International Bible Contest

The International Bible Contest (Hebrew: חידון התנ"ך‎; Hidon HaTanakh also spelled Chidon HaTanach) is a worldwide competition on the Tanakh (Jewish Bible) for middle school and high school students. It is held annually in Jerusalem, Israel, on Yom Ha'atzmaut. Because the event is officially sponsored by the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency, it is attended by the Prime Minister of Israel, Minister of Education and the Chairman of the Jewish Agency.

Current format

Youth

The winner of the International Bible Contest and the first runner up, win a four-year college scholarship to any Israeli University.

The international contest is on around 400 chapters. Since Israelis usually win, there is a separate 'Diaspora Contest', for the top non-Israelis. The contestants have a 2 week program known as the Bible Camp. During the Bible Camp, contestants travel throughout Israel, meet dignitaries, tour various sites and, of course, study Tanach. An initial fifty question written test takes place within the first few days of the program. Of the contestants that took the written test, the top sixteen overall go on to compete in the international championship, and the top scorers from the top twelve countries (other than Israel), who did not qualify for the international final go to the Diaspora Contest. The main contest is broadcast live on Israel public television and radio. Though all proceedings of the contest are in general conducted in Hebrew, translations of the questions and answers are available, so language is not a barrier to participation.

Adults

The International Bible Contest for Adults occurs once every two years, alternately with the Israeli Bible Contest for Adults.

Winners of local competitions gather in Jerusalem, Israel, during Hanukkah. After a written exam of 40 questions, 16 contestants (at most one per country, except for United States and Israel) appear in the public and oral quiz:

  • The first round consists in individual questions.
  • In the second round, 8 contestants are to respond to questions in a limited time.
  • The final round consists in questions asked by the Prime Minister, to which the final 4 contestants reply in writing.

Questions

One of the formats of the questions is completing a Bible verse. For example:

“The king establishes the land by justice.”
“But he who receives bribes overthrows it”, Proverbs 29:4 (2013 contest[1]).
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.”
“But happy is he who keeps the law.”, Proverbs 29:18 (2013 contest[1]).

History
Shimon Peres greets the winner of the International Bible Contest in 1985, on Yom Ha'Atzmaut.

The international contest was founded by David Ben-Gurion.[2] Originally, a Chidon Hatanach for adults was the main contest, and the contest for high school students was a relatively minor part. The Chidon for adults returned again in 2010.[3]

Regional contests

Mexican contest

Participants of each school are given a list of chapters to study from October to February, when the first round takes place in the Universidad Hebraica, everyone can participate from his or her school, but after the 50 question exam, only around 16 people will survive for the next round, this one takes place a few days later, in this case, the 16 winners go to the school of the person who won the last year, where the points of the first round are not erased and where they are given a Passuk with 2 questions (8 points each), and after that a page with 10 questions (8 out of 10 worth 2 points each, and the other 2 worth 4 points), at the end the 3 people with the highest score go to Israel.

Canadian contest

Participants are given a list of chapters to study in May or June, and in the following February or March a preliminary regional test is taken. This consists of 100 multiple-choice questions for high school students (75 for grades 7 and 8, 50 for grades 5 and 6). A number of participants to continue are selected - e.g., 50. In this case, the top 50 scores will continue to the national competition. The national competition is held in April or May. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, followed by three rounds of short-answer questions (first a round for all participants, then a two-part top ten Semifinal round, then the top five Final round). The top 10 people are selected. Of these, first and second place will go to Israel the next year to represent Canada. If the top two are from the same region of Canada, then the highest-ranking participant from another region (i.e. Quebec, Western Canada, Ontario) will also go, provided that contestant ranked in the top ten. If there are Israelis in Canada who are participating, they are not allowed to win, but the top Israeli in the top 10 goes to Israel as the Chatan Yisrael of Canada. Thus, a total of 5 people at the most could theoretically go to Israel the next year. In reality, it is usually only 3 or 4.

United States contest

Participants are also given a set of chapters to study. There is one book of Torah, one in Early Prophets, and one in Writings. The high school division also has one book of Later Prophets. Selected chapters are chosen from each, for a total of 70-100 chapters. During December, February, and March, there are 3 regional tests. Every school, along with several other schools, are assigned a region. The student who scores the highest score in his/her region is crowned "Regional Champion". The Regional Champion along with those who score a certain cumulative percentage (e.g. 85%) on the regionals go on to the nationals. There are 3 divisions in the nationals, the Hebrew High School, Hebrew Middle School, and English Grades 6-11.[4] The US Chidon sends 4 contestants to Israel, with the Jewish Agency paying for the contestants' plane tickets. Three spots go to the first-place winner from every division to Israel. If there is a tie for first place in any one division, then all four spots go to the four first-place winners. Otherwise, the judges calculate which division's second-place winner answered the highest percentage of correct answers on his/her written test. After tallying the scores of the written exam and video rounds, the 2nd-place winner of that division wins the final spot in Israel.[4] The 2012 and 2013 finals were held at Yeshiva University.[5][6] The 2014 and 2015 finals were held at Manhattan Day School.[7]

The National Finals' written test is divided up into two sections. First there is a test similar to the regional test, which asks questions such as "Who said this to whom", "Who is this talking about" and understanding the text. After this test, there is a second test called the cross-referencing test. Similar phrases in Tanach are given and contestants must be able to match up one side to the other. Family trees and finishing the phrases are also on this part of the test.[8] Following the written test, contestants eat lunch while judges grade the written exams. After lunch, approximately 10 to 15 top scorers from the written exams are called to the front of the auditorium to answer several more written questions which are presented in video format. After the judges combine each contestant's written score with his/her score from the video round, the winners are announced.

In a typical year, between 350 and 400 students take the preliminary exams. Of these, approximately 185 students travel to New York to compete in the national finals.[9]

Australian contest

In Australia, there are three competitions leading up to the International Bible Contest; the school test( top 3 go through, the state test (top 2 go through) and the federal test (top 2 in Australia go to the Israeli test). Competitors usually come from Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, New South Wales, though in recent years participants from Perth in Western Australia have taken part. A national round consisting of the participants of each state (usually between 4-8 participants) sit a 1-hour written test and then a 2-hour public oral quiz, where participants sit on a stage and project their answers after hearing questions. Identical quizzes are sat by the participants in each state. The national syllabus usually consists of 100-150 chapters of Torah, Neviim and Later Prophets. The top three participants of the national quiz of each state are then selected to go through to the federal round, held either in Sydney or Melbourne. A further 50-70 chapters is then added to the initial national syllabus. The Federal round of the competition is identical to the National only there is more content, thus the questions are seemingly harder. The winner and the 2nd highest scorer are then given places at the International Bible Quiz camp. Only the winner's ticket is paid for by the Zionist Federation of Australia. The 2nd-place winner must pay for his or her ticket to come to the camp. The author of the Australian Bible Quiz is the 1999 Diaspora Winner, Dr Shira Wenig.[10][11][12]

British Contest

The British contest varies from year to year. The international final is held at LSJS is London. In some schools, the top scorers go through to the final but most schools let all teams compete. The topics are given approximately 6 months in advance, however the topics for 2014 were given to pupils at the beginning of September allowing the contestants 2 months to learn. The syllabus contains all of the torah and some of neviim and ketuvim. The winning team (of 3-4) all go to Israel.

Winners
Main article: List of International Bible Contest Winners

2020 Contest

Youth[13]

1st: Ruth Cohen of Israel.

2nd: Moshe Glidai of Israel.

3rd: Nossi Shields of Olney, Maryland.

4th: Miriam Cherem of Mexico.

Adults

2019 Contest

Youth[14]

1st: Yonatan Weisman of Israel.

2nd: Jacob Colchamiro of Short Hills, New Jersey.

3rd: Yarin Bar from Revivim, Israel.

4th: Adar Geller from Jerusalem.

Diaspora Winner: Adela Maloul from Panama.

2018 Contest

Youth

1st: Ezriel Shilat of Hazor Haglilit, Israel.

2nd: Oria Cohen of Kiriat Shmuel, Israel.

3rd: Ophek Avraham from Israel

Diaspora Winner: Judah Levy from Thornhill, Canada.

Adults

In December 2017, the two first contestants, from Israel, were qualified:

  • Yedidya Meyuhas, 24, teacher from Modiin
  • Yoav Shulsberg from Alon Shavuth

2017 contest

1st: Sagiv Lugasi of Maalot Tarshicha, Israel.

2nd: Naomi Cohen of the Tzfat, Israel.

3rd: Maryia Shapialevich, of Grodno, Belarus.

4th: Shlomo Helfgot of Teaneck, New Jersey. [15]

Diaspora Winner: Aviel Abrams, from Johannesburg, South Africa

2016 contest

Youth

1st: Elkana Friedman, from Kvutzat Yavne, Israel

2nd: Tehilla Matas, from Rehovot, Israel.(sister of 2015 winner)

3rd: Tsuriel Neeman of Shlomi, Israel

4th: Gidon Fox of Johannesburg, South Africa [16] [17]

Diaspora Winner: Jacob Miller, from Skokie, Illinois, United States

Adults

1st: Yair Shahak, from New York City, USA and Yafit Sliman from Kfar Yavetz, Israel

2nd: Dr Eliezer Abergel, from Strasbourg, France

3rd: rabbi Mordechai Sevy of Toronto, Canada

2015 contest

1st: Eyal Matas, from Rehovot, Israel
2nd: Yisrael Elgrabli, from Jerusalem, Israel
3rd: Arad Kotzer, from Ashdod, Israel
4th: Ryan Refael Ripsman, from Canada

5th: Yonatan Haimovici, from Montreal,Canada

Diaspora winner: Tere Dabbah from Mexico City, Mexico

2014 contest

Youth

1st: Eitan Amos, from Toronto, Canada
2nd: Tefillah Bernson, from Israel
3rd: Itamar Kalifa, from Israel
Diaspora Winner: Eitan Amos, from Toronto, Canada

Adults

1st: Hananel Malka, from Israel

2nd: Alexander Heppenheimer, from New York City, United States

3rd: Ariel Cohen-Imach from Buenos Aires, Argentina

4th: Daniel Cohen from France

2013 contest

In the 2013 International contest, a tie was called for the top two contestants and both declared winners.[18]

1st: Yishai Eisenberg, from New Jersey, USA
1st: Elior Babian, from Beit Shemesh, Israel[19]
3rd: Leora Braverman, from Petah Tikva, Israel

Diaspora winner: Yishai Eisenberg, from New Jersey, USA

2012 contest

Youth

In the 2012 International contest, the top contestants placed as follows:[20]

1st: Elchanan Bloch, from Israel
2nd: Akiva Abramowitz, from Brooklyn, USA
3rd (tie): Avshalom Adler, from Israel
3rd (tie): Elías Jalife, from Mexico City, Mexico

Diaspora Winner (tie): Aaron Goldberg from Toronto, Canada
Diaspora Winner (tie): Akiva Abramowitz, from Brooklyn, USA

Adults

1st: Refael Meyuhas, 26, from Israel

2nd: Rabbi Ezra Fraser from New York City, United States

3rd: Dr. Lenny Lerner from Toronto, Canada

4th: Daniel Cohen from France

2011 contest

In the 2011 international contest, The top three contestants placed as follows:

1st: Shlomo Edelman, of Nof Ayalon, Israel
2nd: Noam Hadad, of Kfar Saba, Israel
3rd: Etai Evenhaim, Israel
Diaspora Winner: Orly Loker, Mexico

2010 contest

In the 2010 international contest, The top three contestants placed as follows:

1st: Or Ashwal, 17, of Kfar Saba, Israel
2nd: Elad Nachshon, 18, of Rehovot, Israel
3rd: Avner Netanyahu, 15, of Jerusalem, Israel. Avner is the son of Benjamin Netanyahu[21] who acted in this contest as father and as Prime Minister.
Diaspora Winner: Becky Friedman, Canada

2009 contest

In the 2009 international contest, 47 finalists from 24 countries participated. The top three contestants placed as follows:[22]

1st: Sapir Malka (Kokhav Ya'akov, Israel)
2nd: Uri Luvish (Beit Yatir, Israel)
3rd: Aviv Barnavloom (Haifa, Israel)
Diaspora Winner: Darren Sultan, United States

2008 contest

In the 2008 International Chidon, 63 finalists from 37 countries participated. The top three contestants placed as follows:[23]

1st: Tzurit Bernson (age 15, Merkaz Tikvateinu, Nahariya, Israel)
2nd: Elad Finish (age 18, Yeshivat AMIT, Be'er Sheva, Israel)
3rd: Dovi Nadel (age 15, Yeshivat Akiva, Southfield, Michigan, USA)
Diaspora Winner: Rivka Witty, Canada

2007 contest

In the 2007 contest, the contestants placed as follows:[24]

1st: Yishai Gispan (age 17, Jerusalem, Israel)
2nd: Tamar Kronman (age 17, Beersheba, Israel)
3rd: Tzuriel Sasson (age 17, Beersheba, Israel)
Diaspora Winner: Yakir Forman, United States

Hosts

Venue
gollark: Is the issue with the rules the soul thing? We only* take less than 16% of it!
gollark: Must we deploy quarantine?
gollark: I doubt it.
gollark: We don't use those.
gollark: Or being awful above 0.02 microhitlers?

See also

References
  1. American and Israeli Teens Share Victory at International Bible Contest (VIDEO), April 18. 2013, The Algemeiner
  2. "Jewish Standard - Teaneck Students Compete in International Bible Contest". Jstandard.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  3. "חידון התנ"ך למבוגרים – חוזרים לספר הספרים". Scooper. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  4. http://chidonusa.wordpress.com/faq/
  5. http://chidonusa.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/date-location-announced-for-national-finals/
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-04. Retrieved 2014-06-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. http://chidonusa.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/registration-open-for-national-finals/
  8. http://chidonusa.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/nationals_englishhs.pdf
  9. http://chidonusa.wordpress.com/about/
  10. "Aussies take on the world Zionist Federation of Australia; (20 April 2012)". Zfa.com.au. 2012-04-20. Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  11. "Close call for bible contestants J-Wire (7 May 2012)". jwire.com.au. 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  12. "Bible boys J-Wire (16 April 2012)". jwire.com.au. 2012-04-16. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  13. https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=130210
  14. https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/World-Bible-Contest-tests-representatives-from-30-countries-Israeli-wins-589261
  15. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228965
  16. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbneisa%2Fposts%2F10157172487235227%3A0&width=500"
  17. http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/417501/independence-day-international-bible-contest-winner-hails-from-beit-el.html#sthash.nmMKShHc.dpuf
  18. "Bible Contest Winners from New Jersey, Beit Shemesh". Arutz 7. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  19. Steinberg, Jessica (2013-04-22). "The boy who beat incredible odds to win the Bible Quiz". Timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  20. "Israeli, New Yorker, Win Bible Contest". JTA. The Jewish Press. April 27, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  21. Netanyahu's son stumbles over father's question, takes third place in International Bible Contest, Liel Kyzer, Haaretz, Apr. 21, 2010.
  22. פרסום ראשון: ה' באייר תשס"ט, 29/04/09 10:56ערוץ 7. "חתן חידון התנ"ך: ספיר מלכא - בארץ - חדשות - ערוץ 7". Inn.co.il. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  23. פרסום ראשון: ג' באייר תשס"ח, 08/05/08 11:18עוזי ברוך. "Video of 2008 International Final Awards". Inn.co.il. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  24. Archive: 4/24/2007 (2007-04-24). "Jerusalem Teen Wins Annual International Bible Quiz". Israelnationalnews.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
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