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| Yona Metzger |
The problems for Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi just keep piling up as a gay man is now accusing Rabbi Yona Metzger of sexual harassment.
The man, who is a 45-year-old personal trainer, has accused the rabbi of sexually harassing him about five years ago.
The trainer said he decided to speak out after the rabbi was questioned by police this week on suspicion of bribery, fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust and money laundering.
The man, who has also worked as a tour guide, said this week that the alleged incident took place while accompanying a group of priests, and they had gathered to meet Metzger in the offices of the chief rabbi in Jerusalem.
"During the meeting I realized that Rabbi Metzger kept staring at me," the man recalled.
"After the meeting, the rabbi approached me and said he could help me get a job as a tour guide for other groups visiting Israel. He asked me for my phone number, and then asked me if I could follow him into his office. When we entered his office, he closed the door. The rabbi asked me if I also worked as a trainer and I told him I was. He then told me that he would like a massage. I was shocked. Then, he grabbed my hand and stroked it during the rest of the conversation. I froze. I mean, this is the great rabbi, and we were in his office," the man said.
"He said he wanted a trainer, who could also give him massages. He said that he had an apartment in Tel Aviv and that fitness was important to him. Then, he pointed to his stomach and said ‘feel it’. I left his office stunned. Since that meeting, I received calls from the rabbi from blocked telephone numbers and he asked ‘When are we going to schedule a training session?’ Eventually, I gave him the phone number of another trainer, and that's when he stopped calling me.
I told my close friends about the incident immediately. I was outraged because in the past, he had issued a statement condemning the Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem. I remember thinking to myself: ‘How come he is not ashamed of himself?’”
Rabbi Metzger said in a statement that he has no idea who this man is.