sages several days after Mazuz's announcement. In various meetings with Metzger, the rabbis praised his character and integrity, heavily criticized Mazuz's behavior, and promised that they would help the rabbi in fighting the public cries for his resignation. [36] The group included the leading Lithuanian rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, as well as former Chief Rabbis Ovadia Yosef, Mordechai Eliyahu, and Avraham Shapira. Rabbi Shapira reportedly told Metzger that he was being "watched over" by a "special angel in heaven", and Rabbi Eliyahu commented that in his judgment, Metzger was "pure and clear as snow." [37] However, when reporters attempted to confirm the accounts and quotes given to them by Metzger's aides, at least one rabbi's spokesperson denied the comments were made. [38]
Rabbi Metzger filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Israel to protest Mazuz's public declaration on April 27, alleging that his image had been destroyed without a chance to tell his side of the story, and accusing Mazuz of engaging in "child-like" tactics. [39] Metzger's lawyer charged that Mazuz's report on Metzger contained unverifiable information and that it constituted a personal attack on the rabbi without giving him the benefit of a defense or hearing. The petition requested that the second half of Mazuz's 30-page report, in which he harshly attacked Metzger's conduct and recommended his removal, be stricken from the record.
In late May the new Justice Minister Chaim Ramon told reporters that he intends to follow up on Mazuz's recommendation and attempt to force Rabbi Metzger's resignation. [40] It was also reported that outgoing Chief Justice Aharon Barak had attempted to mediate between the parties, proposing a compromise in which all of Mazuz's report would stay in, but that Mazuz would sign a statement retracting his personal criticism of Metzger's character and declaring that "there is nothing which obliges the Minister of Justice to take administrative measures against Metzger", in effect leaving further action to the discretion of the incoming Justice Minister. Metzger's lawyer refused the deal, saying that the damage to Metzger's reputation from the report was too important to be left in as part of a compromise. The court has yet to reach a final decision on Metzger's petition. [41]
In mid-May, as part of an attempt to improve his image, Rabbi Metzger wrote checks to the two hotels where he had allegedly received free services. [42]
[edit] Potential long-term effects
Some in the Israeli media also recommended Metzger resign, and the story sparked some debate over the necessity of having two Israeli Chief Rabbis at all, [43] or of maintaining the Chief Rabbinate as an institution. [44] Some have suggested that one way of preserving the integrity and relevance of the office might be to convince the religious Ashkenazi communities of Israel decline to hold elections to replace Metzger, should he resign. This move would, by default, consolidate the post from two seats to one, and help eliminate one of the most public representations of the office's perceived anachronism often cited by its critics. [45]
[edit] High court recommends rewriting report
On March 20, 2007, the recently insalled Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch recommended that Mazuz rewrite the report and remove the allegations she called "gossip and rumors." [46]
[edit] Bibliography
- Miyam Ha halacha (From the Sea of Halacha), an anthology of Metzger's responsum while Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv.
- Sufa Babidbar (In the Desert), a collection of responsum concerning the first Gulf War.
- B'Magalei Hachaim (The Heights of Life), a two-volume work that received the Gold and Platinum Prizes from the President of Israel.
[edit] External links
- The Awareness Center- Yona Metzger
- Foreign Ministry Bio
- Chief Rabbi: Orthodox Must Rule, Steve Lipman, The Jewish Week, 14 November 2005.
- English translation of Pollard Prayer
- Video - Chief Rabbi in Zehut instiute
- Detailed description of Mazuz investigation
| Preceded by Yisrael Meir Lau |
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger 2003–present |
Succeeded by To be determined |
