Grandson of Late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Details Yeshiva Abuse in Open Interview
Ovadia Cohen, grandson of late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, publicly detailed childhood sexual abuse at a Jerusalem yeshiva, seeking to help other survivors and shift the shame.
Ovadia Cohen, the grandson of the late spiritual leader of Shas, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has spoken publicly for the first time about the prolonged sexual abuse he endured at the age of 14 while studying at a yeshiva in Jerusalem.
In an interview on the podcast "How to Do Things" with Shir Reuven, broadcast on Kan Podcasts and Kan BOX, Cohen recounted how a mashgiach (spiritual supervisor) at the yeshiva targeted him in the study hall and began intrusive conversations about his sexual habits, leading to a prolonged ordeal. Cohen noted that the case of Shoshana Struck deeply affected him personally, adding that he believes he was drugged or numbed during the assaults and recalls being restrained.
Cohen explained that his decision to come forward stems from a strong desire to shift the burden of shame and help other survivors. "The reason I am here today is because I want to transfer the shame to the other side," he stated, aiming to offer hope and strength to others.
In August, the rabbi's family made headlines when his daughters, Rivka Chicoutai and Adina Bar-Shalom, sharply criticized the Shas party on Keshet 12 over the cancellation of government funding for their father's memorial. Bar-Shalom asserted that Shas no longer follows their father's path or preserves his legacy.
