(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger has suspended himself from all roles connected to his position, his defense attorneys announced on Sunday, June 23.  The announcement came after Metzger spent the weekend under house arrest in Tel Aviv following allegations that he took bribes worth hundreds of thousands of shekels, as well as engaged in corruption, fraud, breach of trust and money laundering. In Israel, money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. “I am certain of my innocence,” Metzger told his family over the weekend. “It’s unpleasant but we’ll get through this.”