The 59th International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth
The first contest held in person since the pandemic, in Jerusalem on Israel's Independence Day: some 45 contestants from 20 countries, 16 of them in the teenage final, gathered at the Jewish Agency building after two years of running virtually.
FOR JEWISH YOUTH
After two years of being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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. Some 45 contestants from 20 countries (including 16 contestants in the finals of the International Bible Contest for teens) gathered for the first time in two years at the building of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem.
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 and acting chairman of the Jewish Agency.
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 many years, 2 contestants: Hillel Cohen and Dvir Haim Merzbach both from Israel tied for first place and jointly shared first prize. Coming in at 2nd place was Yitzchak Spivak from the United States, and Yaacov Weinstein from the United States came in 3rd place. 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.
עשה תורתך קבע
THE TRIENNIAL BIBLE READING CALENDAR
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHAIM ABRAMOWITZ
October Leviticus 23 – 27
Numbers 1 – 23
November Numbers 24 – 36
Deuteronomy 1 – 15
December Deuteronomy 16 – 34
Joshua 1 – 9
January Joshua 10 – 24
Judges 1 – 13
February Judges 14 – 21
I Samuel 1 – 20
Dr. Joshua Backon is Executive Director of the Jewish Bible Association.
Cite this article
Joshua Backon. "The 59th International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth." Jewish Bible Quarterly 50, no. 4 (October – December 2022).
Joshua Backon. "The 59th International Bible Contest for Jewish Youth." Jewish Bible Quarterly, vol. 50, no. 4, 2022.