Rabinovitch calls Bennet a rasha for criticism of Metzger

Haredi journalist Benny Rabinovitch went on an interesting rant regarding Naftali Bennet and Rav Metzger, in light of the plea bargain agreement sending Metzger to jail for 3.5 years.

Basically, Naftali Bennet criticized Metzger for the crimes he committed and for the chilul hashem he caused.

Rabinovitch got upset and went on a rant against Bennet accusing him of never speaking out against criminals within his own camp - the Dati Leumi camp. He called Bennet a rasha - evil, wicked, person - for this. He said it is obvious that he has hatred for anybody who seems to be Haredi. He also claimed that Bennet spoke out against Metzger just to divert attention from his situation with Amona and the residents being angry at him.

Rabinovitch pointed out, as an aside, that Metzger really isnt Haredi and did not learn in Haredi yeshivas, and only is thought of as Haredi because the Haredim supported him for the position of Chief Rabbi back in the day.
source: Srugim

for mroe information on the Haredi support for Rav Metzger as Chief Rabbi, see Rationalist Judaism

thoughts:

1. Metzger really was not Haredi. As Rabinovitch said, he had not learned in Haredi yeshivas. He never claimed to be Haredi, and nobody claimed he was Haredi. He was supported by the Haredi parties and askanim and rabbonim, and in exchange he agreed to implement certain Haredi policy as Chief Rabbi (such as issues regarding kashrut and shmitta)

2. Bennet did not say Metzger is Haredi, so I am nto sure why Rabinovitch thinks Bennet's criticism of Metzger has anything todo with Bennet thinking of him as a Haredi. Maybe he is criticizing Metzger as a Dati Leumi. Or a s a Chief Rabbi. Or as a person. Why does Rabinovitch accuse Bennet of attacking him as a Haredi, and then go on to say he isnt Haredi. Is he or isnt he? If he isnt, then Bennet's attack also had nothing to do with being Haredi. And if he was, then own it and dont say he really wasnt.

3. Rabinovitch's criticism might be right or might be wrong. I dont know. Bennet did not go on the attack against the recent accusations against Slomiansky. But then again, Bennet also said nothing about Metzger until there was a final plea bargain agreement. Maybe when Slomiansky ends up in jail Bennet will criticize him as well.

4. Rabinovitch's criticism might be right or might be wrong. I dont know. However, Rabinovitch also does not criticize and attack the criminals within his own, the Haredi, camp. He did not criticize Metzger, but maybe Metzger isn't Haredi. I dont remember him criticizing Aryeh Deri, or the rosh yeshivas, mashgichim or rebbeinm who were ever arrested for molestation and abuse, or Haredi heads of gemachs who went to jail for fraud and tax evasion or Haredim who went to jail for drug smuggling..

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