Yona Metzger

(1953 - )

Rabbi Yona Metzger was born in Haifa in 1953. He served in the IDF 7th Armored Brigade, fought in several wars, and was discharged as an army chaplain with the rank of captain.

Rabbi Metzger completed his rabbinic studies at the Kerem Be-Yavne hesder yeshiva and continued to teach in yeshiva and in schools. He served as rabbi of the Tiferet Zvi Synagogue in Tel-Aviv and was later appointed regional rabbi of northern Tel-Aviv. He published several books, two of which were awarded prizes by the President of Israel.

In 2003, Rabbi Yona Metzger was appointed Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, a position he held until 2013.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs