The 60th International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth
A brief report on the 60th International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth, held in Jerusalem on Israel's Independence Day and sponsored by Israel's Ministry of Education, the Jewish Agency, and Keren Kayemet, with the Jewish Bible Association as an affiliate sponsor. Notes that for the first time in seventeen years both finalists were Israeli girls, Emuna Cohen (winner) and Neta Lax (runner-up), and describes the ceremony at which Prime Minister Netanyahu and other officials presented the prizes.
The International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth was held in Jerusalem on Israel’s Independence Day. The Bible contest is sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Education, the Jewish Agency and Keren Kayemet (Jewish National Fund). The Jewish Bible Association is proud to be an affiliate sponsor.
41 contestants from 20 countries (including 16 contestants in the finals of the International Bible Contest for teens) participated. The International Bible Contest camp, which takes place the week before the contest and is organized by the Education Ministry and the Jewish Agency, is a unique preparatory camp for the contestants, who tour the country and participate in preparatory workshops. They met with former contestants and with Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization.
The classic Bible contest traditions were maintained. In the first round of the contest every one of the sixteen contestants are asked a question via short educational films, a feature which has been the practice now for several years.
For the first time in 17 years, both finalists in the international contest were Israeli and both were girls. Emuna Cohen, who is in her final year of school in the central city of Gedera, was crowned the winner, and the runner-up was Neta Lax, in her final year of school at Ulpanat Bnei Akiva at Neve Tzuf.
Winners of the quiz are awarded scholarship money toward a bachelor’s degree as well as a beautifully adorned personal copy of the Tanakh. Prime Minister Netanyahu bestowed these gifts, alongside Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. Ohana was also on the panel of judges, along with World Zionist Organization Chairman Yaakov Hagoel, Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog, and several other esteemed members of Israeli cultural and literary society. Gilad Gevaryahu, a member of the Board of the Jewish Bible Association, also served on the panel of judges. The Jewish Bible Association is proud of the winners in the Bible contest.
Jewish communities around the world are urged to prepare pupils for local Bible contests in communities where they are held or to prepare pupils privately so that they can become future participants in the international contest. Pupils may study the Bible either in Hebrew or in their native languages. During the written exam in Israel and at the Independence Day contest there are always translators for anyone speaking a language other than Hebrew. Detailed information about the Bible contest can be found at: https://www.jewishagency.org/international-bible-contest/
On this website you can find a learning kit as well as the steps needed to participate in the competition.
Dr. Joshua Backon is Executive Director of the Jewish Bible Association.
Cite this article
Joshua Backon. "The 60th International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth." Jewish Bible Quarterly 51, no. 4 (October – December 2023): 264–265.
Joshua Backon. "The 60th International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth." Jewish Bible Quarterly, vol. 51, no. 4, 2023, pp. 264–265.