News Anchor Criticizes Shas Party's 'Tefillin for Every Child' Election Pledge

By חדשות סרוגים

Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba

Religious-rightCharged tone

Hebrew · 11 newsrooms covering

News 12 journalist Yaron Avraham criticized Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri's election promise to give tefillin to every boy in Israel. Avraham called the pledge "delusional" and questioned its feasibility, suggesting other religious items could also be distributed. Deri presented the plan as a response to Yair Golan's alleged efforts to remove religion from public life.

The story in 4 lines · by baba

Journalist Yaron Avraham criticized Shas chairman Aryeh Deri's pledge to provide tefillin to every Israeli boy.
Avraham called the "Tefillin for Every Child" promise "delusional" and questioned its feasibility.
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri announced the party would also push for prayer spaces in schools.
Deri framed the pledge as a response to Yair Golan's stance on religion in public life.

News Anchor Criticizes Shas Party's 'Tefillin for Every Child' Election Pledge — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

News 12 journalist Yaron Avraham sharply criticized Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri's new election promise to provide tefillin to every boy in Israel, a program dubbed "Tefillin for Every Child." While Avraham stated his support for the practice of wearing tefillin, he questioned the feasibility and scope of Deri's pledge. "I am in favor of tefillin, no doubt, but what else is he offering? Tzitzit? Chumashim? Chanukiot? This is a delusional election promise that will not be fulfilled and mainly indicates distress," Avraham wrote. The journalist's remarks followed an official announcement from Shas detailing Deri's pledge to provide a bar mitzvah kit to every boy in Israel. Avraham further questioned why the promise was limited to tefillin, raising the possibility of also distributing tzitzit, Chumashim, and Chanukiot. Deri's announcement also included a commitment to ensure that the education system allocates space for prayer for students who wish to don tefillin and pray during the school day. Deri framed this initiative as a direct response to Democratic Movement chairman Yair Golan, who he accused of seeking to "erase religion from the public sphere."