Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Criticizes Sister Adina Bar Shalom Over Handshake

Former Chief Rabbi and Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, publicly criticized his sister, Adina Bar Shalom, for shaking hands with Gadi Eisenkot, the chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party. During a lecture to yeshiva students, Rabbi Yosef questioned the legacy of their father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, stating, "What is Maran's legacy? Shaking hands with Eisenkot? Maran's legacy is our Torah." He emphasized that their father's true legacy lies in continuing Torah study, yeshivas, and mikvahs.

The criticism comes amid ongoing disputes between Rabbi Yosef's siblings regarding the direction of the Shas party, which was founded by their father. Two of his sisters, Adina Bar Shalom and Rivka Chikotai, have previously voiced concerns that Shas has strayed from Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's path since his passing. Chikotai stated that the party no longer upholds his legacy, while Bar Shalom added that Shas has forgotten "humanity towards one's fellow man" and adopted characteristics from Ashkenazi, Lithuanian, and Hasidic society.

Bar Shalom, who is running on Eisenkot's list in a non-viable position, also commented on her strained relationship with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri. She revealed that she has not spoken to Deri since he closed the college founded by her father and that she avoids him. Bar Shalom further alleged that their mother, Margalit, disliked Deri, calling him a "hypocrite" and a "fraud," and claimed their father had also expressed similar sentiments about him.

Chikotai concluded by sharing that many people tell her they are dissatisfied with Shas's leadership but continue to vote for the party because of their father's memory, suggesting Rabbi Ovadia Yosef would not want his legacy to be used to support a party that deviates from his teachings.