Shas Chairman Deri Unveils Bar Mitzvah Gift Plan

Deri framed the initiative as a direct response to what he described as threats to Israel's Jewish identity and efforts to secularize the state. He specifically cited statements by Democrats Chairman Yair Golan, whom he accused of seeking to erase religion from the public sphere, as well as remarks by a Tel Aviv councilwoman opposing the entry of messianic influences into schools. Deri asserted that these actions aim to turn Israel into a nation like all the gentiles, declaring that this will not happen and that tefillin represent a symbol of spiritual strength for the Jewish people.

The election pledge drew criticism from News 12 journalist Yaron Avraham. While stating his support for the practice of wearing tefillin, Avraham called the promise delusional and questioned its feasibility. He suggested that the pledge indicates political distress and mockingly questioned why the distribution was limited to tefillin, raising the possibility of also distributing tzitzit, Chumashim, and Chanukiot.