Israeli Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger today told the Justice Minister and the Minister of Religious Affairs that due to his ongoing investigation by police he decided to suspend himself as an active judge on the Rabbinical Court.
Rabbi Metzger’s attorneys David Libai and Elad Rath announced that, until the end of the investigation, he will not participate in meetings of the Chief Rabbinate Council or in Committee meetings to appoint rabbinic judges.
The statement added that Rabbi Metzger has made the decision to suspend himself as the proper step to take at this point. But Rabbi Metzger repeated his position that he is innocent of the acts attributed to him and hopes that the case will end soon.
Justice Minister tzipi Livni announced that she respects Rabbi Metzger’s decision and that it was the right thing to do under the circumstances.