Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's Grandson Reveals Sexual Abuse in Yeshiva

Ovadia Cohen, grandson of the late spiritual leader of the Shas party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has revealed he was sexually abused for an extended period starting at age 14 while studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem. In an interview with the podcast "How to Do Things" on "Kan Podcasts" and "Kan BOX," Cohen recounted how a supervising "mashgiach" at the yeshiva initiated intimate conversations about his sexual habits, leading to prolonged abuse.

Cohen described the abuse as involving difficult and ritualistic elements, stating he believes he was drugged and restrained during the assaults. He recalled seeing other people around him and feeling tied down, with "flashes" and further details surfacing to this day. He was inspired to speak out by the story of Shoshana Struk.

Cohen explained his decision to go public is driven by a desire to shift the shame and help other victims. "The reason I am here today is because I want to transfer the shame aside," he stated. "I don't want to hide anymore. The goal is to give optimism, strength, and hope, that it is possible to succeed and survive."

This revelation comes after the family was recently in the headlines for other reasons. In August, Cohen's aunts, Rivka Chikotai and Adina Bar Shalom, daughters of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, criticized the Shas party on "Avri and Sharqi" on Keshet 12. They accused the party of abandoning their father's legacy, particularly after the cancellation of government funding for his memorial event. Chikotai clarified that the Attorney General did not cancel the event but prevented it from becoming a political rally, while Bar Shalom asserted that "Shas is not following in Father's way and is not upholding his legacy."