Israel's New Chief Rabbi Stops In South Florida Following Trip To Muslim Ex-Soviet Republic; To Speak About Terrorism, Tolerance And Israeli POW's PALM BEACH, November 5, 2003 -- The honorable Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger will be in Palm Beach Sunday evening Nov 9th to help raise money for a hospital in Jerusalem. Before Metzger's arrival at the Palm Beach Synagogue, 6pm on Sunday, the religious leader will meet privately with Palm Beach businessman and philanthropist Jeffrey Saull. Saull, a big supporter of the State of Israel, says he's helping to raise money for Bikur Cholim Hospital at a fundraising dinner that evening. Bikur Cholim is located in the heart of Jerusalem, and is usually the first to treat victims of terrorist attacks. "It will be an honor to have an opportunity like this, to meet a man who dedicates his life to bringing peace to the Middle East and to Israel, a country that always remains close to my heart," said Saull. Metzger will be making the stop in South Florida after visiting with other spiritual leaders in New York later this week. The Chief Rabbi traveled recently to Kazakhstan, where he met privately with the Chairman of Iran's Committee of Islamic Law. The two discussed the fate of missing IAF navigator Lt.-Col. Ron Arad, who was on a mission in Lebanon in 1986 when he bailed out of his plane, and who is now believed to be held in Iran, along with other POW's. During the interfaith conference in Kazakhstan, delegates representing the world's major religions signed a declaration condemning the use of religion as a justification for violence and terrorism. Rabbi Metzger says he hopes to carry this message to other parts of the world, to ensure the lines of communication remain open between the world's religious communities. 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 rabbinical studies at the Kerem Be-Yavne Hesder Yeshiva and continued to teach in yeshiva and in other 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. # # # CONTACT: Michelle Rosen, +1-561-750-9800, ext. 14, or MRosen@transmediagroup.com