Jerusalem – Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger has confirmed that he would not seek a second term as chief rabbi, unless ordered to do so by senior rabbis.
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Speaking with The Jerusalem Post on Saturday night, he relayed details from a trip to Spain he took alongside Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar last week, noting the importance and benefits to the rapport between the two rabbis.
Metzger also confirmed a weekend report in haredi newspaper Bakehila, where he was quoted as saying that even if the recently proposed bill to enable chief rabbis to contend for another term passes in the Knesset – something he doubts will happen – he still would not seek another 10-year stint in the position. He made sure to add that if senior rabbis – such as those who helped him attain the position of chief rabbi – ordered him to seek a second term, he would have to heed to them, despite the fact that he had prepared to step down after holding the position for a decade when his term ends in 2013.
A spokesman for Amar wouldn’t comment on what the chief Sephardi rabbi intended to do if the bill to enable the chief rabbis to extend their term passed. Speculation is that the bill, put forth by Kadima MKs and largely supported in a preliminary hearing, was the initiative of people from Amar’s vicinity, who wish to keep him in power, at a time when the spiritual and political leadership of Shas is liable to change as President of the Shas Council of Torah Sages Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 90, becomes less active.
Metzger on Saturday night told the Post there were many positions he could fill after being chief rabbi, including some abroad.
Read full article in Jerusalem Post
I don’t understand why the “Chief Rabbi” of EY would have to consult other “senior” rabbonim regarding a decision to seek another term. He is the “senior” rabbi….why does he need to solicit anyone else’s advice on such matters?
(Reply to #4 ):
Excellent, accurate analysis. Thanks for explaining it.
Rav Metzger was put into his position by charedi askanim who wanted to make sure that the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi will be someone who is not respected and does not have the prestige to publish his own halachic rulings.
They did this because they wanted to block Rav Ya’akov Ariel, who is a choshuve talmid chochom who would not be a yes man for the charedi power brokers.