Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's Daughters Denounce Shas Party Leader Arie Deri

The daughters of the late Sephardic spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef have broken their silence to launch a sharp public criticism against Arie Deri, the current chairman of the Shas party, and the party's leadership.

In a rare interview, Rivka Chikotai and Adina Bar-Shalom stated they have no relationship with Deri. Chikotai declared she would not even offer a "shalom" (peace/greeting) to Deri since he closed a college founded by their father. She revealed that their mother, Margalit Yosef, also disliked Deri, believing him to be a "swindler" and would leave a room when he entered.

Bar-Shalom expressed concern that many voters support Shas solely due to their father's legacy, despite believing the current leadership is "not good." She argued that Rabbi Yosef would not want people to vote for a party that deviates from his path. Bar-Shalom highlighted key areas where she feels Shas has strayed, including the neglect of core curriculum studies and the lack of emphasis on military conscription for those not engaged in Torah study, a principle their father supported.

She specifically condemned slogans like "we will die rather than enlist," stating their father would have been angered by such sentiments. The sisters' public statements mark a significant departure from their previous reticence, which they explained was to honor their father's memory.