LONDON (JTA) — England’s United Synagogue denied a report that the post of chief rabbi had been offered to Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi.
Haaretz reported Tuesday that Haifa-based Rabbi Yona Metzger had been asked to replace Rabbi Jonathan Sacks as the UK’s chief rabbi when he steps down in 2013.
According to the United Synagogue, however, no one has been approached to take the position. The search process for Sacks’ replacement has only recently begun.
Stephen Pack, president of the Chief Rabbinate Trust, said he was “taken aback” by suggestions that there had been any offers made to individual rabbis.
“An enormous amount of effort has gone into creating a process that is designed to transparently produce the best possible range of candidates for this world-leading role,” he said. “Nobody involved in this process has, or could ever, make such an offer.”
An advertisement inviting applications for the position is due to be published in January.
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